Iconic Bridge Section

by Van Wymelenberg
July 26, 2010
0 comments

 Here's something a little different that we just worked up for one of our favorite customers – someone who has given the Indigo Night sky print as a wedding gift since about 2001.  She's always got something interesting to say on them, too.  I love this quote from Shakespeare.  It's a little counter-intuitive, but it works.  

One of the challenges we often face is how to render a nightscape illustration (a landscape at night) for a well known location, such as Brooklyn. For, say... 50 years ago.  Or 60, in this case.  There is a certain expectation that the illustration be of the place.  But the skyline images just don't exist -- as digital files that we can license, anyhow.   We usually resort to treetops, and the edge of buildings, to sell the illusion.  It usually works, too.  But for Brooklyn... well, we couldn't resist working with a section of the stunningly beautiful Brooklyn Bridge.

Our digital artist, Morgan, rendered this, and a beautiful job he did, I must admit.  He had to re-draw all those cables by hand.  Painful.  (Sorry Morgan!)  The result is different from our established look, but it totally works and we'll probably continue with these iconic, timeless, views (for birthdays, or anniversary gifts from lo those many years ago).  If you have a suggestion for your city, we'd love to hear from you.

And, by the way, Ken Burns did an awesome documentary about the construction of the bridge.  The film was produced in 1982, and was nominated for an Academy Award.  It's available for rent through Netflix or purchase through PBS.  Highly, highly recommended.

The exact title is: Ken Burns' America: Brooklyn Bridge  

A Fun 1st Anniversary Gift

by Van Wymelenberg
July 20, 2010
2 comments

So.  What I see, most of the time, are serious, loving, romantic messages on the night sky print that's given as a first anniversary gift.  And that's good.  It works.  

Occasionally a print comes through that's a little more playful though, like this one.  (One can't help but wonder... what's the back story?)    And, as an absolutely perfect compliment, the person chose our 'Eros In Summer' horizon — so that the print's gestalt is beautifully unified.  I don't think many people understand that particular horizon.  

I admit that when I created it I was reaching for something romantic... it was going to be the lead image in an entire 'Cupid Struck' series.  About "the moment."  But in the end, the image of Eros – from the statue that stands in Piccadilly Circus, London – is just so out there, and over the top.  The final feel of the print that uses this horizon illustration is, to me, a kind of playful recognition of serious love.  If you follow.  Seriously playful.  Or playfully serious.  But certainly beautiful, and I trust it will be well-received. 

The Sky Tonight — 19 July 2010

by Van Wymelenberg
July 19, 2010
0 comments

Look to the sky at nightfall – about an hour after sunset – to see four of the ancient planets forming a bright shining arc low in the west. The brightest, by far, is radiant Venus, the beautiful 'Evening Star,' amid the stars of constellation Leo.  Lower right is Regulus, the 'heart of the Lion' (also known as the 'Little King') and if you have an exceptionally good view of the horizon, look for Mercury, just closing on the distant rim.

Above left of Venus, look for two bright objects, Mars and Saturn, with Saturn, the upper object, just a bit brighter.  These planets are in Virgo.  Fainter Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, shines above left of them, about 25°, approximately the width of your open hand, thumb to little finger, at arm's length. 

A bright gibbous moon shows south in Libra, next to my favorite star, the fabulous Zubenelganubi, northern claw of the Scorpion.

Enjoy with beverage!   

Lake with Reeds

by Van Wymelenberg
July 17, 2010
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Hello!  Well, sorry for the long absence.  It's the wedding season, we're a little short-staffed (the recession crashed our party – so rude!) and so we've all been exceptionally busy with production, and the luxury of time to ruminate here on the blog, share ideas, is precious short.  Plus, 

I'm trying to finish some large personal projects – related to astronomy of course.  No, nothing to do with the physics of black holes.  I'm trying to finish my observation platform:  that would be Rumblefish, our 31 ft trimaran.  Nothing like the looking at the stars from the snug cockpit of a sailboat on a dark night passage.  

So it's nothing but tweak and proof.  Tweak and Proof.  The next time a couple of barn cats take up residence at our place those will be their names.

But I am going to take the time to start posting some of the first anniversary prints we've been producing.  When I see something I think has worked particularly well I'll put it up.  I'm always surprised that after ten years of making these prints, people can still come up with new ways to say 'you're the one!'  It's such a joy for me to work on these.  Thank you!

From Russia With Love

by Van Wymelenberg
April 16, 2010
0 comments

We recently worked up a cool birth sky print for a friend of ours. Eleven years old! Born in Russia, near Kirov. Here it is.

This is from Kirov, viewing southeast, on the night that the young man was born. We’ve taken this image of the Vyatka River, and had our digital artists remove beach club and cooling towers — you probably can’t see them in this small preview — and have added it to our catalog as ‘Bend in the River.’ It looks like the Mississippi, at least the Mississippi in southern Wisconsin where I went camping with my family as a kid…