Blipadee, on the move ...

Blipadee has moved! 

From here on out, I'll be blogging directly on my website.

Under the Sea

Please come visit Blipadee and me in our new spot.  

Thanks!

xo, A

Sunday Post

It's another Sunday post!

Here's a little snapshot of my week. Hope you find something you like.

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This painting, above, is a vibrant multi-colored version of the piece I made below, last spring.

I painted over it, on a layer of acetate, basically giving me two for one.

Sometimes using an old school process that pre-dates photoshop, is fun. 

Kristine Lombardi recently saw it in my apt and exclaimed (without my prompting) "I Love It"!

It's great to have a friend who freely shares her enthusiasm when she likes something.

My Doggie bag, on the sidewalk holding extra vinyl for touch ups on Monday's job.

I like the two oranges together :)

Meanwhile, Lisa Congdon's Art, Inc waits for me on my work table. 

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Lisa is teaching a FREE class online this Tues 30th & Wed 1st

through Creative Live 

**Plus, she'll be including samples of my friend, 

Melissa Iwai's work in her section on branding. 

Prop man, Bentley checks out the shiny British Taxi, one of several picture cars for a commercial.

The prop guys asked it's owner to take our photo with it, he kindly obliged. I like this BW version.

and a few us couldn't resist a selfie 

and one of us did his best Miley Cyrus impression ;)

AdWeek wrote a piece about a Motorola commercial that I worked on in August.

Bryon Finn charged it and put in the longest hours (from our crew, at least) 

It was shot at Grumman Studios on Long Island. 

See How Droga5 Actually Made the Insanely Intricate Sets for Moto's

New Ads Four spots share one truly elaborate sound stage by David Griner

Scenic painters (like myself), prop and carpentry departments execute the 

agency's vision, as well as that of the director. 

We work directly with the production designer to accomplish this. 

Clem Price-Thomas, whom we work with often, designed this set of ads.

You won't find us in the credits, for we are the unsung heroes ;)

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My shots don't do justice to the overall look and scale of these ads,

 but if you watch the videos, you'll recognize these two sets and this 

sweet beagle in one of the spots.

Gold leafing

almost finished sets

just getting started (again & again on this one)

View of set up and ready to shoot w/ monitor

They're pretty cool spots! See the "behind the scenes" and videos here

This is Samson, a 9 month old Bull Mastiff and Zeus, a 10 year old mixed breed.

I met them walking back to Broadway Stages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn this week.

Needless to say, they are a perfect pair!

In other news, I was happy to learn that my illustration, Big Bun, Little Bun

was voted as one of 4 images to make it on the cover of the B&W 

CBIG directory this fall. It will share space with my friend, Yuko Katakawa

and fellow illustrators, Patricia Keeler and Barbara Dilorenzo :)

Thursday night's rainbow, as seen from a little corner of my neighborhood. 

I know that pot of gold is out there somewhere ;)

Have a great week!

xo, A

August, you're pretty

"Do what we can, summer will have it's flies." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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On the East Coast, August has been surprisingly dreamy with it's sunny skies and mild temperatures. 

I created these promotional pieces for the CBIG (Children's Book Illustration Group)

digital directory. It's the 1st step in preparing for fall and making another go of it

in the worlds of publishing and art licensing.

The "flies" in my summer tend to be work related, not the cute animals and scenes I choose to

paint, but the interruptions to that, let's just call - my job ;)

:::

These photos were taken at Grumman Studios on LI, where the 

Apollo Lunar Modules were created. Grumman is currently referred to as 

"Hollywood of the East". Fortunately, I never heard anyone actually call it that. 

We were there to work on a pretty ambitious and creative commercial. 

Our work doesn't compare to putting a man on the moon, but it pays the bills. 

I can share the commercial, once it comes out.

I mostly took pictures of the building, my friends and the floor. 

Below, dusty shoe prints on rubber mat covering cables.

A clever production assistant put a hammock up in his cube truck once it was empty. 

Above, scenic artist, Gennadi Barbush relaxes in it.

Scenics take a coffee break in the lot, while I rest in hammock :)

Hard to resist taking a pic of rust this good!

Damage the sun does to paint is often the most beautiful to me. Faded reds, pinks, blues ...

always get me.

Great shape and yellow, not sure how it functions, maybe for fire fighters?

We passed this building on the way home every night. I love it. 

Thought I took a pic with the lighted sign, but now I can't locate it.

Below, detail shots of two of my paintings that sit on either side of my bed, 

in my tiny bedroom. Sadly, they're a bit too large to hang in my apt.

I think they relate to the other photos, but I might just be tired.

Great skies to and from the job. My favorite part of the day - catching sight of New York City.

It will always excite me.

 hand-me-down, carpenter's union tee, don't have 829's, do we have one?

Fellow scenic, Michael Taranov took this photo of me "fighting the good fight".

:::

This particular job was quite a beast, in terms of hours, number of set

changes and variety of fumes inhaled. I want to end my post with a

big Thanks to Bryon Finn, who I work with a lot.

He handled everything with grace and as always,

worked his ass off. 

Ok, I have lunch, I mean work to do!

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ps- if you like my photos, then follow me on Instagram

I share much more there :)

Have a great week!

xo, A