Sorry for the late notice—I just found out myself! The U.S. Army Band is performing their annual “Holiday Festival” four-concert series this weekend at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. This year they have country music’s Mark Wills as a special guest artist.
Mark has traveled to Southwest Asia with The U.S. Army Band in conjunction with the USO since 2002. This tour is called the Hope and Freedom tour and brings the special feelings of home during Christmas season to our soldiers in harm’s way. Mark has made it a Christmas tradition to read A Soldier’s Night Before Christmas to his children on Christmas Eve, the day he returns from Afghanistan.
God bless our troops—merry Christmas and thank you for your service! Those of us at home are thinking of you.
https://www.johnmanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JohnManderslogo300w1-300x58.jpg00johnmandershttps://www.johnmanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JohnManderslogo300w1-300x58.jpgjohnmanders2010-12-12 09:20:022010-12-12 09:20:02Mark Wills and Sgt McClaus on stage!
And, it’s open Studio Saturday at the Transit Building in Oil City, noon to 5:00. My studio will be open most of that time—my lovely wife Lisa will be minding the shop. If you need an autographed book please stop by; all the books are signed. If you’d like one inscribed, leave me a note in the book and you can pick it up next week.
https://www.johnmanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JohnManderslogo300w1-300x58.jpg00johnmandershttps://www.johnmanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JohnManderslogo300w1-300x58.jpgjohnmanders2010-12-09 08:48:352010-12-09 08:48:35What are you doing on Saturday?
My friend Jerry Russell (whose fantastic work you can see here) observed that in The Year Without a Santa Claus I “made Santa’s eyebrows black, instead. For more expressive impact, I’m guessing.”
It’s true that the darker eyebrows make Santa’s face livelier. I’ve always loved the interpretation of Santa in old Coca-Cola ads by Haddon Sundblom. Click on his name to read about his work. His Santa has those dark eyebrows, in pleasant contrast with the white beard. Sundblom turned out paintings of Santa from the 30s through the 60s—so I got to see his new work when I was a kid. You don’t hear his name much, but Sundblom’s work represents the best of the golden age of illustration.
Mark Wills and Sgt McClaus on stage!
book promotionSorry for the late notice—I just found out myself! The U.S. Army Band is performing their annual “Holiday Festival” four-concert series this weekend at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. This year they have country music’s Mark Wills as a special guest artist.
Mark has traveled to Southwest Asia with The U.S. Army Band in conjunction with the USO since 2002. This tour is called the Hope and Freedom tour and brings the special feelings of home during Christmas season to our soldiers in harm’s way. Mark has made it a Christmas tradition to read A Soldier’s Night Before Christmas to his children on Christmas Eve, the day he returns from Afghanistan.
Mark will read A Soldier’s Night Before Christmas to his daughter and son on stage during the concert. What an honor!
God bless our troops—merry Christmas and thank you for your service! Those of us at home are thinking of you.
What are you doing on Saturday?
book promotion, self promotionIf you live anywhere near Clarion, PA and you’re not busy Saturday, December 11th, come on out to The Bathtub, The Kitchen Sink & Petey Dink’s (this is all one place with a long name). I’ll be signing copies of The Year Without a Santa Claus from 2:00 to 4:00.
And, it’s open Studio Saturday at the Transit Building in Oil City, noon to 5:00. My studio will be open most of that time—my lovely wife Lisa will be minding the shop. If you need an autographed book please stop by; all the books are signed. If you’d like one inscribed, leave me a note in the book and you can pick it up next week.
Santa’s eyebrows!
book promotion, illustration processMy friend Jerry Russell (whose fantastic work you can see here) observed that in The Year Without a Santa Claus I “made Santa’s eyebrows black, instead. For more expressive impact, I’m guessing.”
It’s true that the darker eyebrows make Santa’s face livelier. I’ve always loved the interpretation of Santa in old Coca-Cola ads by Haddon Sundblom. Click on his name to read about his work. His Santa has those dark eyebrows, in pleasant contrast with the white beard. Sundblom turned out paintings of Santa from the 30s through the 60s—so I got to see his new work when I was a kid. You don’t hear his name much, but Sundblom’s work represents the best of the golden age of illustration.