Mardi Gras Parade in Kansas City, 2011

Hello Everyone!

The Kansas City TAD Studio was mighty busy on Mardi Gras! 

First we started the night off meeting up with a bunch of Kansas City folk at YJ's Snack Bar, a little bohemian cafe a block away from Trey's loft in the Crossroads District. The idea every year is that random people all congregate with wild costumes to form a huge parade, each neighborhood with their own faction. Calling themselves names such as "The Lady Mermaids," and " Crazy Unicorns," these guys and gals caused a ruckus on the way to the historic 18th and Vine jazz district. Once the parade finally reached it's destination a mile away, it felt like a bomb went off, the energy was amazing. We slipped inside The Blue Room to here some pumpin' jazz- what a night!

ALSO- check out Paul Andrews's killer photos of the event!!!

Enjoy the photos, movies and sketches done on the scene, thanks for looking

-TAD KCMO POD

Jazz Night at The Phoenix

Hello Everyone,

Last Thursday night the studio and Brent Watkinson, TAD KCMO instructor, went to The Phoenix Jazz Club to hear the wonderful sounds of Brent's good friend Dan Bliss and teacher Rod Fleeman. As they were ripping it up on the guitars blending blues and jazz melodies, we were drawing away talking about design and picture making. Dan was discussing with us about the about how art and music go hand and hand. They're sort of like cousins in a way, they clash together once and while. Thanks Brent and Dan for such a great night.

For all yous wondering about screenprinting

I found this today because TAD KCMO is gonna get down on some screenprinting

A Visit to Mark English's Studio!

Trey Bryan's Figure Compositions

Hey Everyone,

I thought I would post these recent figure drawings and talk about them a little while they're still fresh off the easel. What I look for in a drawing is the whole composition of the page, not just a floating figure with decent modeling in the lights. The composition has always been more important to me than nit-picky-perfect drawing. Looking for "the whole picture," in all the work I do helps me translate a more cohesive aesthetic that defines me. No one is ever going to see the model but that does'nt give you an excuse to draw bad or like Matisse because its artsy-fartsy, just draw the best you can in the time you are given. 

These figures are composed with mainly three values- (1) white of the paper- (2) a mid-tone "light charcoal stroke"- (3) then a violent, heavy smash of black charcoal. I always try to simplify just enough in the values so that I can get where I'm going- faster. It leaves time for creating the picture as a whole- giving the final product more impact. 

I hope you enjoy the drawings- stay tuned for more KC POD updates!

-Trey Bryan