Just thought I'd share a couple on-location pics from the painting I'm working on for the Historic Annapolis Foundation.  As I've mentioned before the painting is not only of The William Paca House but also the very impressive garden that exists outside.

What's interesting about the garden is that prior to the 1960's the garden had completely disappeared. Over the years it simply declined to the where it was all but lost.  Then in the 1960-70's "extensive excavations and other research revealed the original garden's features and led to their re-creation."

Working onsite such as I'm able to do really lends itself to appreciating the comfort and even serenity of the garden.  Especially considering how much time I'm typically working within the studio.

Though that certainly doesn't mean the garden isn't without it's own version of excitement.  I had a quick photo-opp with this colorful leggy fellow busy at work right behind where I was busy at work.  Cute, right?

Hope you enjoy the pics.  Have a great weekend and I'll talk with you on Monday!

- D

Whatsup everyone, this is the cover I illustrated for issue #1 of DEADLESS, from the masterful mind of Mr. Matt O'Keefe.

For me personally the goal of this cover wasn't just to illustrate a particular scene in the story but to convey a strong sense of contrast.  In one of the more apparent ways I wanted to push the contrast of light and dark with regard to rendering the forms; utilizing the brightness of the bristol board with the darkness of the india ink (Dr. Martins Bombay Black if you're curious).  Then there's the main character, Joseph Montgomery.  Born in the 18th century but still alive because of a deal made with a demon named Azil.  He continues to live yet continues to age.  An "old" man in every sense of the word.  Paired against a character of great significance, a young baby girl.

Joseph, who's life is never in danger of ending looking down upon one whose life is very much just that.  The peace one may feel from their religion versus the fear released by a violent attack.  Even the comfort of a small crib lined in soft cotton against the rough texture a splintering wooden floor.

These are a few ideas that were going through my head while designing the cover that I was hoping to communicate. There's a couple more but, well, I'll step down from the podium and see if they'll speak for themselves.

Hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you soon!

- D

Whatsup everyone,

This is the next stage in the evolution of the William Paca House painting; of which I've been commissioned by the Historic Annapolis Foundation to create.

This, the "drawing" stage, is rendered using charcoal on 22 x 30in. Rives BFK.  Vine charcoal to be specific.  A medium I've much experience with though one whose company I haven't had the pleasure of in some time.  So this project personally has already begun on a high note.  I'd say the phrase "getting your hands dirty" aptly applies.

Now that the composition of the architecture and landscape is in place we, Historic Annapolis and myself, are seeking to determine the best possible way to include the characters of the setting, that being William Paca, his wife Mary and all those involved with the home.  This includes not only who will be present but also the activities they'll be participating in (given the time period), whom they'll be interacting with, along with their specific placement in the composition - and all of these elements circling around the factual information available on the history of the home and those characters within.

Hope you enjoy and I'll keep you posted!

- D

Whatsup everyone,

Here we have an additional sneak peek at the mural I've been at work on for the Securityplus Federal Credit Union. As I mentioned in one of the previous posts one of the major themes for the mural is the transition of time from the companies early beginnings in 1938 onto present day, while touching on what it is they bring to the table for their members and how that's grown over the years.  And of course as time moves forward so does do their members.

In an earlier post I had a fellow from the late 30's, early 40's styling with a blue gray fedora (which I can personally appreciate).  Here we have one of our modern present-day members, of course wearing quite the grin (which I can also appreciate).

Hope you all enjoy and I'll talk with you soon!

- D

Good day everyone,

I thought I'd share a sketch with you for a new project I've begun for the Historic Annapolis Foundation, the same kind folks who organized and put on the theatrical performance, Project Run-a-way, last year.

This is the William Paca House & Garden, located in Annapolis, Maryland - a "National Historic Landmark that was restored by Historic Annapolis to its colonial-era splendor".  It was the original home to William Paca, a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Maryland, who then went on to become Governor of Maryland, as well as a United States federal judge.

Here's a bit more information from the Historic Annapolis website...

"The William Paca House is one of Annapolis’s—and America’s—most impressive restored 18th-century mansions.  When built by Paca in 1763–65, it was one of the first five-part Georgian homes in Annapolis.  Its style evokes the English country villas of the time.

Paca, a young lawyer who became one of four Declaration of Independence signers from Maryland as well as governor of Maryland from 1782-85, sold the house in 1780.  The property changed hands many times in the 19th century, before becoming part of Carvel Hall—one of the city’s most popular hotels for much of the 20th century.  By 1965, however, it faced demolition.

Historic Annapolis worked with other preservationists to purchase and save the property.  Through meticulous restoration, the home has been returned to its distinctive colonial-era state.  Museum-quality period furnishings, including Paca family silver and ceramics fill its rooms."


The Historic Annapolis Foundation has commissioned me to create a painting of the home and garden.  Throughout it's history there have been a number of paintings created of it, though interpreted with historically inaccurate stylization or exaggerated subject matter regarding wealth, status and so on, depending on the particular era of the painting.

Therefore, one of the unique goals with the painting is, for the first time, to show the home as it truly was in 1773.  Including all those who lived, or were involved, in the home - not only depicting William Paca and his wife Mary but many of the slaves & servants who maintained the home & garden.  Everything that will be included in the painting will be as accurate as possible to what is known of the home, garden & characters at that time.

As you can assume I'm very excited to be on board for this and really look forward to sharing the progress of the painting with you!  Hope you all enjoy this preliminary sketch and I'll talk with you soon.

