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I JOINED THE INSTAGRAM BANDWAGON a few months ago, and so should you! I love it! Get a glimpse into my process and inspiration! Follow me @JohnMacConnell!

My Watercolor Set

NOT MUCH TO SAY HERE. Just a pretty scan of my travel watercolor set. I have been using these for over a decade (!) when I'm sketching onsite or when traveling. I have a large palette and tubes for my big projects. This set has literally gone across the country and around Europe with me. I got these paints from my high school teacher. You can see a couple of the colors have been replaced. Currently, I'm carrying a tube of yellow on the side. I'm not quite ready to retire these, yet.

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas everyone! I know I'm a little late but I've been out of town celebrating Christmas with my family in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. I just got back into NYC today and wanted to share a little project I worked on over my break. This Christmas I decided that I would record my Christmas in pictures. So, throughout the holiday I carried my sketchbook with me and took time to sketch some of the memories.

As it does for so many of us, Christmas began with the task of getting home. The first image I drew in Penn Station in New York, waiting for Amtrak to announce the gate of my train. Not only was this project a great exercise to keep myself working over the break, but it was also a great way to keep myself from getting bored... It actually worked a little too well, though. I missed the station announcing my train and nearly missed my ride home!

All was well, though, and I made it safely to my seat as the train left the station on it's way to PA. I was worried for a bit this second image wouldn't get made. As I sat down and pulled out my sketchbook, the person sitting next to me asked about my work. We ended talking all the way to Philadelphia about art and the growing acceptance of digital work in the Gallery scene. It was one of the most pleasant rides I've had on Amtrak. Figures it would happen when I had grand plans for the trip!

Luckily for my project, my friend exited in Philly and I was free to draw for the second leg of the trip.

The next montage I have to admit I drew from Christmas Eve photographs. There's no way to capture on paper a toddler at Christmas. Seriously. This little lady is my niece. Christmas was all about her this year. Last year she was only 10 months at Christmas, so this year was the first she was able to open her own gifts and everyone was sure to spoil her. She could not have been more excited (or cute).

The third image of her is after two gifts (in her right hand you can see the Minnie Mouse I gave her). At his point she's debating how to reach back into her stocking an pull out gift three, without putting down gifts one and two. I swear, funniest thing ever.

Christmas Day!!! We spend Christmas day at my aunt's house because of her giant kitchen (shown above). Pretty much everyones shows up at Vicki's and we have a huge feast. There was so much food this year I couldn't fit everything on one plate! I decided this year that if for going back for "seconds" you don't actually get anything that you got in the first round, it should still count as the first round. Although by that standard, I didn't make it to "thirds" this year as I usually do, unless you count the baked brie appetizer or the whole table of desserts... Anyway, there's a lot of food.

The next two images are post dinner. Basically they're capturing everyone falling into their "food coma." Following the "food coma" all the kids start running around like crazy from all the energy they've just absorbed and everyone else just tries to keep up. More presents were exchanged, football was watched, snacks were had and merriment was all around.

Unfortunately, this is where the images end. Turns out, I didn't adequately prepare for this little project and didn't notice I only had a few pages left in my sketchbook. :( Things that happened this Christmas vacation that missed capturing:

- Times with old friends

- Sam the oversized black lab with his oversized Christmas gift dog bone

- My friend's new engagement ring!

- The process of cleaning out my old room at my mom's (Three bags of clothes for Goodwill, two boxes of toys and books, one bag of recycled magazines/newspapers, and Five black trash bags full of crap!)

- Penn Station, Harrisburg

-Also, to round things out, I would have liked to draw the train ride back to NYC, but that wouldn't have happened anyway since I slept the whole way...

I guess I'll have to try again next year!

I hope everyone had as an amazing Christmas as I did and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

San Francisco is where Young People go to Retire

My summer of fun just keeps on continuing. This time it brought me to (sometimes) sunny San Francisco, California! What a trip. I was in the city for about week and I think I saw everything worth seeing in that seven by seven mile city. I, literally, think I could lead city tours now.

We jaunted from the Cliff House on the beach of the Pacific, through Golden Gate Park, Richmond, Haight-Ashbury, the Castro, and the Mission District. We then went back up through Union Square, North Beach, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf and to the Golden Gate Bridge. We even took a day to leave the city and tour the Sonoma and Napa Valleys.

Also on the constant lookout for art, we made sure to stop into the de Young Museum, San Francisco MOMA, and a few galleries we happened upon along the way. Some highlights for me were the Picassos' and John Singer Sargents' and it was great to see some Wayne Thiebaud's in their native habitat.

I took a couple hundred photos while in the city, but unfortunately didn't get much time to draw. There was just so much to see and do! These are the few drawings that I was able to do on-site, though. They include a drawing from our day in the Mission District, our hostel room, and of the planes from the airport. Not the most exciting things I saw whilst traveling, with all the sea lions, landscapes and hoola-hoopers around, but it was these were the only times I wasn't on my feet running around or passed out from all the running around.

There were so many things I missed drawing, I'll just have to go back there soon and make up for it.

Italy & Greece

This is rounding out to be one of the most exciting summers of my life. I've finished Graduate School, living in New York City, surrounded by great friends, and traveling my little butt off.

About a week ago I returned from a trip to Italy and Greece. I had an absolutely amazing time. One of my really good friends is a high school Latin teacher and planned the trip for her students. I was lucky enough to be invited to be one of the chaperones for the trip because of my Art History background, travel savvy, and iron fist with children. (Or at least two of those three.) The trip started in Rome and ended in Athens. In the middle we visited Pompei, Mycenae, Olympia, Epidavros, and Delphi. So much to see in only 10 days!

The trip was a whirlwind tour, but was so much fun. I met so many people and had so much fun with the kids. Some of the highlights were the Acropolis, Pompei, and the Sistine Chapel. My only regret was that we didn't get to check out the Caravaggio exhibit while in Rome. I mean, seriously, how can you NOT look at Caravaggio while in Rome?? (We also missed the School of Athens :( )

Since I was in charge of protecting and herding 29 kids, needless to say, I didn't have much free time. I was able to get a few drawings done while there. Here we have the Parthenon, a statue of Antinious, and one of the many bus rides we endured. I did get a drawing of Pompei, but it has been mailed to my mother (I'm such a good son) before I got to scan it... I hope it makes it!

San Francisco is the next trip planned for this summer. Stay turned for more posts!