Capturing Priceless Moments in Time - The 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for me, like many, is a tradition that ushers in not only Thanksgiving day, but the Christmas season. I’ve been watching the iconic parade for as long as I remember. It’s both nostalgic and new, every year.
The parade means “family.” And in recent years with the holidays looking a lot different (due to Covid and personal circumstances) having the normalcy and dependability of the Macy’s parade has been all the more important and special.
I was even fortunate enough one year (in the 90’s) to join some friends to participate as balloon handlers in the parade. We were in charge of Harold the Firefighter. It’s much more difficult than it looks, especially on a windy day when walking through the cross streets. That year we got to be behind the scenes with the likes of Debbie Gibson, John Tesh, and Al Roker as they got into their positions. I was so thankful to have had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being in the parade!
So this year, I decided to employ my illustration skills (and live event sketching) to sketch my way through the 2022 parade. All while sitting on my couch (Thanks NBC & Peacock!)
It was a fast and furious 3-hour (ish) sprint of sketching select participants. The programming is kept tight, so I didn’t have much time to spend on each sketch (maybe 10-15 minutes tops, and the app I was using on my iPad crashed a few times, leaving me to start over on about 5 of them!)
As I worked my way through, sketching helped me to freeze each moment in my mind. Capturing a drawing is a lot different than snapping a photo. Drawing forces you to not just look, but to really see. And when you see, the memories and images are stored deeper.
So please enjoy the following sketches that I created in real-time as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade aired on Peacock and NBC. Special thanks to all who were involved in a variety of ways (including Ram Trucks & Remo)! You made my 2022 Thanksgiving like a much-needed, warm hug from an old friend.
Hoda Kotb & Savannah Guthrie hosting this year’s parade.
Hoda Kotb & Jeff Gennette (Chief Executive Officer, Macy’s) cutting the ribbon at this year’s parade.
The Lion King is always a crowd-pleaser!
No NYC Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade is complete without the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes! I’ve seen them many times over the years and appreciate their hard work, dedication, and creativity!
My personal favorite, Grogu, from Star Wars / Disney Plus show, the Mandalorian.
There were so many talented marching bands in the parade. Captured here is University of Central Missouri marching band.
Ho, ho, ho.. Green Giant! A brand I have grown up with.
It’s always great to see the Sesame Street crew!
What’s not to like about BLUEY!
Mickey, Minnie, Goofy - all about the Disney Wish - a dream come true!
Only you can prevent forest fires! Smokey the Bear.
Geoffrey, I’m still a Toys“R”Us kid!
Ronald McDonald! I’m lovin’ it!
Jimmy Fallon & the Roots rocking the float!
There’s nothing Despicable about Minion Kevin!
Snoopy first debuted in 1968!
Besides Santa himself, nothing ushers in Christmas like Mariah Carey singing “All I want for Christmas is You!”
And to close out the parade every year - the big man himself - Santa Claus! ( I know him!)
Shout out to Carpenter Collective on their stellar design & branding job for this year.
Enjoy this wrap-up video too. See you next year Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Interested in hiring me to live sketch your event or conference? Check out more work here.
Holiday Hurt
The holidays are filled with messages of peace, hope and happiness. Magical moments with family and friends.
But it’s also a really difficult time for those who are hurting.
The holidays are filled with messages of peace, hope and happiness. Magical moments with family and friends.
But it’s also a really difficult time for those who are hurting.
Perhaps this is the first holiday season without a loved one who has passed. Or divorce brings separation during the holidays. Or health issues isolate.
In these things, I see a contrast.
The joy of the holiday season & messages, and the real life painful circumstance we can experience.
It was at this crossroads that I created this series of art.
If you’re hurting this season, I hope my art gives voice to your feelings. And makes you feel seen and heard.
This Christmas is the first that someone will be without someone else.
A loved one died.
A divorce or separation.
A damaged relationship causing a void.
If you’re fortunate to be gathered around loved ones, perhaps business as usual, consider extending an invitation to someone who will be having a difficult Christmas this year.
It may not ease the longing they feel inside, but love paves the way toward healing.
In the midst of the merriment, someone around you is hurting. They just might not be broadcasting it.
