Tag Archives: pen and ink

Animations 2021

This series of animations are a continuation of a project from 2019 which was postponed due to the pandemic. Greg Betza recently had a reel put together of some of the highlights.

The animations are designed to work as culture-shaping, coaching videos that are explanatory in nature, spread across many industries including, retail, health, food, hospitality, manufacturing and more. He created all of these as frame by frame line art and added digital color.

Thank you again to the whole team at StrategyMuse for the great collaboration!

Jazz illustration

Columbia Magazine-Jazz

A few months ago Greg Betza was contacted by Len Small over at Columbia Magazine. He always wanted to work with Len and this was a really fun collaboration. Len had the idea of integrating actual photos into the illustrations, and Greg really liked the potential of doing something different like this.

The article he was asked to illustrate was a celebration of 20 years of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Program at Columbia and the founder/leader of the program Chris Washburne.

Read the article here on the Columbia website.

Jazz illustration

Chris Washburne

GEORGE FLOYD TRIAL-WASHINGTON POST

Last week I was asked to create an image to run alongside the introduction of the jury in the George Floyd murder trial. After quite a bit of discussion here is the illustration that was agreed upon to protect the anonymity of the people involved.

Thank you to the Washington Post for the assignment.

2021 Calendar

New Year's Time Square Animation
Animation by Veronica Lawlor

Happy New Year!

Studio 1482 would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you that visited our site, liked our work, or just offered a note of support this year. It made a very difficult situation a little bit easier knowing you were there.

Because we couldn’t physically mail our annual calendars to you this year we have made them available as a FREE pdf download. We hope that our art brings you joy in the year to come.

DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR HERE

If you prefer a print edition you can purchase it at cost here

 

Wishing you all the best in 2021!

ARMCHAIR TRAVELS – CHICAGO

Welcome to Armchair Travels, an invitation to travel around the world through the reportage illustration of Studio 1482.We have gathered art from our travels to share with you in the hopes that, while you can’t get out and see these places (yet), our experiences may bring some happiness and light to your day. Please check back often as we will be posting new adventures weekly.

Enjoy Chicago by Greg Betza…

The first drawing I remember making looking down the Michigan Avenue Bridge.

I first visited Chicago back in 2010 or 11, I can’t remember exactly, but what I do remember is that I fell in love with what I saw. Now Chicago is a sprawling area and I only had time to see the “downtown” area, but it was beautiful. Being from New Jersey New York City is my major U.S. city of record, and it is second to none, but Chicago is similar to New York just less crowded, congested, and to my eye, much cleaner (probably due to the almost 6 million! less people than NYC…). The major differentiator though for me is the Chicago River that cuts right through the city.

Chicago River

That was my first visit. What I missed, and a major reason why I came back, was that I did not have the opportunity to spend time drawing the city. In 2013 the opportunity arose when the Workbook announced their Creative Carnivalwould be held there. Fellow Studio 1482 member Dominick Santise and I decided to hit the road and head out to the windy city to attend…and spend a few days drawing!

Cloud gate, better knows as the Chicago Bean

Willis Tower

And draw is what we did. All day. For two guys in their late 30s (at the time) we really got around. Looking back at the drawings I’d think we had bikes, but I assure you we did not.

Trump tower Chicago

Chicago Theater sign

Chicago Theater

The city had a great energy, and for October it was quite comfortable. It was the perfect time to just be out drawing. And what I enjoyed so much about my time there was that the time was just spent drawing, for the love of doing it and nothing more. I picked up whatever materials felt right at the time, played around, made a mess, found something new here and there.

Chicago Theater and passers by

Picasso public sculpture

Rides at Navy Pier

Navy Pier ferris wheel

Chicago is a city full of incredible architecture, attractions, food/drink, and friendly welcoming people. I’ll always remember fondly the time I spent drawing there and the late night meals Dominick and I had to end our long days. A cider for him and a few local craft beers for me, not to be missed!

To see more Armchair Travels from the reportage artists of Studio 1482, please click HERE.

