Top Secret: Boom Operator Final...

Big thanks to Bill, and all my new friends out at the:

Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 171st Air Refueling Wing!

they put up with me slugging paint around, whining, and taking in all that fantastic pictures and memorabilia on display... all the while, recreating their Unit Patch on the walls of their offices...

here is where we last left the unit patch: 

about half way through the work, they decided that they wanted their Squadron numbers to be painted onto the ruddervators:

no problem:

we also decided to paint an outline around the whole patch. the white just wasn't working against the color of the wall. so we used a template, sketched out the shape, and taped it off:

here I am putting some finishing touches on the letters:

and here it is, pretty much finished. just need to do some really light touch-up work in and around the gray boom area. no biggie at all:

and here is your "artist" standing "triumphantly"

 (insert your own words for "artist" and "triumphantly")

again, MUCH thanks to the 171st Boom Operators for letting me take on this project! as always, thank you for your service!!!

-RyCo

Houndogg Designs

BRA Day USA, recap...

Well the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Event was a great time, and a HUGE success for everyone involved. BIG HUGE thanks to Carolyn  De La Cruz, MD for organizing the event, and to The Mattress Factory Art Museum for hosting it. Also to all the artists, sponsors and donors that helped out! Was a really fun night!

To my Sis-In-Law Angie for getting me involved, and to family and friends that attended, you all are the best! Thanks again!

here's a shot of Gertrude strutting her stuff front and center, with MC Carolyn at the mic:

here's my bio page, written by my GF Jocelyn, next to a bidding battle:


















this knucklehead:



one more pose for the auction:



and some of the wonderful family that has to put up with me:



hope to do a lot more of these in the future!

BRA Day USA, Part 2...

BRA Day is tonight! REALLY excited to attend this event, and especially happy to contribute!

part 2, LOT'S of paint:

mosaic-style sun, with big gaps between the painted tile shapes for just enough brightness (ignore the sketch marks for now):

yellow outline on the flowers. paint pen & a steady hand:

tile detail:

almost finished:

well, hope you enjoyed! will try to post a pic or 2 of me and the mannequin we affectionately named Gertrude

p.s.

Gertrude was a great model to work with. not one complaint!

BRA Day USA, Part 1...

Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day

I was asked a few weeks back to participate in a project for BRA Day USA. painting a mannequin torso!

the charity event will take place this Wednesday night (10/17) at the Mattress Factory Art Museum from 6:00 - 9:00.

500 Sampsonia Way,

Pittsburgh 15212

from the invite:

"Breast reconstruction following mastectomy

can close the loop on breast cancer for many.

Join the UPMC Department of Plastic

Surgery for Pittsburgh’s inaugural Breast

Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day event.

Enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres,

and fabulous art. Bid on mannequin busts

creatively designed by some of Pittsburgh’s

favorite artists.

Tickets are $50 each. Proceeds will

be used to raise awareness and promote

education for breast reconstruction."

here are some pics from the first few nights of work...

"she" arrives:

mapping out a path for a ribbon:

measuring for a consistent width:

trace/freehand:

tracing (rather sloppy flowers):

trying to color within the lines:

next... we fill in the blanks and clean her up for the party! stay tuned!

Top Secret: Day 6

thanks to my lovely assistant Bill, here is the progress:



won't be long now...

however, thinking of making some on the go modifications, and adding more yellow/gold than originally planned!

Dabbling in Sign Painting 4...

switching gears from painting a wall logo, back to painting this sign:

really excited to try out this font from House Industries! it's a House Slant that was offered up last month. finally got around to tracing it out:

turning out pretty good so far. still a lot of space to create some graphics... stay tuned!

Top Secret: Day 5/Trip 3

secret is OUT Pittsburgh, here is where i've been hiding:

see my truck?

made another trip out, and put these stencils to work:

whew! everything seems centered...

end of Day 5:

1.5 hours of work

Top Secret: Day 4

preparing for some sharp letters!

end of Day 4:

2 hours of work

Top Secret: Day 3/Trip 2

the second trip out to these projects is always a fun one. pretty much everything is sketched out on the wall by the end, and it just gets you that much more excited.

about ready to lay on some paint:

end of Day 3/Trip 2:

1.5 hours of work

Top Secret: Day 2/Homework

i'm just as proud to work on this project as the people are that will see the project. so i want the letters to be as sharp as possible!

making stencils at home:

Day 2. 1 hour of work

Top Secret: Day 1/Trip 1

with my latest project comes security clearance!

i'm at an undisclosed location, doing an undisclosed project, for undisclosed people... but... if you're familiar Pittsburgh, you know exactly where i am. also, it's not top secret at all... just sounds cool to me!

i won't be giving away what i'm doing, but stay tuned and enjoy the pics:

getting the $.05 tour:

flight simulator. toppin' off a C-5 Galaxy:

pro move, totally forgot to print out sheets 10, 11 & 12. know exactly where i'm wrapping this project up on this trip in particular

end of Day 1/Trip 1. 2 hours of work.

stay tuned for more!