The contrast of their current realities & the messages of the holiday season magnifies their disconnect.
A timely word, a kind gesture, a simple acknowledgment could go a long way.
Be on the lookout. Then practice love.
You might be the agent that ushers in some peace.
Practice empathy.
The times that made all the difference while in the midst of difficulties have been the ones where people have been willing to sit in the dirt with me.
Feeling seen & heard. Being understood. Knowing that although in the midst of hard times and feeling like the situation is unique to you, those people remind you that you’re not alone in it. There are those who have gone before you, come through the fire and are still here today.
This series has been interesting for me. It’s given me a place to express my own feelings and experiences, but more over, given voice to many who suffer silently.
I have had so many people tell me this art has expressed what they have felt unable to express. And for that, I am grateful.
No one is exempt from pain. We all have seasons we’d rather hide and delete from our stories. But I’ve found that redemption comes when I can share those things anyway, and use it to help someone else.
The mess becomes the message.
What does Nine Consecutive Years of Daily Art Look Like?
This is year nine! All 365 days.
Every year since I have embarked on this 365 day art making journey, I mark the passing of another year with a college of images, all created from that year.
If you’re not familiar with my story on how I came back to my art after a ten year absence and depression, you can catch up here.
Creating and sharing these images are a way for me to track my daily creative habit, and celebrate my wins.
I’ve also recorded a Creative Chats podcast episode of nine insights I have gained through my nine years of daily art making. You can take a listen here.
If you’re interested in establishing your own creative consistency, I’d love to have you join us in our free facebook group Daily Creative Habit!
And now…. Here’s what all 9 years together looks like!
I’ve been sharing my art for free everyday for the past 9 years and will continue to do so. If you’ve been enjoying it and feel like tossing in a few coins in the ol’ tip jar, you can do so below :)
Jazz Legends Illustrated Portraits
I love creating portraits. That’s no secret.
For Black History Month, I had the idea of doing a Jazz legends series. So enjoy these portraits, and may they remind you of some great music, or nudge you to explore!
If you like these portraits and would like to create your own you must learn some essential skills, for instance portrait image editing is an essential part of the process that helps to make your vision a reality. But if you do not have the time, you can always outsource your editing requirements to an experienced and professional service provider such as SmartPHOTOeditors who offer high-quality services at the most cost-effective prices.
William James “Count” Basie
Duke Ellington
Louis Armstrong
Charlie Parker
Miles Davis
Dizzy Gillespie
Ella Fitzgerald
Ray Brown
Nina Simone
Billie Holiday
How to Make Fashion Drawing and Illustration Templates
Have you ever wanted an inside peek into an artists’ process?
Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, it’s always fascinating what you can learn by watching someone create.
Fashion illustration and drawing lecturer Ana Stankovic shares some process and behind the scenes in this post.
Have you ever wanted an inside peek into an artists’ process?
Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, it’s always fascinating what you can learn by watching someone create.
Fashion illustration and drawing lecturer Ana Stankovic shares some process and behind the scenes in this post. She shares three methods:
Method 1: The Tracing Method
Method 2: Drawing with a Marker
Method 3: Drawing Exercises for Loosening Up
Why not try your hand with some of her techniques?
Some days make you feel incomplete. Your own lack and neediness would love to convince you that you are not enough. It’s in those moments that the battle heats up.
Some days make you feel incomplete. Your own lack and neediness would love to convince you that you are not enough. It’s in those moments that the battle heats up. When you try as you may to muster the strength, to not react, but to believe. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. | art inspired by @jamiemarieduncan
#yoga #yogi #yogaart #yogaartist #art #artist #contemporaryart #illustration #yogitoes #drawing #yogachallenge #yogainspiration #yogalife #visualart #mikebone #mikebrennanart #illustrator #illustrationart
As much as I joke about hating snow & winter (which i really do), the winter months really do mess with me.
As much as I joke about hating snow & winter (which i really do), the winter months really do mess with me. By late February - mid March I start feeling like I gotta get out of here and go sit in some sand. | art inspired by @paolabullon
#art #artist #beach #illustration #illustrator #drawing #ocean #mikebone #contemporaryart #artoftheday #mikebrennanart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #summer #clouds
