Creating ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book #4

‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book Project #4

As I mentioned, for this 2013/14 ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Art/Story project, I chose places to stop based on odd names of places, places I was familiar with, and art images that matched up with specific names of places. There were a few places that the Artwork I chose to include in this fictitious journey required I find a certain location to match the art image narrative and build the story from that.

This image is one. Having the narrative set on a planet in space I had to seek out a location that contained an observatory so that I could look through a telescope. For this story, the place I chose was the Mount Wilson Observatory located in the Angeles National Forest, California. This place, image, and story is #15 of the 37 stories.

As for the present Art Exhibit Book project and the ‘Frontmatter’ potion of the book, this past week I revisited the Preface for one of numerous proof reads I will indulge in over the next few months. I also picked up the digital scan for the location and route based Map and inserted it into the Map/locations page.

Continuing to work on the Front cover design. A bit slow going but this ‘snails pace’ has worked to my flavor by allowing me to make several item additions and a few adjustments to others before inking and watercolor is applied to those areas.

There is now a gathering of items to be used as props for photographs to be used in the back cover design.

Spent an evening brainstorming with several members of an Art group I participate in regarding the different reward levels to be used in the Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign come March.

Image: ‘Spaceburger’

Watercolor, pen & ink, 10” x 10”

Text and Image: Copyright Craig L Haupt

Ukazoo: Trademark Ukazoo Books with permission.

Creating ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book #3

Posted by Craig L Haupt

‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book Project #3

As ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ project began to unfold, I chose a starting point of June 3, 2013 and with selecting Monday as a once a week posting day, it was 37 weeks till the Solo Exhibition. I laid out a U.S. map and started deciding on 37 stops that took me across the U.S. and back to Ukazoo Bookstore. First choices were cities/towns with unusual names as well as a few places I was familiar with. As I looked at routes and names of cities/towns I came across a few whose names fit art images I planned to use for this project. For the image posted above I happened to find a place in Washington State that seemed an appropriate match-‘Cape Disappointment’. In ’The Journey to Ukazoo’ this place, image, and story is #19.

As for the present Art Exhibit Book project and the ‘Frontmatter’ potion of the book. Facing the ‘Preface’ page will be a U.S. and lower Canada map (there is one stop in Canada) with a list of all the city/town stops and respective States. Online I found a blank U.S. map with only State abbreviations and opening a copy/pasted copy in ‘Paint’, entered in all the cities/towns. Next step was printing it out and draw in the travel route.

It is now being digitally scanned so I can transfer it to the PDF file ‘Map’ page in the book.

There is also additional scanning being done this week for rough drafts of border art and combining other art images for future ‘Journey’ posts.

Image: ‘Day at the Beach’

Watercolor, pen & ink, 5” x 7”

Text and Image: Copyright Craig L Haupt

Ukazoo: Trademark Ukazoo Books with permission.

Creating ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book #2

Posted by Craig L Haupt

‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ project was the consequence of the need to find a space to host a solo art exhibit of recently completed artwork in 2013. Judy, a friend and fellow artist suggested the Ukazoo Bookstore which allowed artists to show their works in one of two reading rooms.

Signing the commitment form to exhibit, the locked in date was February 2014, nine months away. It was the desire to promote the forthcoming solo exhibit that ’The Journey to Ukazoo’ project was conceived.

Shown with this post is one of nine oil paintings I created for the 2014 solo exhibit.

As for the present Art Exhibit Book project, I will address the components for the book. The first of three components I need to work with is called the ’Frontmatter’. This consists of the Cover, Half title and Title pages. Also included is the Copyright page, Dedication, Preface and Table of Contents.

The first paragraph above is a portion of the Books Preface.

On the drafting table is the pencil layout for the cover of the book.

In the mix with juggling all these book components is meeting with a publisher to fix the size of the book, select paper weight/opacity, and correct off-white paper for the book pages.

The finished size will be 9 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches and the paper, after discussions, will be an 80 lb. off-white.

While close to an acceptable shade of white, there may be a few more samples to select from.

Image: ‘Pirates in a Bathtub’

Oil on board, 18” x 22”

Text and Image: Copyright Craig L Haupt

Creating ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book

Posted by Craig L Haupt

Welcome to ‘The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book project.

Over the next 12 Mondays (excluding the Holiday season) I will post a diary of the trails, & tribulations of my efforts to publish a Book, culminating with a 30 day Kickstarter Funding Campaign in March 2019. These Monday postings will also be formatted to highlight the different sections of the books content/layout.

I am asking for help, if you are interested, in Sharing these posts to expand this projects social media presence and with that enhance my chances of achieving the funding goals for publishing the book.

If you are able to Share these Monday posts on a continuous basis I will include your name in the Social Media Acknowledgement section of ’The Journey to Ukazoo’ Book.

A note: the crowdfunding part gives everyone a chance to acquire different items of my artwork as well as the book for your donations. It’s not monetary donations for nothing in return.

