Boys' Life Commemorative Print Finished

In the Shadow of the Tooth- 24" x 30" Oil by Greg Newbold

I Just finished up this painting and submitted it for final approval to Boys' Life Magazine. If you have been following my blog, you know have worked with Boys' Life for many years, but this one is a little bit special.  I am really excited for this project since it is the first time that the magazine will produce a fine art commemorative print using one of my paintings. We are still working out the details, but based on previous conversations, there is a particular group of dedicated scouters that will be the recipients of this print. I posted some of the conceptual sketches previously on the blog here, so I thought you might want to see how it turned out. It is a little intimidating to think that this painting might one day hang alongside all the beautiful scouting pictures that Norman Rockwell painted, but I am honored nonetheless.

Boys' Life Poster Ideas

Boys' Life Poster Idea 1

Poster Idea 2

Poster Idea 3

Here are three ideas I submitted for a Boys' Life commemorative poster I am working on. The concept was to celebrate the outdoor aspect of scouting and to have the magazine plainly in view as the scout enjoys an outdoor adventure (#3 is less obvious as he holds the mag rolled in his hand). I liked both 1 and 2 but they liked idea #2 the best, so I will now be working up more involved sketches based on that idea as well as scheduling a photo shoot. I'll have to locate the right age and look of model with a full uniform. Should not be too hard with all the scouts in my neighborhood.

Car-free and Homeless at Jamboree

My 12 year old snapped this great photo during the finale.

Disclaimer: the following story didn't change the great time I had at the Centennial Boy Scout National Jamboree a couple weeks back. As mentioned previously, I was in Virginia at Fort A.P. Hill to sign posters of my July cover of Boys' Life Magazine. I stayed overnight with the scout troop my two boys were part of and thoroughly enjoyed the time with them. Well, the next morning, I went to put my gear back in the rental car and found it MISSING. OK, granted, I most likely did not follow procedure on staying overnight, figuring it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission which it indeed was. I found out that the cost of such forgiveness was $100. I spent about 2 1/2 hours locating the rental car and finding a way to retrieve it from the impound lot. My hosts at Boys' Life Magazine were very kind and covered the impound fee (thanks John!) and made sure I got to my car (thanks Kevin), so I am grateful for that. 

Dirt seats weren't too comfortable, but what a sight.

I attended the Arena Show Extravaganza that evening with my boys and about 70,000 other scouts and leaders in full uniform (what an impressive sight)

Switchfoot had the arena rockin'!

We laughed along with Dirty Jobs guy Mike Rowe and rocked out to Switchfoot capped with one of the best fireworks show I have ever seen. There was a candlelight ceremony in which everyone recited the Scout Law and pledged their duty. The sight of 70,000 young men and leaders that represent the best in our nation was quite a moving moment.

The candles were all blown out at the same time

After I hugged my boys goodbye, I dragged my tired carcass back to the Best Western hotel in Fredericksburg looking forward to a few hours sleep in a real bed before my 7:00 a.m. flight. With key raised to open the door I noticed someone IN MY ROOM WATCHING T.V.! Um, hello? MY ROOM! According to the desk staff, I had "checked out at 2:30 p.m." . I just had to laugh when they said the hotel was full. They apparently gave my room away when I didn't sleep there the middle night of my stay even though I had reserved it for three nights. Go figure. Long story short, I drove the hour plus to the Richmond airport, arrived at 2:30 am, got an hour and a half of sleep on the floor before the incessant "there is no parking along the drop off curb" announcements began to repeat every five minutes. Saving grace? I was only charged for a single night stay after making a stink and then slept like the dead when I got home to my own bed. Sometimes you just gotta laugh- and besides, I got a good story out of it all.

Signing at 2010 Boy Scout Jamboree

July 2010 Boys' Life cover with my painting

As I mentioned in a previous post, I went to the Centennial Boy Scout Jamboree to sign posters this past weekend. I did the cover for the special Jamboree issue of Boys' Life Magazine which they turned into a great poster that we gave out at the Boys' Life tent at the Jamboree site in Fort A.P Hill, Virginia. I had a great time despite a few mishaps including the fact that my small digital camera didn't want to work with the new SD chip I had in it, resulting in no pictures. My two boys were at Jamboree with their troop, so I have a few pictures on that camera which will be home when they return. until then, I am relying on those who took pictures of the event.

Me posing with Nahan Dolan at the Boys' Life tent

One of these pictures is of me with Nathan Dolan, a scout from California. We both shared a piece of the July issue of Boys' life. I of course had the cover article illustrations and a photo of Nathan was on page ten illustrating a blurb about the BSA 100th anniversary celebration in Sacramento, CA.

Nathan Dolan in his Great Grandfather's 1922 Eagle Scout garb

He got to dress in his Great Grandfather's 1922  Eagle Scout uniform for the parade through the state's capitol. Thanks for the photo Nathan and Tom! I hope others will send me enough additional photos to do a couple more posts.

Rocket's Red Glare

Rocket's Red Glare- 13" x 19" - acrylic on illustration board

Happy Independence Day everyone! OK, I know it's not really the 4th of July today, but I do have the day off from teaching classes today. I thought I'd post an interior shot from my recent Boys' Life Magazine project. The story is a fictional account of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.  I showed the cover image in an earlier post - have a look if you missed it. I just found out Friday that I will indeed be travelling to the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P Hill, Virginia to sign posters of the cover at the Boys' Life Magazine booth. It should be a fun, albeit quick trip. I'll post photos of the excursion sometime after I get back. So now go eat a good burger and watch some fireworks - nothing more American than that, right?