ARMCHAIR TRAVELS – TIMES SQUARE, NYC

Welcome to Armchair Travels, an invitation to travel around the world through the reportage illustration of Studio 1482.We have gathered art from our travels to share with you in the hopes that, while you can’t get out and see these places (yet), our experiences may bring some happiness and light to your day. Please check back often as we will be posting new adventures weekly.

Enjoy Times Square, NYC by Greg Betza…

Times Square, that section of midtown New York City that has been referred to as the “Crossroads of the World”amongst other things (both favorable and not so much). It is a place that many native New Yorkers avoid at all costs and yet it is a not-to-be-missed destination for all tourists.

As a New Jersey native that spent a great deal of time in New York City, I have a certain fondness for Times Square, though I completely understand why you’d want to avoid it as well. What a contradiction!

Get me outta here!

Speaking of contradiction, could there be a place more antithetical to our current “new normal”? To think of the thousands of people that would traverse the area each day; have it reduced to a near ghost town in a matter of weeks. Chalk that up to things I’d never thought I’d see.

It was the masses of people that first brought me to Times Square to draw. It was a challenge. So many people, so much movement, even more personality. The architecture, the advertising, the lights! To learn to capture and tell that story was a lesson so important in my development as a reportage artist and illustrator. Here are a few early attempts.

Trips to draw here gave me the full sensory experience. Ears assaulted by honking horns, indiscernible shouts, tourists asking for directions…, music, discernible expletives, and of course, the pigeons!
The smells. Oh boy. From hot garbage in the summer, to the constantly wafting smell of something frying from the endless row of chain restaurants.
And watch your step, the garbage cans often overflow!
Now while this may sound horrible, it is what makes Times Square unique and as an artist you need to take it all in…the good and the bad, to tell the truth with your reportage. And despite all of this (and there is more) people flock here anyway and stay awhile. As did I, many, many times.

On a more positive note, looking up and around when you are here is inspiring. On the surface it can appear a soulless theme park devoted to consumerism, but if you can get past that tired and overused criticism, Times Square is home to so many visions realized. As a student of advertising I love to see the campaigns compete with each other publicly. How each brand approaches this space and how they utilize technology to bring their message to the masses is truly impressive. It’s a constantly evolving gallery.

One of the last times I spent a long day drawing in Times Square was back in 2010 when Mayor Bloomberg closed several sections to traffic, allowing the area to become more pedestrian friendly. I remember it was a very peaceful day, the people seemed to enjoy the space more than they had in the past and I believe I noticed more native New Yorkers hanging around that day too :)

ARMCHAIR TRAVELS – HONFLEUR

Welcome to Armchair Travels, an invitation to travel around the world through the reportage illustration of Studio 1482.We have gathered art from our travels to share with you in the hopes that, while you can’t get out and see these places (yet), our experiences may bring some happiness and light to your day. Please check back often as we will be posting new adventures weekly.

Enjoy Honfleur, France…by Greg Betza

Port d’Honfleur

Five years ago, thanks to a very good friend, I had the opportunity to visit northern France. We stayed in a small port town called Honfleur. I had not heard of it, but once seen, I understood why many artists including Courbet and Monet had traveled there to paint it.

Saint Etienne Church

No matter where you turn there are picturesque buildings, boats, and so much beauty in the details. We only spent 2 nights there so I “braved” a chilly rainy morning to make this series of black and white drawings. I had to. I remember sharing the early morning with only a cat. There was quite a bit of action at the local bars and restaurants the night before so I guess everyone had slept in.

View of Sainte-Catherine church, the largest church made out of wood in France

Port d’Honfleur

Leaving Honfluer was only tolerable as we were on our way to Mont Saint-Michel. This place is a fairy tale. I can’t imagine there is another place on earth like it. Its abbey appears to be literally reaching for God.

Make a plan to visit northern France, it is magical.

Mont Saint-Michel

ARMCHAIR TRAVELS – GREECE

Welcome to Armchair Travels, an invitation to travel around the world through the reportage illustration of Studio 1482.We have gathered art from our travels to share with you in the hopes that, while you can’t get out and see these places (yet), our experiences may bring some happiness and light to your day. Please check back often as we will be posting new adventures weekly.

