Growing Down

Museum of Transport

cmbarbera — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:33:39 +0000

During my last trip to Glasgow, I checked out the new Riverside Museum (aka the Museum of Transport). It was really comprehensive and interactive. The building is located on the River Clyde where a lot of shipbuilding took place and there was a lot devoted to that history. I especially loved the old timey Glasgow street equipped with local shops of the era and especially ornate double-decker trolley cars. I sketched this trolley en route to Maryhill using my pocket sketchbook.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration Tagged: glasgow, scotland, trolley, turn of the century

Tugboat House

cmbarbera — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:12:15 +0000

Back on the Drifting Parade, I have a bit more to share with everyone! Below is my tugboat house. I decided to try to change styles a bit and pick less ornamental architecture. This is similar to most farm houses around here and of course, the bottom half is based on a tugboat with its smoke stack stretching about the roof of the house.

Micron Pen on Paper. Sold.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, exhibitions Tagged: architecture, drawing, farmhouse, house, machine, tugboat

This Weekend, Get Inspired

cmbarbera — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:53:36 +0000

Christian Patchell, has long been my very close friend, fellow member of the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society, and co-conspirator in curating exhibitions. In 2007 he was diagnosed and began treatment for cancer. While undergoing treatment Patch turned to drawing, which helped him through the toughest time in his life. This Saturday, Patch will be signing his fantastically illustrated memoir, I Put the Can in Cancer: A Journey Through Pictures at Nicolas Berg Gallery in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia from 6pm – 9pm. I shot the photography for the book, the shots you see here are the originals for the front and back covers.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, Hasselblad, News, Polaroid Tagged: book, cancer, drawing, inspiration, philadelphia, Philly, publication

Fox

cmbarbera — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:18:38 +0000

Hello! It has been a little while, but I still have a bit to show from The Drifting Parade exhibit. Here, is my favorite piece from the show, called Fox. The fox mask is, not surprisingly, taken from traditional Japanese masks. From what I understand they are spirits that can shape-shift and play tricks, those crafty creatures.

Micron Pen and Marker on Paper. Sold.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, exhibitions Tagged: costume, creature, folklore, fox, japanese, parade, spirit

Who says it is the end of Polaroids?

cmbarbera — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:45:11 +0000

This weekend I had a very short, but sweet visit to NYC to visit a friend who was visiting the States. It was a beautiful day so we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and sat by the water on the Brooklyn side.

I decided last minute to break out my Polaroid camera for the trip. Ever since Polaroid closed production on their film, I began to hoard it. I have boxes sitting in my refrigerator slowly decaying. Finally, I decided, what is the point of hoarding this film if I don’t use it? Over the weekend, I fell in love with polaroid all over again. Watching an image develop without knowing for sure how it is going to look is part of the joy I have when taking pictures.

Filed under: Polaroid Tagged: bridge, brooklyn, new york, nyc, Photography, polaroid, portrait

Riverboat House

cmbarbera — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:28:23 +0000

Micron pen and marker on paper. Sold.

I always liked the look of riverboats, partially because my father grew up in Memphis and loves them too. They have a lot more flash than regular ships, they express a sort of attitude that also reminds me of the great music that was played on board.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, exhibitions Tagged: drawing, exhibitions, folk, house, riverboat, steamboat, victorian

Cat

cmbarbera — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Below is another character of the Drifting Parade. This mask is one of my favorites.

Micron pen and marker on paper. Sold.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, exhibitions Tagged: cat, costume, exhibitions, folklore, parade

Vietnamese House

cmbarbera — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:04:49 +0000

I tend to draw a lot of Victorian houses because of the all the amazing and intricate details they have. For Drifting Parade, I wanted to challenge myself with some new styles. This one is based on a Vietnamese Boathouse mixed with motorcycle elements.

Micron Pen, Watercolor on Paper.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, exhibitions Tagged: boathouse, exhibitions, mobile home, vietnamese

Adrift

cmbarbera — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:45:20 +0000

For the Drifting Parade, I wanted to show all the types of drawing I love to do, one being type – when I can think of a good idea. I also love traditional Japanese art. I thought of words that related to the theme of the show and came up with “adrift” seen above and “fanfare,” which you will see soon.

Micron on paper.

Filed under: Design, Drawing and Illustration Tagged: adrift, japanese, lettering, typography, waves

Eagle

cmbarbera — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:37:38 +0000

For the Drifting Parade, I wanted to add something a little more organic to the mix so I thought of these characters as well. I often draw human-animal mixtures in some way. This is the eagle, inspired by Tlingit Totem Poles.

Filed under: Drawing and Illustration, exhibitions Tagged: eagle, exhibitions, parade, totem