R train drawing

Riding the N/R train home late last Saturday from the Draw-a-thon,I sketched this woman while she was sleeping. There was a religious fanatic rambling about loudly. I ignored him but a few words crept into my consciousness. Words like "women","alcohol" and "Jesus". I thought that drawing him would require too much effort, especially if we were to make eye contact. Rather, I pretended I was asleep, hopped off the train at Union Street and headed straight for Canal Bar.

Happy Birthday to Canal Bar

A friend of a friend when I asked him why his wife never accompanied him to Canal bar, responded with something like "she works until real late- besides, she'd never go to a place like that". Oh well I thought to myself, to each their own. Fair is fair, I'd probably never frequent the places that she would hang out at.

Everyone does what's right for themselves I suppose- and I am very glad to have been a part of the regular crowd at the Canal bar for the last 3 years. I've met some fantastic people there and many have become close friends, and a few strangers have left me staring into my beer contemplating the meaning of life, after a dose of their bar stool wisdom. An equal number have jotted down movies or books I should check out, many which I have and have made an impact on me artistically and spiritually.

Tonight Canal Bar turns 4, and I'd just like to wish Lou, Tommy and the rest a big congrats, and here's to 4 more years.

One of these sketches I've already posted , and is hanging at the crooked tail cafe, the other, is a sketch I did sometime last year of Ryan Macpherson, Canal Bar's resident Opera singer. (no, really, he IS a really talented Opera singer).

Canal Bar Napkins

Just a couple more napkins from late last night. I walked over to Canal bar after a long afternoon nap, and didn't really know anyone aside from Melissa, who was tending the bar. It was fairly crowded which was nice, lots of people to draw inspiration from. I must have sketched on about 20 napkins and the same the night before.

PBR

I was out for a little stroll this evening when I looked into my wallet. 3 dollars and a bunch of receipts were there. As I cruised towards Canal Bar I decided to stop in for a quick one, where I ordered a beer and sketched it onto a napkin.

A napkin with Wilbur on it

Wilbur, on a napkin, on his first shift late Tuesday night last week. He'll be tending bar on Sundays at Canal Bar. Sundays are one of my favorite evenings to have a couple of cold ones and draw in my sketchbook at the bar, well, that and Tuesdays. Tuesdays are pretty damn fine as well. See you this Sunday at Canal Bar, and perhaps on Tuesday also.

Missed Connection

High on a wine buzz, I was on my way out the door the night of the art show at the Crooked Tail Cafe when a Canal Bar regular pulled me back into the room where the paintings hung. He pointed to this painting. "How much for this one" he asked. I couldn't give him an answer, after all I didn't even print out a price list for that night (apparently I was supposed to.) I promised that night to email him with the price. I'm not sure if he's changed his mind or If he does not know how to work his email account properly- in any case, I'm happy to have her hanging in my hallway for the time being.

Crazy Mike

Crazy Mike. Talked to himself, talked to others, sometimes he yelled at them, and often would know the answer to any question, especially one about who pitched the first no hitter, or who was the first draft pick in the 1986 NHL draft. I don't think he's allowed back at Canal bar anymore though.

Canal Bar part 2

A couple of more napkins from the other night.

Frank the Tank

Frank was one of the most popular characters at the Canal Bar and he just recently passed away. This is one of the only sketches I did of him; in fact, it’s the only one there is as far as I know, probably because I was too busy listening to him.

Cougars and Napkins

Just posting a few drawings from this past week. When people ask me to show them the napkin drawings I have with me I never hesitate to, in fact I usually hand them away. Notice the tear in the napkin with the man on it. That was originally attached to the drawing of the woman above it until this crazy cougar at Canal bar (how's that for alliteration) ripped it in half without any warning. Not that these have any real value aside from the 2 dollars I spend every few days on brush pens, but "ca-mon!" Have a little respect! From now on I'll be a little more weary on sharing my napkin art with strangers, cougars, or strange cougars.

Napkins saved from Laundry. Dollar bill wasn't so lucky.

Ahhh, to clean one's room! The many things you find, receipts from months ago, one in particular for sixty-five dollars and seventy-one cents. I can still remember that afternoon, sketching the roller skaters in Central Park and the dancers as well. Zartosht, Bryan and I then headed to the upper West side in search of a beer. We found that, along with some BBQ. I drew our lovely waitress on the menu, which doubled also as our tablecloth. She asked if she could have it and I obliged. Thus I cannot show you that lovely drawing, rather, these napkin and beer coaster sketches I found while cleaning my room -;) (Just in case my Mom reads this.)

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.