Enjoy Greece…by Greg Betza

In August of 2009 I traveled to the Greece, visiting the islands of Crete and Santorini, as well as spending a few days in Athens. My wife is Greek-American and much of her family lives in Crete. Through our years together I’d heard countless stories about everything from the smell of bread baking in the early morning to the blue sea just steps from her Yiayia’s home.

Town square, Kalyves, Crete

The village was a new experience for me. Visually it was both everything I imagined and things I had not considered. The streets and buildings felt like they grew there and had always been, but the modern world and the demands of tourism in the 21st century had definitely begun to impose themselves on even this smallest of communities. Turn your head one way and see the most beautiful flora and deep blue sea and turn back around for a small internet café and car rental parking lot.

A main village road. Cafés, bakeries, etc.

Bouzouki player at summer festival

Boats sit in the small River Xydas, Kalyves, Crete

Olive grove Kalyves, Crete

From there it was on to the magical island of Santorini. An island, more specifically a caldera, or volcanic crater! Aside from the cliffs dotted with white washed homes that look like candy, I remember so clearly the sound…or lack of it. At the top of the caldera where most of the dwellings are, you are basically up in the sky. A vast, silent sky.

Drawing of Oia, Santorini

One of the many blue domed Orthodox churches famous on the island

We did make it down to sea level to visit the Bay of Amoudi. A small bay below Oia full of restaurants, fishermen, and a few windmills too.

Bay of Amoudi, Santorini

Returning to Crete before departing out of Athens we spent a long day in the capital city of Chania. Throughout its history the city has been occupied by the Venetians, Ottomans and Greeks. The architecture reflects this in the most beautiful way. You can just draw buildings all day! Again, the balance of old and new exists here as well. There are many beautiful restaurants and bars lining the waterfront.

Streets of Chania

Streets of Chania

On our way home we stopped to see the many sites in Athens. Among them, of course, the Acropolis and Parthenon. I’ll leave you with this last drawing made before my trek to the top.

To see more Armchair Travels from the reportage artists of Studio 1482, please click HERE.

ARMCHAIR TRAVELS – JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

I’m excited to introduce Armchair Travels, an invitation to travel around the world through the reportage illustration of Studio 1482. We have gathered art from our travels to share with you, in the hopes that, while you can’t get out and see these places (yet), our experiences may bring some happiness and light to your day. Please check back often as we will be posting new adventures weekly.

Enjoy Joshua Tree National Park…by Margaret Hurst

My trip to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California is an experience and an adventure that has made a lasting impression on me, both visually and emotionally. Although my visit to the park was only for one day I have frequent memories of the unique landscape of Joshua Tree National Park.

The Joshua Trees are extraordinary and different from any tree that I have seen. They wildly spread out in every direction with unlimited energy. The colors of the trees are bright and exciting and varying in so many ways.

They flare out and exude energy and vibrate against the sky.

Other than the Joshua Trees there are rock formations that are also intriguing with various patterns and colors.

The park landscape is a beautiful mixture of the trees and the rock formations and is also a combination of the two deserts, The Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert.

Originally declared a National Monument in 1936, Joshua Tree was redesignated as a National Park on October 31, 1994, by the Desert Protection Act. The park is named for the Joshua Trees native to the Mojave Desert. Native Americans knew the Joshua tree as a source of food and fiber.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Joshua Tree National Park please do not hesitate to go. You will love it and cherish your memories of it always. I am thrilled that I could make a few watercolors to add to my memories of my day in the Joshua Tree National Park. Right now the park is under quarantine, but hopefully it will open a little later this summer.

To see more Armchair Travels from the reportage artists of Studio 1482 please click HERE.

Live the InterContinental Life Animations

For the past few months I’ve been teasing this project on my Instagram and I’m so pleased to finally share it. I was commissioned by Smith Creative Labs to illustrate 3 short animations for the InterContinental Hotel Group’s Live the InterContinental Life campaign.