Image: ‘The Journey’ This image will be used on the Front cover of the Book.

Watercolor, Pen & Ink

Ukazoo: Tradmark Ukazoo Books used with permission.

The Journey to Ukazoo Book-Prelude

Posted by Craig L Haupt

A prelude to ’The Journey to Ukazoo Book’.

Well, obviously I am not the woman in this painting, but for the introduction of the next upcoming project, her act of driving is used as a metaphor. The metaphor in this case, a Journey. Starting Monday November 19th I will begin a ‘sort-of’ new project. The ’sort-of ’ part is revisiting my first on-line project ’The Journey to Ukazoo’ posted 2013/2014. The new part is I will post the efforts to compile all the necessary ingredients to put that ‘journey’ into book form.

Image: ‘Always Look Both Ways’

Oil on board

Ukazoo: Tradmark Ukazoo Books with permission.

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”-Nine of Nine

Posted by Craig L Haupt

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”

Ninth of the Nine Oil Paintings displayed

“Pirates in a Bathtub”

March, 2014

18” x 22” Oil on Board

Referring back to the text in “She Loves Me Not” (Fourth of the Nine) posting, I mentioned a painting I had shelved in January 2013, because of technical issues. During the first weeks of 2014 (a year passed), I remembered this painting and the importance I attached to having it in the upcoming art exhibit of new works, now just two months away.

I resolved the technical issue, prepped the reverse side of the board and, knowing I only had eight weeks to complete it (in the midst of getting ready for a two part art exhibit), I started this painting again.

I finished the painting (March 13) two days before the “New Works” opening on March 15th.

Along with my gratitude over the past year (The “Ukazoo Journey” started June 3rd, 2013) to Eric & Laura, Jesse & Reeghan, Lee & Deborah, Katelyn, Laura, Judy, Karen and many other relatives and friends for their help and support, I again extend a thanks to Mac for helping with the hanging of the artwork for both exhibits (February’s Ukazoo Stories and the March Ukazoo New paintings).

As I close this portion of the “Ukazoo Journey” postings and now work towards putting the “Journey” into ’Book’ form I offer another reminder of the upcoming new project to be posted Monday June 16th.

Added to the flashing lights, musical fanfare, confetti, fireworks, jugglers with flaming batons, clowns on unicycles, acrobatic alligators, a Zeppelin with scrolling text, mimes releasing balloons, and a dozen daring debutante’s being shot (one at a time, of course) from a canon screaming

“COMING, NEW PROJECT, KEEP TUNED FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT”,

just before they hit the safety net, this announcement would not be complete without the releasing of a host of white doves and a thousand Butterflies (I counted).

As always, knowing my difficulty of making such a loud announcement, I say softy, please keep following my journey, more neat art stuff is on the way.

Art notes:

All images and text are copyright Craig L Haupt

Postings of “Ukazoo Journey” are every Monday Evening.

FaceBook: Craig L Haupt – “Journey to Ukazoo Album” or

Blog: http://www.craiglhaupt.com – “Journey to Ukazoo”

See “Slide One” for a brief synopsis.

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”-Eight of Nine

Posted by Craig L Haupt

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”

Eighth of the Nine Oil Paintings displayed

“Room With a View”

January, 2014

18” x 24” Oil on Board

In Private Collection

Working with a small “doodle” that caught my interest, the developing design was more conducive to a square format. Only having, at that time, a rectangle board prepped for painting, I found and added a second “doodle” from the same sketch book page. Hence, this painting.

A “thank you” to Katelyn. There is a thank you to Deborah, Anne, and Katelyn for unsolicited help with the setting up and replenishing refreshments in past art exhibits but a special thank you to Katelyn for agreeing to help me with the Ukazoo Art exhibit. Katelyn also kept track of sales/name and address information.

Another reminder of the upcoming new project to be posted Monday June 16th. Added to the flashing lights, musical fanfare, confetti, fireworks, jugglers with flaming batons, clowns on unicycles, acrobatic alligators, a Zeppelin with scrolling text, and mimes releasing balloons are a dozen, daring debutante’s being shot (one at a time, of course) from a canon screaming

“COMING, NEW PROJECT, KEEP TUNED FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT”,

just before they hit the safety net.

As always, knowing my difficulty of making such a loud announcement, I say softy, please keep following my journey, more neat art stuff is on the way.

Art notes:

All images and text are copyright Craig L Haupt

Postings of “Ukazoo Journey” are every Monday Evening.

FaceBook: Craig L Haupt – “Journey to Ukazoo Album” or

Blog: http://www.craiglhaupt.com – “Journey to Ukazoo”

See “Slide One” for a brief synopsis.

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”-Seven of Nine

Posted by Craig L Haupt

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”

Seventh of the Nine Oil Paintings displayed

“A Walk in the Park”

December, 2013

22” x 22” Oil on Board

Just after completing “Mating Calls” I turned my attention to the next ‘almost completed’ painting, “A Walk in the Park”.

This painting carries a small history.

