The Old Capitol in Iowa City, Iowa

[Joel L]

A 'not-so-hot photo' again. This is the Old Capitol in Iowa City, Iowa. It is located on the University of Iowa Campus. The drawing is done on Cold Press watercolor paper with a rapidograph pen. The size is 21" x 15". There are lots of problems with it but that's ok. It was fun to do. I really think that I and straight lines really do not belong together in same room or on the same page. But I do think the shading is nice. I wanted to add some more gradation to the sky in the upper left and to the center of the sky but was concerned that the building would then need to go darker. I wasn't sure and I'm still trying to decide. Because of the risks involved (risks involved!!!?) I think I'll leave it as is for now. That will be something I need to figure out for myself. The cross-hatch on the building is way too coarse I think. It makes it seem a little rough. I tried to maintain the same coarseness everywhere so it wouldn't seem so odd. I'm not sure it worked. The dome is gold. I think it looks like gold. I'm not sure what the flag looks like. I'm still trying to figure that one out. Oh well. Over all I like it. I would do things differently if I were to redo it. C and C is welcomed. Take care.

[brushwaggler]

Joel, on my screen, this just looks amazing, as I'm sure it does in real life.
Wouldn't change a thing.
Brushwaggler

[Blah]

I took one look and your drawing and said "WOW!!!"
After reading your post I enlarged this on my screen and looked at it again, and I still say "WOW!!!"

[crbuchan]

I agree - this looks very good. I guess it comes down to how you want the piece to be displayed/viewed. From a distance the "corseness" of the lines will fade to tone. I often have the same thoughts when I step back from a drawing.

[cashin1]

Awesome job Joel! I don't think it looks course at all, I really like it.

[dkk]

Joel.........I don't know........I see this every time I go to Iowa City.....can't miss it. I think the freshness of the coarseness is a plus. It's been done so much that it makes it stand out for me and seem less polished and has more of a historical feel which is appealing.
Well done........I would recognize it right away without the description and name.
On the sky? I prefer it as it is.....just my preference. Anything else would take away from the subject in my opinion.

[Joel L]

Brushwaggler: Thanks! I went to your site. Your work is awsome!
Blah,Chris and Pam: Thank you very much for your comments. I really appreciate them.
dkk: Thanks! I've been looking at it over the weekend and feel the same way about the sky. I'm going to leave it as it is.

[dkk]

Originally Posted by Joel L

Brushwaggler: Thanks! I went to your site. Your work is awsome!
Blah,Chris and Pam: Thank you very much for your comments. I really appreciate them.
dkk: Thanks! I've been looking at it over the weekend and feel the same way about the sky. I'm going to leave it as it is.

Joel.....yeah, I wondered about that....even after I commented. Cause you mentioned the dome.....and I wondered if you wanted to do something to the sky to create focus on the dome, due to all the publicity it got when it got torched by a worker restoring it a few years ago. Would be a wonderful conversation starter as well as a good selling point in so many ways........

[Bluegill]

Gorgeous work, again, Joel. The shading is better than nice. Please wrap it up and mail it to me so I can see it up close!

[Joel L]

Thanks Mark! How about a swap? Send me one of yours and I'll send you mine? This building is a trademark of the University of Iowa. So I need to be licensed to sell prints of it. Have you ever run into this with your work? I haven't looked into it too far so I'm not sure if it just means what I title it on the prints or if has something to do with the 'image' itself. I know who to call, I just haven't had a chance to do it yet.

dkk: I'm starting to really like the sky as is I think. I just need to figure out what to do about the flag. The first I had heard about the fire was this past weekend from my old roommate from college.

[Bluegill]

Joel, I think trademarks only apply to specific images/portrayals. You should be safe if it's a drawing of a public view of any building; it would just be trademark infringement if you were working from a logo, or using their branding. I'm pretty sure that's how it works.

I love the idea of a swap! I really admire your work. However, I have so few pieces and it takes me so long to crank one out that, at least right now, it's very hard to let one go except for a decent amount of cash to pay for bills. If you are serious, I will keep that in mind for the future. (And...if you have prints run, I'd happily trade prints with you!)

[Joel L]

For this, if it is like Iowa State's, it will be what I put onto the print as a title. For example I won't be able to put "The Old Capitol on the University of Iowa" onto the print since 'The Old Capitol' and "University of Iowa' are trademarks. I am guessing that if I left it untitled (not put onto the prints or notecards) I would be good. For Iowa State, for a single original work I can use the trademarks in the title (or I should say put onto the work). I just can't reproduce it with the trademarks(verbage) on it. I need to call the Universtiy of Iowa for the details. I've already talked to Iowa State.

Swapping prints would be cool! It might be a little while for me to get some because I need what I have for shows this year.

[Shewouldlinger]

This is pretty much amazing=)

[Scott W]

This is awesome Joel. This is my second favorite of yours, right behind your city scene you posted awhile back. Great job.

[Joel L]

Thanks Scott and Shewouldlinger!