Tag Archives: one drawing a day

In Dylan Town Cover | Greg Betza

Bob Dylan Cover

In Dylan Town Cover | Greg Betza

Last year I attended a Bob Dylan concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York. I made a few drawings, and David Gaines, the author of a new book on Bob Dylan, saw one of the drawings which I had posted on One Drawing A Day and asked if he could use it for the cover!

As a fan and admirer of Dylan, I could not be happier that I made those drawings. Here is the book, a display at BookPeople in Austin, TX and a few more drawings from that dark evening in New York. Thank you David and Iowa University Press.

In Dylan Town Cover | Greg Betza

In Dylan Town Cover | Greg Betza

Bob Dylan | Greg Betza

Bob Dylan | Greg Betza

Bob Dylan | Greg Betza

Bob Dylan | Greg Betza

Bob Dylan | Greg Betza

Varoom Magazine Reportage Drawings | Greg Betza

VAROOM!

Varoom Magazine Reportage Drawings | Greg Betza

I was pleased to be asked to contribute my reportage drawings to VAROOM! magazine. The publisher Derek was looking to feature illustrators that reportage live music and he was a fan of the drawings I made of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks last year. Here is a post about that show.

VAROOM! is a great illustration based magazine so check out their website and support the cause!

The Art of Urban Sketching | Greg Betza

The Art of Urban Sketching

The Art of Urban Sketching | Greg Betza

I’m pleased to announce my inclusion in the Quarry Books release “The Art of Urban Sketching“. It’s a great book filled with many incredible artists, including fellow Studio 1482 members Veronica Lawlor and Margaret Hurst. The book is based on art created for the international sketching blog Urban Sketchers.

I’d like to say a special thank you to author/artist, and Urban Sketchers founder, Gabi Campanario for all of his hard work in putting this book together.

I hope you’ll pick it up at your local book store or online at quarrybooks.com

The Art of Urban Sketching | Greg Betza

The Art of Urban Sketching | Greg Betza

The High Line | Greg Betza

The High Line

The High Line | Greg Betza

I spent some time in NYC a few weeks ago and I had a chance to visit The High Line. The High Line is a park above Manhattan’s west side. Originally an elevated freight railroad line, it was converted into a public park and opened in 2009. It has a really interesting vibe and a totally different feeling from anywhere else I’ve been in NYC.

The High Line | Greg Betza

The High Line | Greg Betza

Microsoft PowerPoint Design Gallery | Greg Betza

Microsoft PowerPoint Design Gallery

Those of you familiar with PowerPoint are well aware of its history of artistic limitations. So when I was asked last month to create original designs for a PowerPoint presentation, I was thrilled to hear that Microsoft is working to change people’s perception of what PowerPoint can be. I was one of six artists to participate and I think everyone did a fantastic job bringing a fresh look to such an important application. Check out the design gallery here and download the presentations for free!

Below is the chosen title slide as well as 2 additional designs that I created for presentation. I’d love to hear which is your favorite.

Microsoft PowerPoint Design Gallery | Greg Betza Microsoft PowerPoint Design Gallery | Greg Betza Microsoft PowerPoint Design Gallery | Greg Betza

illustration for Denver magazine | Greg Betza

illustration for Denver magazine

I was recently asked to illustrate a monthly column for Denver magazine. The focus of the column is food, which is a favorite topic of mine, so I couldn’t be happier. Here is my first illustration for the column, based on an article about the ice cream craze in Denver. Read the article here.

illustration for Denver magazine | Greg Betza

Ground Zero © Greg Betza

Rebuilding Ground Zero

I spent some time at Ground Zero Friday. It’s an incredibly powerful place, I imagine unlike any other. The site has been transformed into a city of cranes and construction. I can’t help but think that this is exactly how it must have looked in the 1970s during the building of the Twin Towers.

While I still terribly miss what once was, I’m happy to see a new beginning for lower Manhattan.

Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza Ground Zero © Greg Betza

Communications Arts Greg Betza Spread

CA Illustration Annual 51

The Communication Arts Illustration Annual is out. I received my copy yesterday and as I reported a few months ago, my reportage series on Times Square has been recognized. I’ve always felt that CA is one of the best publications for illustrators as well as the entire creative industry and it is an honor to be included. Here is a scan of the spread, pick up your copy today, there is some great work in there!