The first painting using these ‘spherical characters’ was “King Me” (see Slide 13 in the Journey to Ukazoo). “King Me” also represents my last painting using Acrylic paints. During this acrylic painting, I felt the need to achieve more flexibility in my approach to layering/glazing techniques for creating shading/form and thus, four years ago, the stage was set for my learning to paint with oils .

“A Walk in the Park” derived from a ’doodle’ in my sketch book, dated December, 2009, containing these same ’spherical characters’. After completing a number of oil paintings over the next three + years, I decided to develop it as an Oil painting and, at the very least, see the progress of the shading techniques between the Acrylic “King Me” and the Oil “Walk in the Park”. Took a while to finally finish this painting but I am very comfortable with my transition from the Acrylic’s to Oils.

“COMING, NEW PROJECT, KEEP TUNED FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT”

Are many manic mimes releasing a vast array of brightly colored balloons.

As always, knowing my difficulty of making such a loud announcement, I say softy, please keep following my journey, more neat art stuff is on the way.

Art notes:

All images and text are copyright Craig L Haupt

Postings of “Ukazoo Journey” are every Monday Evening.

FaceBook: Craig L Haupt – “Journey to Ukazoo Album” or

Blog: http://www.craiglhaupt.com – “Journey to Ukazoo”

See “Slide One” for a brief synopsis.

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”-Six of Nine

Posted by Craig L Haupt

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”

Sixth of the Nine Oil Paintings displayed

“Mating Calls”

November, 2013

22” x 22” Oil on Board

During July to November, with the Ukazoo stories to be completed every week, three watercolors to work on, the long process of cutting of double mats and fitting them into 5” x 5” frames for 23 drawings called “Thumbnail Sketches” (to also be displayed at the Ukazoo Exhibit), the progress of four started oil paintings (one still unfinished) moved at a snail’s pace. It wasn’t till late November that, finally, one of those oil paintings, “Mating Calls” was completed.

Another reminder of the upcoming new project to be posted Monday June 16th. Added to the flashing lights, musical fanfare, confetti, fireworks, jugglers with flaming batons, clowns on unicycles, and acrobatic alligators is a graceful flying metallic gray Zeppelin sporting scrolling brightly lit text declaring:

“COMING, NEW PROJECT, KEEP TUNED FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT”

As always, knowing my difficulty of making such a loud announcement, I say softy, please keep following my journey, more neat art stuff is on the way.

Art notes:

All images and text are copyright Craig L Haupt

Postings of “Ukazoo Journey” are every Monday Evening.

FaceBook: Craig L Haupt – “Journey to Ukazoo Album” or

Blog: http://www.craiglhaupt.com – “Journey to Ukazoo”

See “Slide One” for a brief synopsis.

“The Ukazoo Exhibit”-Five of Nine

Posted by Craig L Haupt

“The Ukazoo Art Exhibit”

Fifth of the Nine Oil Paintings displayed

“The Couple”

June, 2013

16” x 20” Oil on Board

This painting is a departure from the norm. All my finished art over the past 143 years has been a chosen “doodle”, worked to a final outlined design on rough paper, then copied to tracing paper and transferred to the finish paper, canvas, board etc.

“The Couple” was my first experience with looking just at the “doodle” in the sketch book, a simple pen & ink outline of the two figures and bypassing all my usual steps. The changes to design, proportion, placement, color, and embellishments were made with paint directly on the board, as I worked and reworked the painting to a final conclusion.

I was extremely pleased with the result.

It was during this painting that I owe “thanks” to Judy. During a light conversation, at our painters group, reviewing my pro & cons of undecided locations for my next exhibit, it was Judy that suggested the Ukazoo Bookstore in Towson.

An ensuing email to Ukazoo, follow-up meeting securing a date ten months away, followed by three initial prints hung in Ukazoo bookstore, and three consecutive FaceBook, May 2013, postings of the displayed prints were the beginnings. By the second of the three posts I started to refer to them as my “mini Slide Show” which in turn triggered one of those “brightly lit light bulbs over the head” moments about a slide show and journey to the exhibit. A subsequent supportive discussion with Mac and Laura about creating a self-promotion project called “The Journey to Ukazoo” led to the June 3rd post of “Slide One”.

Another reminder of the upcoming new project to be posted Monday June 16th. Added to the flashing lights, musical fanfare, confetti, fireworks, jugglers with flaming batons, and clowns on unicycles of last weeks:

“COMING, NEW PROJECT, KEEP TUNED FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT”

Are seven amazing acrobatic alligators doing what acrobatic alligators do best.

As always, knowing my difficulty of making such a loud announcement, I say softy, please keep following my journey, more neat art stuff is on the way.

Art notes:

All images and text are copyright Craig L Haupt

Postings of “Ukazoo Journey” are every Monday Evening.

FaceBook: Craig L Haupt – “Journey to Ukazoo Album” or

Blog: http://www.craiglhaupt.com – “Journey to Ukazoo”

See “Slide One” for a brief synopsis.