So. It’s been quite a busy year for me, some good, some bad, but actually mostly good. Besides the weekly routine of the day job, home maintenance, child-rearing and freelance projects, I’ve actually gotten back on track in updating Dicebox on a regular, nay, weekly basis. (In fact, here have been 15 pages since I last updated this journal.)

I’ve also been actually to get out and do things, like see live music preformed by Jecsa Hoop, Robyn Hitchcock and Janelle Monáe (not on the same night). My most recent musical outing was earlier this week to see and sketch a dress rehearsal of the Portland Opera’s current production of “Hansel and Gretel.”

For the past two productions, Portland Opera has invited a gaggle of cartoonists to come watch the Monday dress rehearsal before opening night and create art from their impressions of the same. Mike Russel has posted a summary of the first one, a production of “Paliacci” & “Carmina Burana” (which I couldn’t attend, alas) which includes links to reports of cartoonists as well as his live sketch blogging previous operas.

Below are my expanded sketches from the visual “notes” I took during the dress rehearsal of a very frenetic performance.

Sandman comes

Gretel in the woods

These are actually executed digitally in Photoshop, using brushes to mimic the colored pencil and pastel on colored paper I brought to draw on during the rehearsal. I tried to keep the execution expressive and loose, reminiscent of my approach to life drawing.

Below are examples of the sketches I did during the performance, including the gesture drawing I built the expanded sketches on. (click on thumbnail for a larger view)

Other cartoonists who attended include Barry Deutsch, Jonathan Case, Indigo Kelleigh, Emi Lenox,Adrian Wallace, Tally Nouriget, Trixie Biltmore and about eight others whose “Hansel and Gretel” art can be viewed on the Portland Opera website itself.

To make up for last week’s lack, there are three pages of “Don’t Look Back” from Patrick this time out. (permalink)

This week’s suggested soundtrack is “Magnum Opus: Father Padilla Meets The Perfect Gnat / Howling At The Moon / Man Overboard / Industry On Parade / Release The Beavers / Gnat Attack” by Kansas. Quote Patrick: “I miss the era of song titles with slashes.”

On that note, I’m shamed to say that I didn’t get the pun in the above image until it was pointed out to me. I will now hang my head low.

Mike Russell filed his report on Michael and Margo’s (Fake) Wedding over at Culture Pulp. He did a good job at capturing some choice highlights.

By the way, there’s another press report from “Lyle Dashwood, the columnist from The Oregonian’s little-known society pages” over on Alas.

First, yes, there will be another installment of Patrick Farley’s Dicebox Aside: “Don’t Look Back” at some point today, in fact. It’s been a busy week for Patrick and that’s partly my fault, other parts belonging to the Spouse and Dylan. And maybe Barry too. And, heck, Taran as well.

Patrick gamely assisted in clearing out basements, hauling fallen air conditioners, wrangling cats, cleaning house, picking up and dropping off folks at the airport, shopping, cooking, co-hosting a baby shower, getting food for pregnant ladies with headcolds and participating in a faux wedding as ceremony DJ. Nevermind breaking in the new computer that he got gratis to replace his clearly defective one this past weekend. I’m actually pleased he found time to get the bitchin’ tattoo he had planned on months ago.

So, yes, Kip’s Baby Shower happened this past weekend. Here’s the guest of honor himself:

It was a very nice shower, organized by Dylan and co-hosted by Patrick. I think the most notable thing was how most everyone showed up precisely at 1 o’clock–unknown to me after 12 years of having parties in Portland where I calculate the fact that folks will arrive about an hour after the start time. My only regret was being unable to chat with everyone (I guess it was kinda my shower too)

We had all just about recovered from the shower when we had to get prepped for a LARP wedding Tuesday evening in which I got to play the bride thanks to Taran. A very awkward and dumpy bride to boot. Here’s a lovely photo of Dylan in her role in Barry’s dream wedding:

She’s my second favorite groom ever.

Actually, thanks to Brenna, there’s a nice contrast between my ring exchange with Kip and the one with Dylan.

Kip and Jenn’s ring exchange:

Michael and Margo’s ring exchange:

That’s Brad officiating at Kip’s and my wedding up top; he’s also onstage at Michael and Margo’s wedding as Best Man and brother to the groom.

Barry, in who’s honor this was all put together, has a post about his impression of the faux wedding that include links to other folks entries and pictures. I imagine Dylan will add her two cents after she returns from her trip for work. I certainly hope so.

Not only do we get two pages from Patrick for this week’s installment of “Don’t Look Back,” but we get a very special art lesson. (permalink)

By the way, I intend to use this Dicebox Aside to help explain to Taran the way the world was when Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Patrick were growing up. That and Larry Jordan