Warmachine sketching

My buddy Jim Pavelec needed to visit the Russell Military Museum for some concept sketching on a project he’s working on. He invited me to join him to do some sketching. It was fun romping around the museum grounds, which was more like a military junk yard. I was able to get a two sketches in before we were kicked out of the place. The volunteer of the day took a passive-aggressive approach to making us leave early so he could close the museum 2 hours before the posted closing time to “run some errands”. Somehow our entrance fee was not enough for him to stay open for us to “sit around and draw all day” “I have things to do” “I can’t stay open for you guys.” Somehow I don’t think those are good business practices. I’m just glad I didn’t invite my father with me, a former commander in the US Navy, to be run out of a military museum. He usually comes with me on trips like this.

We took the opportunity to calm our angers by making a detour to historic Long Gove, IL. They have a small downtown that could have been the set in the winter for Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter books. I think I’ll be returning with the wife for a pleasant afternoon visit there in the summer.

Mi-24 Hind D by Aaron Miller

F-15 by Aaron Miller