Communications Arts Greg Betza Spread

Milton Glaser Autograph © Greg Betza

Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser Autograph © Greg Betza

I had the privilege of attending the Milton Glaser lecture last night at the Society of Illustrators in NY. What struck me most was that I and the members of Studio 1482 approach our work and careers with a very similar philosophy to Mr. Glaser. He spoke about how an artist moves toward failure as a means of achieving success. A series of successive failures leads you on a path to understanding and ultimately success…but then it is time to start that process all over again. Keep moving forward, don’t master something and stop. Hearing those words inside the walls of an institution that promotes 1-style illustrators was quite an interesting juxtaposition of ideologies.

He also spoke of drawing and creating art as the only times when we are truly attentive. Paying attention to something rather than letting it, like life, pass us by. I’ve often thought about how many drawings I’ve made and what that experience is like and how millions of people have never made 1 drawing and never felt that sensation.

Lastly,  he spoke of the computer and what it has meant to art and the world in general. What sticks with me is that he said he will always be better on the computer than anyone working now as his “sense of form came about from sources other than the computer.”

It was a great experience listening to someone with his experience and success and his words reminded me very much of words I’ve heard from other very wise people I have known.

Milton Glaser © Greg Betza

drawing of M. Glaser by Greg Betza

Jazz at Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

JAZZ at Lincoln Center

By way of a friend, my wife Despina and I were granted access to reportage a performance at JAZZ at Lincoln Center. An opportunity like this doesn’t come along often so we really went for it. The performance by Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Marc Cary, Neal Caine, and Jeff Tain Watts took place in Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola , a space acoustically designed for jazz. It was an unforgettable experience and I feel like, considering the limited light and space, the work I produced is strong and tells the story of that evening. Thank you to everyone at JAZZ who made us feel very welcome and especially to Susan who made this all possible.

Here are a few of the drawings I made that night.

Jazz at Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz at Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz at Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz at Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

Jazz Lincoln Center © Greg Betza

St. Louis Magazine | Greg Betza

St. Louis Magazine

These were fun illustrations to do. AD Kevin Goodbar commissioned the 4 spots after receiving one of my postcards (who said postcards don’t work!!). I love wine as a subject for illustration (not just drinking it). It’s a rich subject…just look at these 4 different topics I had to illustrate:

St. Louis Magazine | Greg Betza

Screwcaps have become more preferable than corks

 

St. Louis Magazine | Greg Betza

Classes about wine are great

St. Louis Magazine | Greg Betza

The exclusive I.V.V. (In Vino Veritas) wine club

St. Louis Magazine | Greg Betza

How to buy wine as a novice

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons | Greg Betza

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons

Recently I completed this series of illustrations for the Gown Gallery issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine. When AD Michael Goesele asked me to work on these he let me know that I would have a tremendous amount of creative freedom, and that all he required was that they be beautiful. (This is what you want to hear from all of your clients). I’ve been looking to add fashion illustration to my portfolio and to have the opportunity to do it my way was amazing. It’s a pleasure to work with an art director that can see the potential in your work beyond what is in your portfolio. I’m very pleased with these illustrations and I’m excited to do more. Great working with you Michael and DW&H.

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons | Greg Betza

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons | Greg Betza

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons | Greg Betza

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons | Greg Betza

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons | Greg Betza

The Scientis Magazine | Greg Betza

The Scientist

This month I have an illustration in The Scientist magazine. The article is an opinion piece with 2 views on the much debated healthcare reform. After reading the article a few times I knew I had to illustrate the confusion over how the restructured healthcare system is going to use our money. So my idea was to turn the US Capitol into a Rube Goldberg invention that works yet has no outcome (as we don’t). I have to tell you that I have a whole new respect for Mr. Goldberg. I’ve never attempted anything like this but it was really an enjoyable challenge to create practicality out of nonsense (hey, maybe I have attempted to do that!) So this is what I came up with…

The Scientis Magazine | Greg Betza

one drawing a day

A new studio project on the horizon

Studio 1482 was built on the premise of drawing, the base for all that we eight do professionally. So, (as Dom put it so eloquently), “in the spirit of drawing” I’m thrilled to share the news, 1482 has launched a new website. No crazy turns, just a division of the studio’s ventures.

The website is called One Drawing A Day , where each day you’ll find a new drawing featured by a different member of the studio.

one drawing a day

Go ahead, take a look … and while you’re there, check out the archive of past drawings. (You might want to even bookmark the site and enjoy the visit daily – talk to you later,  Michele