The animations were based on podcast interviews which told stories of empathy, worldliness and fascination and were recorded in London, Beijing, and New York City. Smith and animator Mark Bellncula were incredible partners to work with, granting me a tremendous amount of creative freedom and support. I couldn’t be any happier with how the animations turned out.

I loved that these pieces were created in a mostly traditional way, using sequential hand made drawings and paintings. Some of the longer panoramic drawings were so long that I had to work on my floor…and my floor became my desk! Whatever works.

I did my best to document the process of creating the animation art which I’ve included below. I appreciate you taking the time to look!

Pose 1

greg-betza_ihg-2

Large scale thumbnail drawing
Large scale thumbnail drawing
My floor/desk
My floor/desk

greg-betza_ihg-7 greg-betza_ihg-5

Many hours hunched over the light box!
Many hours hunched over the light box!

greg-betza_ihg-8 greg-betza_ihg-9greg-betza_ihg-11greg-betza_ihg-10

chop chop chop
chop chop chop
Mole
Mole
Panoramic drawing of the kitchen
Panoramic drawing of the kitchen
My wife and I enjoying a drink
My wife and I enjoying a drink
self-portrait
self-portrait

greg-betza_ihg-12

 

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns | Greg Betza

Downtowns for NJ Monthly

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns | Greg Betza

I was commissioned this summer to work on a reportage assignment for NJ Monthly magazine. Being born and raised in New Jersey it was just that much better to be asked to drive around the state to visit and draw different “landmarks” throughout to help make the case for the best downtowns in New Jersey. I had a great time. Here are the drawings which appeared in the magazine (out now!) and the additional ‘rejected’ pieces that I made as well.

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns Cape May | Greg Betza

Cape May, NJ

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns Montclair | Greg Betza

Church Street, Montclair, NJ

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns Princeton | Greg Betza

Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns Summit Diner | Greg Betza

Summit Diner, Summit, NJ

New Jersey Monthly Downtowns Red Bank | Greg Betza

Waterfront, Red Bank, NJ


These below were unpublished:

Downtown Red Bank, New Jersey | Greg Betza

Downtown Red Bank, NJ

Cape May, New Jersey | Greg Betza

Cape May, NJ

Raymond’s, Montclair, New Jersey | Greg Betza

Raymond’s, Montclair, NJ

Summit Train Station New Jersey | Greg Betza

Summit Train Station, Summit, NJ

Palmer Square Princeton New Jersey | Greg Betza

Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ

Porta Jersey City New Jersey | Greg Betza

Porta, Jersey City, NJ

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

Art in Space | Greg Betza

Art in Space

Art in Space | Greg Betza

I’m excited to share this latest bit of good news with you. I was contacted earlier this year by a company designing a new Chicago office space for a global consulting firm. The company had seen my reportage drawings of Chicago and thought they would make a great addition to the space. I’m truly satisfied when I do work that I love and enjoy doing and someone finds a use for it. Here are a few photos from the new space. You can see the rest of my reportage here.

Art in Space | Greg Betza

Art in Space | Greg Betza

Art in Space | Greg Betza

American Family Insurance | Greg Betza

American Family Insurance

American Family Insurance | Greg Betza

I have been working on a large series of illustrations for American Family Insurance. With Father’s Day just passing I’m happy to post this first illustration because I was able to use my son as my model.

This Shel Silverstein inspired ad is appearing regionally in issues of Sports Illustrated.

American Family Insurance | Greg Betza

Chicago Magazine Moving on Up | Greg Betza

Chicago Magazine

Had a chance to do some intricate line drawing for this illustration! It was interesting, and almost therapeutic, drawing all of these buildings and windows and streets and antenna and, and, and… And then I got to loosen up and work on a few lifestyle spots of  things happening in front of the architecture. Great layout by the AD too.

Chicago Magazine Moving on Up | Greg Betza

greg-betza_Chicago-spot1

Chicago Magazine Moving on Up | Greg Betza

Chicago Magazine Moving on Up | Greg Betza

Chicago Magazine Moving on Up | Greg Betza