Below is the piece that I wrote about last week. It was a fun illustration to do, the concept of the illustration is that apps have been developed that act like personal trainers. Read the article here.
Tag Archives: New York
Rebuilding Ground Zero
I spent some time at Ground Zero Friday. It’s an incredibly powerful place, I imagine unlike any other. The site has been transformed into a city of cranes and construction. I can’t help but think that this is exactly how it must have looked in the 1970s during the building of the Twin Towers.
While I still terribly miss what once was, I’m happy to see a new beginning for lower Manhattan.
CA Illustration Annual 51
The Communication Arts Illustration Annual is out. I received my copy yesterday and as I reported a few months ago, my reportage series on Times Square has been recognized. I’ve always felt that CA is one of the best publications for illustrators as well as the entire creative industry and it is an honor to be included. Here is a scan of the spread, pick up your copy today, there is some great work in there!
Milton Glaser
I had the privilege of attending the Milton Glaser lecture last night at the Society of Illustrators in NY. What struck me most was that I and the members of Studio 1482 approach our work and careers with a very similar philosophy to Mr. Glaser. He spoke about how an artist moves toward failure as a means of achieving success. A series of successive failures leads you on a path to understanding and ultimately success…but then it is time to start that process all over again. Keep moving forward, don’t master something and stop. Hearing those words inside the walls of an institution that promotes 1-style illustrators was quite an interesting juxtaposition of ideologies.
He also spoke of drawing and creating art as the only times when we are truly attentive. Paying attention to something rather than letting it, like life, pass us by. I’ve often thought about how many drawings I’ve made and what that experience is like and how millions of people have never made 1 drawing and never felt that sensation.
Lastly, he spoke of the computer and what it has meant to art and the world in general. What sticks with me is that he said he will always be better on the computer than anyone working now as his “sense of form came about from sources other than the computer.”
It was a great experience listening to someone with his experience and success and his words reminded me very much of words I’ve heard from other very wise people I have known.
drawing of M. Glaser by Greg Betza
JAZZ at Lincoln Center
By way of a friend, my wife Despina and I were granted access to reportage a performance at JAZZ at Lincoln Center. An opportunity like this doesn’t come along often so we really went for it. The performance by Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Marc Cary, Neal Caine, and Jeff Tain Watts took place in Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola , a space acoustically designed for jazz. It was an unforgettable experience and I feel like, considering the limited light and space, the work I produced is strong and tells the story of that evening. Thank you to everyone at JAZZ who made us feel very welcome and especially to Susan who made this all possible.
Here are a few of the drawings I made that night.
A Great Job
A few months back I was contracted to create preliminary drawings of 10 new spaces within the new home of the New York Mets, Citifield. This is the type of job that doesn’t come along very often. I was given a tour within the new stadium (a privilege given very few) in order to get an idea of just how massive it truly is. And believe me, it was impressive. I have a new respect for the amount of planning and complexity that goes into a project of that magnitude. It was quite an experience to see the stadium unfinished and one that I doubt I’ll ever have that opportunity again.I’ve posted 4 drawings: The Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the Left Field Club Restaurant, the Sterling Lounge, and a rendering of a luxury Suite. Make your way to Flushing this spring and see it all come together. Love to hear what you think….
Traffic-Free Times Square Reportage
As the weather has been beautiful and the cars have been banned, I’ve taken full advantage and have been out drawing every chance I get. These drawings are from a few weeks ago on a Saturday in Times Square. It was a real pleasure to sit in the heart of the center of the world on a free chair at a free table and draw. I highly recommend it!
