Danny,$237 for a speeding ticket, how fast where you going?

It amazes me that you can get such excellent composition and detail for "on-the-spot" drawing. And to be adding color while you're at is is truly fantastic. Can you comment about some of these little sketches in terms of how long they may have taken?

I know I'd have to have a picture of something in front of me and work on it quite a while to get this good. I guess I just need to practice practice practice.... and that's why trips like the one you've just taken can really improve your skills.

I really like the drawings! Sorry about the ticket... at least you weren't in Texas. I think if you were, you might meet Judge Roy Bean's decendent!

;-) Sharon

I drew grain elevators for the first time a few weeks ago. These amazing structures were invented in Buffalo and an industrial heritage group gives river tours of the largely abandoned grain elevators "district". I took a houseguest, who is an architect, on the tour at his request and was amazed to learn that european architects have been greatly influenced by these elegant structures. My friend made it clear that the same is true of american architects. I thoroughly enjoyed drawing and painting them as well as the many broken windows in nearby warehouses.
p.s. good luck with that ticket thing. I'm not holding out a lot of hope.

Sharon:
I drew the grain elevators from my rental car at about seven a.m. It took me ten-fifteen minutes, I'd say. The tractor took a bit longer, maybe twenty minutes, for all the detail in the engine, and I made it while sitting in the equipment shed at the cemetery, balancing my paint box on my knee whuile Dan set up the sprinkler pipes outside.
I drew them both with my artists pen, loaded with Higgins waterproof black calligraphy ink, then painted them with my Grumbacher paints with two Niji waterbrushes. I did the writing on the spot with my artists pen though I often prefer to wait till later then focus on the writing with a dip pen.
Hope that's helpful.
Your pal,
Danny

I'm going to squee a bit at this (*squee!* ... there) because Eastern Oregon is where I grew up. My grandmother, who lives in Enterprise, took me on many an entertaining trip to Joseph and Wallowa Lake.

I find it rather amusing that you didn't mention La Grande (which is exactly where I grew up). I can't say I blame you, however - there isn't a lot there to get excited about.

Ooohhh...Thanks for posting that very generous portion of your trip journal. TRULY A FEAST for The/My Eyes, Heart, Soul.

I didn't know today is the day when you would post this. I was pleased when you first shared it with me, in person, but I was unexpectedly thrilled to happen upon this here and now. It's so gorgeous. And I simply delighted in having those pics of Roz sneak up on me like that! I just love those. Roz is just so cool and amazing and I keep thinking of her daily cuz I'm desperate to chat or write her- it's been way too long for her and I and she and I came so close that night when you were out to dinner with her and i was with Cyn City and the Beach girls. But that's not this story...keep posting Danny,pleeease, I know you are completely busy working and doing my housework but your blog entries are much more majorly essential! Thanks again for any(little)thing possible and EVERYTHING possible! yw.

Isn't Oregon beautiful! Way cool rider mower drawing, always inspired by visiting this wblog.

Speeding tickets in Oregon... u must be related to Al Gore as he got caught in Astoria :)
Patty A.

Danny, did you happen to notice on your swing through Pendleton/LaGrande/Island City/Imbler/Elgin/Wallowa/Lostine/Enterprise to Joseph that these little riding mowers are as common as foofoo coffee and cell phones in Portland? No matter the apparent lack of other worldly goods, I bet you didn't see lawn one not mowed and the little green machine parked nearby. And the old neon signs--could that be another dannygregory book? If you do, don't forget Great Falls, Montana, home of the elaborate light industry--see the little greasy spoon on Central, "Tops" or the Bison Bar. See http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=Great+Falls+Montana+neon
Keep them coming Danny, you're inspiring us.

Danny, Thank-you so much for these pages and storiws, I have written you before and again any information on how to on Journaling would help alot. Just love your work. Can you give an idea with drawing with the pen, Just starting to learn and with out that ERASER on the top of the Pen its sure scary. Thanks,
Linda C