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]]> Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:36:34 EDT http://drawger.com/parada/index.php?section=articles&article_id=10719

Joe Barton is a great big jerkoff.   Unless your a political junky he's a relatively unknown congressman from texas who holds some big sway on the energy commission.  He's a very conservative republican and he's now one of the most hated men in America.  Even his own party doesn't want to know him now after that great big dumb apology to BP.   You can see the apology on Steve Brodners post.   Five years ago I had an opportunity from Texas Monthly to really find out who this guy realy  is.   I thought he was the kind of polititian that even babies despised.  And you know how polititians love being photographed hugging babies.



]]> Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:36:46 EDT http://drawger.com/parada/index.php?section=articles&article_id=10718

Hey Everyone.  I'll be speaking at the Society of Ilustrators, NY on Tues. June 22, at 6:30 to 8:30.   I'll be covering my work before and after my battle with Severe Aplastic Anemia.   I'll be talking about some of the changes I've made in the materials I use, namely oil paint with the AP label,  and how it has made my working conditions safer.  I'll talk about the chemical found in many artist material used today, the devil in disguise, benzene.  And last but not least I'll talk about the  the miracle solvent I use for cleaning today, Mineral Oil.   I look forward to it and hope to see you all there. 

http://www.societyillustrators.org/Events-and-Programs/Lectures/2010/Roberto-Parada/Healthy-Studio-Life.aspx

]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:11:06 EDT http://drawger.com/parada/index.php?section=articles&article_id=10416

With the oil disaster in the Gulf the Fragile Earth Exhibition opening tonight at the Society of Illustrators, NY couldn't be more relevant. This is my contribution to the  exhibition.  I choose wildlife and specifically a feline that's so endangered that it could very well be the first feline to become extinct in 10,000 years.   It's the Iberian lynx.  Besides poachers who hunt their pelt illegally, it's the loss of habitat that has been shrinking it's numbers to the point of critical.   Since I live in a flood zone here in Annapolis,  I always wondered what happens to wildlife when a big flood comes and destroys their habitat and way of life.   Floods seem to be occurring more and more with north pole glaciers and Ice caps melting, due to global warming, precariously raising our water levels.    I will also be speaking  at the society on Tues. June 22 at 6:30 pm to talk about my battle with bone marrow failure and how a toxic studio contributed to my illness.  As well as how I have adapted to a safer way of painting and the materials I currently work with.  



]]> Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:54:10 EDT http://drawger.com/parada/index.php?section=articles&article_id=10415

  I love rock bands who can still make something great and keep it simple.   Albums like Exile on Main Street, Tattoo You, Darkness on the Edge of Town are some that come to mind for me.   Great hooks, riffs, energy and not necessarily perfect vocals, but the character is there and it motivates and inspires.    I always wonder what it was like for the musicians while creating a classic album.   Are they aware of the special nature of what they are creating? that is soon to be heard by the world?   I would say in most cases it's just another album for them.   Not to be cynical but I bet it didn't really sound great till it got to the mixing and mastering.   So this brings me to an assignment from Steve Charney at Rolling Stone.   It's for the "Soup de Jour" record review page that gladly still remains a first right for illustrators.  Thanks to the creative folks at Rolling Stone and Jan Wenner who loves Rock n Roll illustration.      The Assignment is about The Hold Steady with their great live "Bar Band Appeal" and the release of the New Album  "Heaven Is Whenever".   They're a band with a lots of great riffs, character and great song writing.   I'm not sure if they created a classic here but It's worth a listen.  









]]> Wed, 05 May 2010 16:51:11 EDT http://drawger.com/parada/index.php?section=articles&article_id=9988

  I really enjoy working for New York Magazine and consider myself fortunate when they contact me for any assignment.   This one on the Cheney's was certainly a challenge.    It was tough because the feature was on such a polarizing family " The Cheney's"  It's sort of like having "The Palin's" as an assignment.    However, the Editors didn't have satire or dark humor in mind when asking me to paint a family portrait and a portrait of the, air apparent, to the Cheney political machine,  Liz Cheney.  They wanted something I never thought of before for Liz Cheney…  Hot and Fierce!   and if I could do the same in the family portrait?   I tried to put my bias aside and execute.      In the family portrait I tried to have both liz and DICK! in a highlighted manner, as to show that special bond they have, and have the other 2 feel separate.   A funny thing happened in my email exchanges with Hitomi Sato (the AD on this feature).  I accidentally, or maybe it was a Freudian slip, referred to Dick and Liz as Dick in Liz.  













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