Britain 1985, Part 2: Paul La Marque by James Gurney
Click on this Soundcloud player to hear the audio.
You’ll hear the voice of Paul LaMarque, weekend manager of the Saint Margaret’s Hotel in London. As I recorded his jokes and stories, I sketched this pencil portrait, so it's a rare chance to have a sketch "talk."
Mr. La Marque wrote in my sketchbook, describing himself: “Mentally a vacuum, physically a waste of skin, socially riff-raff, nevertheless ‘given from God.’”
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If the player doesn't work, try the direct link to Soundcloud File
Scroll down for part 1. Tomorrow we’ll finish with part 3.
These posts are great, James! Can you say a little about your sketching process back then: e.g. what size sketchbook; all pencil? What techniques have you added, changed, or dropped since then?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great ride, as always!
Hey, Tom, this sketch (and all the sketches in the Britain book) are good old basic #2 graphite pencils. They're about seven inches square, hardcover sketchbooks. I brought a few hardnesses, maybe a 4B, 2B, and HB, with a bit of smudging and kneaded eraser.
ReplyDeleteThe sketch that I'll show tomorrow uses kind of a Kautzky/ Watson chisel technique, so stay tuned!
i'm trying to turn over a new kinder leaf in 2011 so i wont comment on those jokes and stories, haha!
ReplyDeletebut i will say i found this site
otrarchive.blogspot.com
and it has a ton of the old radio programs, some really great horror, suspence and thriller short story dramas, really well written and acted and directed, such a great blast from the past.
these are incredibly enjoyable to paint or make art to, in fact i would say they have really helped my concentration and enjoyment while painting.
my suggestions are the shows Lights Out, Suspence, and Escape! (try to find Three Skeleton Key, pure Vincent Price GENIUS!)
also hopeing to find my color and light book at my door step tonight!
Thanks, Super V. I know, it's pretty obvious that I didn't get most of his jokes until he explained them. But my lame excuse was that I was using most of my laser-like powers of concentration on the portrait.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the old radio shows. They're great to paint by. I have the Walter Cronkite collection, which has 3 skeleton key and my favorite, the Hitchhiker.
I also recommend Ruby and Jack Flanders from ZBS Productions (ZBS.org).
Hey Mr. Gurney. Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the work you put into your blog. It really is an inspiration in so many ways. It's amazing that you even take time (with all that you're accomplishing) to answer comments and questions on top of your posting. It's that kind of generosity (on top of great art and information:) that inspires me to buy your books and tell everyone about them:) Thanks for taking us in and letting us be part of your world:) It's been a fun ride.
ReplyDeleteSuperVillain: There is plenty of old time radio at archive.org. I recommend cbs radio mystery theater. I agree with your opinion of "Three Skeleton Key."
ReplyDeleteJ. S. You're welcome, and really, it's fun for me. I made these audio tapes 25 years ago, just to send around the sounds on cassette tapes to 5 or 6 friends. So it's a kick for me to share them more widely. I've got a ton more stuff, especially art talk and readings, but I would have to digitize them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for spreading the word about the books. That's really what funds all this play.
Fantastic sketch! how long did you needand was it fixed afterwards??
ReplyDeleteRespects P.Howlett
Love these posts with the audio (I finally got around to listening to them).
ReplyDeleteMore like this would be most welcome!