Ben and Franklin's Thanksgiving 2012

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/BF2012reduced.jpg



Story

“Damn sky rats; get the hell outta here you filthy free loaders!”

“Relax Franklin, our winged cousins play a key role to the ambiance surrounding us. Think of them, along with the Gatti di Roma, as extras on this Roman stage. ”

“Thank God we’re not kissing cousins”

“Franklin, I want you to pause a moment…here we are on a Roman Holiday celebrating Thanksgiving at Piazza Novona and don’t you go taking me for Audrey Hepburn either…I don’t have her eyes.
Ha! – there’s a smile. That’s my boy, now drink more of this Bell’agio, it’ll warm the snood.”

“Ben, why this particular spot?”

“I was here many moons ago wandering Rome’s dark, narrow, labyrinth of streets when suddenly my path opened up to this glorious piazza. My beak was transfixed on the magnificent fountain sculpture you see before us.
Believing in the power of the Trevi, I had tossed some lire over the shoulder and voila, here I am back in Rome celebrating Thanksgiving, gazing once again upon the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Birdini.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontana_dei_Quattro_Fiumi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gian_Lorenzo_Bernini

“Each of the four figures represents a river. The one we are facing happens to represent the Whiskey River.”
The other three, not visible from our vantage point, represent the Nile, the Ganges and the Rio de la Plata.”

“What is Whiskey River reaching towards?”

“The Bourbon coat of arms, symbolizing the river’s close proximity to Kentucky, the home of Wild Turkey.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVI4dzbYXMc&feature=related

“Ben who’s the centaur character crouching in the crevasse?”

“Nice alliteration there Franklin, that is the notable Baroque architect Francesco Borromini, a contemporary of Birdini, their egos were at odds with each other regarding the design of St. Agnes, the church you see behind us.
Perhaps it was on this very spot, formerly the Stadio di Domiziano, that St. Agnes was martyred”

“As you can see, Birdini got the last laugh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Borromini

“He looks more like Robert Downy Jr., to me”

“Franklin, this is our last night in the Eternal City, let’s polish off the Chianti and say goodbye to Roma”

“Happy Thanksgiving Ben”

“Same to you and yours Franklin”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCcfuUBPLJU

“Ben you have the voice of a Martin…Arrivederci !”


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My inspiration

A photo I snapped of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi by Bernini in 1988 showing the character representing the Danube (Whiskey in my version) river reaching for the Papal Coat of Arms:

(click on thumbnail)
http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Europe%201988%20through%20a%20Pentax%20ME%20Super/Europe%201988%20digital%20conversion%20from%20slid es/th_1820820-R02-183.jpg (http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Europe%201988%20through%20a%20Pentax%20ME%20Super/Europe%201988%20digital%20conversion%20from%20slid es/?action=view&current=1820820-R02-183.jpg)


B&F 2011

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/th_BFThanksgiving2011.jpg (http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/?action=view&current=BFThanksgiving2011.jpg)


B&F 2010

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/th_BAFThanksgivingorigreduced.jpg (http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/?action=view&current=BAFThanksgivingorigreduced.jpg)


B&F 2009

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/th_Thanksgiving600dpi.jpg (http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/My%20Handiwork/?action=view&current=Thanksgiving600dpi.jpg)

[MystyrMystyry]

Phenomenomenal Gilliatt! :)

[cacian]

Gilliatt you are very talented artist!! Really amasing!

[papayahed]

Nice, Happy TD!

[Maximilianus]

Gilliatt, once again you prove yourself a hell of an artist
http://smilies-gifs.com/hola-adios/13hola-adios.gif

[Snowqueen]

It’s really marvelous. I wish I could draw like that! Thanks for sharing.

[Maximilianus]

It’s really marvelous. I wish I could draw like that! Thanks for sharing.
Your sketch posted on the artists' thread over a month ago is pretty awesome too, mademoiselle :)

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

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...I wish I could draw like that! Thanks for sharing.


Your sketch posted on the artists' thread over a month ago is pretty awesome too, mademoiselle

Thanks all for taking a look and the kind words.
Snowqueen, you have a good foundation established in terms of drawing skills, it is now a matter of deciding if drawing/ painting is a passion worthy of pushing to the next level. What does that mean? - practice, seek out drawing classes, reference materials (not only for learning drawing techniques, but also to learn about proper materials) , now with internet you have the ability to watch videos.

[Snowqueen]

Your sketch posted on the artists' thread over a month ago is pretty awesome too, mademoiselle :)

Thanks Max, you have made my day.



Thanks all for taking a look and the kind words.
Snowqueen, you have a good foundation established in terms of drawing skills, it is now a matter of deciding if drawing/ painting is a passion worthy of pushing to the next level. What does that mean? - practice, seek out drawing classes, reference materials (not only for learning drawing techniques, but also to learn about proper materials) , now with internet you have the ability to watch videos.

Drawing is one of my hobbies though I never took great pains to perfect it. My sister suggested that I should start with Betty Edwards’ Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, but I’ve yet to buy this book.

[Scheherazade]

Masterful as always, Gilliatt!

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving.

[Maximilianus]

Thanks all for taking a look and the kind words.
Your artistry deserves it :nod:


Snowqueen, you have a good foundation established in terms of drawing skills, it is now a matter of deciding if drawing/ painting is a passion worthy of pushing to the next level. What does that mean? - practice, seek out drawing classes, reference materials (not only for learning drawing techniques, but also to learn about proper materials) , now with internet you have the ability to watch videos.
Agreed. Nowadays one can find tutorials for almost everything, though I'm not sure if following a tutorial or any other sort of lesson can guarantee success. I feel that sometimes one wants to try something but lacks the flair for it, which can be bitterly disappointing.


Thanks Max, you have made my day.
Glad to know :wave:


Drawing is one of my hobbies though I never took great pains to perfect it. My sister suggested that I should start with Betty Edwards’ Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, but I’ve yet to buy this book.
I've been meaning to try my luck at drawing too. I tried a few simple doodles as a kid but nothing seriously committed. Probably that book might help me take the first steps, but I always doubt my hand skills. I always have these mild tremors that prevent me from keeping a firm hand, even when I handwrite.