Wings of Doom...

sketch1128, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

The leathery flap of post-death...

The Welcome to 2010...

sketch1127, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

December 31, 2009 and the wee morning hours of January 1, 2010 were spent in a wild chase form floor to floor and room to room at the Standard in downtown LA. When the dust settled for a moment, I was paid $5 American for a quick portrait of a gent and his lass. They were very pleased. Moments later...the young lady pictured above...also requested one. No currency, mind you...but she wanted the picture. I knew she wouldn't like it...and she wouldn't sit still...kept shifting as though being photographed. This is how she came out. I'm fairly fond...and it's fairly accurate. The crowd that gathered quite liked it....

The New Year...Brought In...

sketch1126, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

I drew this handsome fella on New Years' Eve...Some have asked if it's a self-portrait...the answer would be no....but thanks for playing.

Carry on Carrion...

sketch1125, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

Forgive the horrible play on words...I just hope the vulture shows up on Blogger...

Fallen Leaves and Fallen Rocks...

sketch1124, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

The only other nature drawing I got to do on this holiday trip to my parents' place. The weather was fine for being out and moving around, but not too hospitable for sitting in one place and drawing. C'est la vie...

...Here, There be Dead Things...

sketch1123, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

While at my parents' place over the Christmas holiday, a flock of at least one hundred vultures blew through on their way somewhere else. The first day we saw them, they circled in a nearly funnel cloud formation, and the noise they made was what might be referred to as "chilling." I ran after them with my camera and sketch pad down into the brush. Though quite large, they were very skittish, but I managed to keep still enough for a few to remain for a sketch. They sat perched atop a dead oak tree against a mottled in what could only be described as a "perfect" scene...as far as vultures go.

Quel Cauchemar...

sketch1121, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

This was inspired by a very beloved b-day gift...and that's all I care to explain.

It's the Truth...

sketch1120, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

This is actually a life drawing...there really was a girl in a feather headdress in the room....honest.

This is What I do at Parties These Days...

sketch1117, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

and by that, I mean draw...not sit in the corner as an elephant in military dress. The sad part is that the latter sounds more exciting...

...And the wind blew ink...

sketch1116, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

The last of the first series of nature drawings. I think I came quite a long way. Then it got too cold over the Christmas break to do many more...but I'll show you what I got soon enough...

...with...the Cosmos...

sketch1115, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

As I sketched this one, I sat on a shelf of rocks between a couple of big tufts of cattail-like grass. I must've really become one with nature because a rather large dear came up from behind within ten yards of me. The hilarious part was that when he noticed me, he gave the usual deer head bob, and then slowly turned and walked away. It was only when he reappeared further away from me that he gave me the noseblow and took off running...maybe he should've thought of that when I was close enough to hit him in the head with a rock...