Monte Ellson "Skyline Guy": High-Rise Architectural Artist
OFFICIAL ART CLASSIFICATION: Drawing . . . Specifically, CAD (Computer Aided Design) Drawings
ORIGINAL DRAWINGS: One hundred percent of all individual structures and buildings, graphics, text / lettering / notes, patterns, borders, shading - Everything is created solely by the artist from a blank screen.
NOT PHOTOGRAPHY: Photos and books are continually referenced when creating all drawings to insure best possible accuracy, but are never a part of the drawings in any way, shape or form.
LASER PRINTED: Top-notch accuracy is obtained by way of an HP LaserJet5100, 1200 dpi laser printer. All drawings are ORIGINAL PRINTS straight from the laser printer and are NOT COPIES.
NOT TRUE VIEWS: Although individual structures and buildings are drawn to scale, they are arranged differently in many cases for three reasons: 1) Maximize the number of structures and buildings, 2) Enhance a city's appearance, 3) Achieve flowing balance throughout the drawing.
ACCURACY & INTEGRITY: Structures and buildings are precisely drawn to specifications found on official sites. Only reliable sources are used. If official information is not found, calculations and measurements are made by the artist and, although not official, are very close if not correct.
UNIQUE DRAWINGS: Although CAD is widely used for countless applications on a daily basis, these skyline drawings could quite possibly be the only drawings of their kind in the world.
HOW LONG THEY TAKE TO DRAW: On average, drawings take about 50 - 75 hours from the first line to the last. However, several drawings have hit the century mark. Drawings officially logged:
373.25 hours ... 2015 ... New York City, New York (largest project ever attempted and completed)
140.75 hours ... 2014 ... Chicago, Illinois
138.00 hours ... 2010 ... Atlanta, Georgia:
127.50 hours ... 2014 ... Charlotte, North Carolina
118.00 hours ... 2013 ... Seattle, Washington
109.25 hours ... 2018 ... Denver, Colorado
104.50 hours ... 2013 ... Buffalo, New York
104.00 hours ... 2017 ... Los Angeles, California
93.00 hours ... 2010 ... Tampa, Florida
92.75 hours ... 2013 ... Minneapolis, Minnesota
92.00 hours ... 2016 ... Toronto, Ontario, Canada
92.00 hours ... 2005 ... San Antonio, Texas
88.75 hours ... 2012 ... Kansas City, Missouri
84.50 hours ... 2011 ... Baltimore, Maryland
83.50 hours ... 2016 ... Madison, Wisconsin
82.50 hours ... 2012 ... Des Moines, Iowa
81.75 hours ... 2014 ... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
80.75 hours ... 2013 ... Cincinnati, Ohio
80.25 hours ... 2014 ... Indianapolis, Indiana
* 152.00 hours ... 2001 ... NYC 9/11 Memorial
*per hand-written notes when drawn / not officially logged back in 2001
373.25 hours ... 2015 ... New York City, New York (largest project ever attempted and completed)
140.75 hours ... 2014 ... Chicago, Illinois
138.00 hours ... 2010 ... Atlanta, Georgia:
127.50 hours ... 2014 ... Charlotte, North Carolina
118.00 hours ... 2013 ... Seattle, Washington
109.25 hours ... 2018 ... Denver, Colorado
104.50 hours ... 2013 ... Buffalo, New York
104.00 hours ... 2017 ... Los Angeles, California
93.00 hours ... 2010 ... Tampa, Florida
92.75 hours ... 2013 ... Minneapolis, Minnesota
92.00 hours ... 2016 ... Toronto, Ontario, Canada
92.00 hours ... 2005 ... San Antonio, Texas
88.75 hours ... 2012 ... Kansas City, Missouri
84.50 hours ... 2011 ... Baltimore, Maryland
83.50 hours ... 2016 ... Madison, Wisconsin
82.50 hours ... 2012 ... Des Moines, Iowa
81.75 hours ... 2014 ... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
80.75 hours ... 2013 ... Cincinnati, Ohio
80.25 hours ... 2014 ... Indianapolis, Indiana
* 152.00 hours ... 2001 ... NYC 9/11 Memorial
*per hand-written notes when drawn / not officially logged back in 2001
INDIVIDUAL STRUCTURES / BUILDINGS: Notable times for individual structures and buildings:
30.25 hours ... 2012 ... Iowa State Capitol (Des Moines, IA)
28.75 hours ... 2015 ... Statue of Liberty (New York City)
28.50 hours ... 2018 ... Mile High Stadium II (Denver, CO)
25.00 hours ... 2011 ... Bank of America Building (Baltimore, MD)
23.50 hours ... 2008 ... Buffalo City Hall (Buffalo, NY)
21.75 hours ... 2015 ... Chrysler Building (New York City)
30.25 hours ... 2012 ... Iowa State Capitol (Des Moines, IA)
28.75 hours ... 2015 ... Statue of Liberty (New York City)
28.50 hours ... 2018 ... Mile High Stadium II (Denver, CO)
25.00 hours ... 2011 ... Bank of America Building (Baltimore, MD)
23.50 hours ... 2008 ... Buffalo City Hall (Buffalo, NY)
21.75 hours ... 2015 ... Chrysler Building (New York City)
