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Miscellaneous Fri Oct 07 2011
Ebert at the Book Signing
California-based artist Richard Sheppard visited Chicago recently and posted several sketches and watercolors on his blog, The Artist on the Road. while in town, he happened to spot a listing for Roger Ebert signing his new book, Life Itself, and sketched the above illustration while waiting in line. From flickr:
While glancing at a Chicago newspaper's calendar of events, I noticed that in just two days Roger Ebert would be signing his new book Life Itself at a local Barnes and Noble. We planned to arrive early that evening, expecting a crowd. I didn't know whether Roger would allow pictures or drawings of him, so while waiting, I began sketching two comfy chairs, one of which was to be occupied by Roger. Before he and his wife Chaz arrived, promptly on time, I'd also had time to add the backdrop to my drawing. We all quickly felt a distinct part of the experience, as Roger walked straight up the queue of his fans, stopping to shake each one's hand. He also took a moment to look directly at each person's eyes, as if to etch their face into his memory, or perhaps simply to acknowledge everyone individually. It was a touching experience. Someone in the crowd asked if photographs of Roger were allowed, and Chaz, who was also there to help, replied in the affirmative. After he signed my book, I stood back a bit and sketched Roger as he continued to sign books. What an amazing person he is.
