My Main Street urban drawing project

[Boquillas]

Since October 2008, I've been trying to draw every building on Main Street in Bozeman, MT between Grand and Rouse Ave in my Moleskine sketchbook. So far, I've finished drawing the north side of the street, and started a bit of the south, but I had to stop in early December because it's gotten too cold to draw outside.

Here's what I've done so far (in reverse order):

[Jibba]

Ambitious project, but if the other half of the street looks as good as the first it should be an awesome final product.

Great-looking sketches, Boquillas; that will be a great book to flip through when it's all done. I like your representations of the streetscape; the way the building stock was drawn really emphasizes their character (I've been through Bozeman a couple times, and you captured the feeling well).

[Boquillas]

Thanks, Jibba. I keep thinking I should go down to the Chamber of Commerce and see if they'd be interested in helping me publish these-- postcards maybe?

[1ajs]

ooo drool factor warp nicely done when your done u should do a show in a gallery somewhere

[DecoJim]

Very nice. Lots of detail. I think they look better sketched as they are rather than if you used a straight edge to draw the building shapes. I have seen drawings of similar quality published in a book about Ann Arbor Michigan.

[Austin55]

Wow! Very well done, pretty.

[photoLith]

dude, wow! You are the freakin man! man

[ItsConanOBrien]

Looks great! I bet you could make some money with this talent.

[holladay]

Amazingly good! Most architects couldn't even draw those buildings with such accurate detail!

[Rizzo]

Incredible work!

[huggkruka]

I love the style! It approaches cartoony but still with a great sense of realism. Great work, I'm inspired!

[pj3000]

Very, very nice, but where are all the people?

[Boquillas]

Thanks everyone! I actually am thinking about publishing a book or doing some other Montana towns this summer when I finish this and maybe making some larger scale drawings or even paintings.

I bet you could make some money with this talent.

You would think so, but usually the opposite is true. I do teach drawing at Montana State, but I wouldn't say I make much money doing it.

Originally Posted by pj3000

Very, very nice, but where are all the people?

I used a very looong exposure...

[pj3000]

^ Good one.

Seriously though, really cool drawings... whimsical realism.

[Boquillas]

It's been warm enough that I finished two more spreads:





I hope to be able to do other streets in other parts of the country at some point, and possibly publish them.

[Jibba]

^Looking great. I like the postcard idea; what are the logistics behind such an undertaking? Possible to produce the product yourself and broker some deals with local businesses? I think these would sell great in a cafe or a bookshop.

[Boquillas]

Yeah-- maybe I'll talk to the chamber of commerce and see what they think. I've had one business owner walk out and see what I was doing and ask me if I'd do an illustration for a little A-frame sign for his shop. I think maybe a postcard book would be lucrative, too. I just want to finish right now though!

[1ajs]

i'd buy a book if u put one out

[Flamesrule]

That is so detailed you probably should sell it. (or something.)It is very realistic!

[Boquillas]

Three more pages: