Open Mic night at Brooklyn Bean.

So after a sip and a bite and a nice little walk, Zartosht and I strolled into the two empty seats at the front of the packed cafe. It felt just like life drawing class, except they don't have their liquor license just yet so.... It was like life drawing was back in college. Canal Bar lies just an avenue south, and since I'd been there the two nights before, I had faith that it would still be standing there in an hour or so, stocked full of cold beer. Precisely at the aforementioned time, right at the beginning of an atrocious rendition of Ave Maria by a sweet, sweet woman, Z stumbled to the exit with his sketchpad leaving me alone with the rest of the crowd. I could hear him coughing as he passed me, but I knew all too well it wasn't a cough, in fact, I could picture him outside laughing to himself out loud while smoking a cigarette. Doing my best to disguise my impending laughter, I became overwhelmed with the markings on the coffee table, as if examining it for the first time. I studied them as I would a teenager laying his eyes on his first playgirl centerfold (one in ten folks, one in ten!!!)
I somehow managed to contain myself, but just barely. I didn't post any drawings of her, because, well, I didn't draw her. I was just pretending. These two, however played some great guitar and sang some beautiful songs!

Prospect Park sketches

Prospect Parc sketches from this month, trying to learn how to draw, more specifically how to draw trees and leaves and all that!

Montreal Jazz Fest Sketches

Sketching on the edge of the fountain at place des arts in Montreal a few weeks back with Bryan Cox. I was really envious of these kids who had Popsicles, since Bryan said we couldn't have any Popsicles until we finished our drawings I rushed these ones off and scarfed down about a dozen. Well, I made that up but I was really thirsty.

Montreal Napkin

This napkin sketch, done a few weeks ago in Montreal at a bar called...well, I don't recall anymore. What a great weekend though! Jazz Festival, sketching outdoors, seeing friends I haven't seen in a while. I often wonder why I left that city so suddenly.

Character Study -02

there's no shortage of inspiration around here I tell ya.

Character Study

girls on cell phones man...that's what I'm talking about.

Snacky drawing

As the clean but wrinkled napkin lay before me I noticed it was a little wet with Sake, I waited a few minutes and sipped some more, every so often glancing at the four girls to our left, my right hand holding the pen and my left hand quenching my thirst. I showed them the drawing and they liked it, probably because they were art students also. Later Zartosht asked me why I didn't give them the napkin. I said that I always give drawings away, and this one I wanted to keep for myself. It was late, and we had more dancing to do.

weather today

Today's weather forecast. Rain and Thunderstorms. and for some of us, sunshine in the form of beer and friends. Happy July 4th to my american friends.

Napkin Drawings by popular request

Drawing in my local bar, Canal Bar, is one of my favorite pastimes. Always a steady flow of new and old faces to practice the art of caricature, which is something I would really like to get good at one day. The pool table provides some new gestures to draw from, but as challenging enough as it is to draw from a still life, I much prefer a person to sit as still as possible when I’m trying to capture their essence onto the napkin. The drink helps a lot too, a couple of Brooklyn lagers, some popcorn for sustenance, some elbow space and a stack of cocktail napkins. I’ll supply the pens and markers. Cheers!
note: most of these were done at Bar Great Harry on smith st.