- D 

In the mood for some jaw-dropping Friday the 13th knowledge?  But of course you are!

• "According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day making it the most feared day and date in history."
• "One author, noting that references [to Friday the 13th] are all but nonexistent before 1907 but frequently seen thereafter, has argued that its popularity derives from the publication that year of Thomas W. Lawson's popular novel 'Friday, the Thirteenth', in which an unscrupulous broker takes advantage of the superstition to create a Wall Street panic on a Friday the 13th."

• "The fear of Friday the 13th has been called friggatriskaidekaphobia (Frigga being the name of the Norse goddess for whom "Friday" is named and triskaidekaphobia meaning fear of the number thirteen)"

• "Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century's 'The Canterbury Tales', and many other professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects."
• "Black Sabbath's eponymous debut album was released in the UK on Friday, February 13, 1970."
  

Happy Friday the Thirteenth and I'll talk with you on Monday!

- D

NOTE: My wonderful grandparents Bill and Mary Draper celebrated their 53th anniversary today.  Happy Anniversary to them!

Whatsup everyone!

If you've been following my blog here you're probably aware of a series I've been working on with my uncle, Michael Draper.  The series, based on true events, are short stories recalling the memories of my uncle's childhood.  Times of hunting & fishing in a spot on Maryland's Eastern Shore dubbed by he and his brothers as 'The Country'.

This story in particular is of the time when, well,  I'll let you read it.  You can check it out on his site by clicking right HERE.

Hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you soon!

- D

Here's another detail from the Securityplus mural I've been working on.

If you're familiar with Baltimore you're probably in the know on the importance of the Inner Harbor - a major seaport in the United States since the 18th century.  This detail here depicts an active scene on the Baltimore City waterfront in the late 1930's, where the first Credit Union branch was located.

Hope you enjoy!

- D

Whatsup everybody,

I don't usually "re-post" a piece on the blog here but I thought this was an interesting exception.

Last year I worked on a project called Project Run-a-way - a theatrical performance that through individual monologues told the stories of a handful of slaves, indentured servants, and convict servants.  In the stage background was a variety of projected imagery to accentuate their story, and amongst that imagery were a number of illustrations I created of pertinent characters.

One of these characters was the gentleman on our left, Captain Edward Dix.  Captain of the HMS Menelaus of the British Royal Navy.  A man known for his great character, honor and was responsible for the livelihood of one Maryland slave in particular, William 'Rolla'  Ross.

A little while back something very interesting happened.  My world of art-making and imagination was briefly touched by reality when I was contacted by a descendent of Captain Edward Dix.  A man by the name of Ross Dix-Peek of Dublin, Ireland.  He himself a writer & poet, had written an article on the life of his descendant.  Being that the captain lived from 1778-1837 there are no known images of him and in fact  when I depicted him I did so based solely upon the personality that came through in the script of Project Run-a-way.  Because of this Mr. Dix-Peek merely wondered if he could have permission to use the piece for his article.  And which of course, after a pleasant back & forth of emails, I was more than happy to give.

Here's an excerpt from the article, "The Life of Captain Edward Dix, Royal Navy (1778-1837)"...

What transpired is that only he (Dix) and eight others were to escape a subsequent outbreak of yellow fever, of which imprecation he knew well, and approximately thirty-three of the crew were to succumb, the Arab there-after returning to Spithead whereupon the remaining crew was paid off and the ship placed in ordinary at Woolwich and sold in September 1810.  Dix, “worn as he was by incessant fatigue of body and distressing anxiety of mind, was the only officer it spared”.  Years after, there were members of the crew who would often declare that it was thanks to the endeavours of Dix and his “active benevolence of character” that they were to survive, and that they were forever indebted to the “humane and tender assistance” of Edward Dix (to whom was also attributed “a strong constitution” and “a cheerful evenness of temper“).  Of interest too, and further testament to his character is the fact that the procurement of the comforts and refreshments needed by the ailing crew was done thus through the utility of the young lieutenant’s slender purse which was stretched to the “uttermost”.


If you'd like to read the full article you can simply click HERE.  I couldn't recommend it more highly.  It's a short and wonderfully documented biography of an honorable man - one I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to visually interpret.

Hope you enjoy and I'll talk with you soon!

- D

Whatsup everyone, today we have a special THURSDAY post.  Over the last few weeks I've been keeping a regular schedule of Monday, Wednesday & Friday and plan to do so well into the future (so please feel free to keep stopping by.  It's most appreciated).

However, today deserves some attention.  Why?  Well, today the final page of LAST CARESS as been posted on Split Lip Comics website!  That's right, it's all up there.  1 through 24.

So if you've been patiently waiting to check out the comic from day one onto it's conclusion... Now. Is. Your. Time. Just click HERE and you can read all 24 pages of Last Caress beginning to end.

For those who have been following the comic I just want to say thanks.  As you may know after 6 years of continuous tales of horror, Last Caress is the final comic from Split Lip - making today the final page to be posted.  It was a big decision for Sam but don't fret, he's currently hard at work on a new tale (told of course in the comics medium) so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for it.  It's guaranteed to leave you with more than a few chills up your spine.

As for me, it was an absolute pleasure to work with Sam and I'm honored to have been a part of the Split Lip family.  6 years, 37 stories and 550 plus pages of comics is a hell of an accomplishment.  Congrats on a job well done, sir.  All the best and I can't wait to check out what's brewing next.

- D