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).

Bryan, Lauren and Zartosht

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night's opening of "A night on Smith street"
and I'm happy to be showing my work along with these 3 very talented artists, Bryan Cox, Lauren Gardner and Zartosht Soltani. If you're in the Gowanus area tomorrow evening, stop on by the Crooked Tail Cafe to check out some nice bar sketches and polaroid photos.
cheers!
Phil



In 1999 Zartosht Soltani graduated from the Fine Arts program at Azad University of Arts in Tehran.
One year later he moved to New York, where he is now working as a freelance art director and designer creating cartoons, commercials and broadcast design. He has exhibited paintings in Tehran,
And will be a part of the upcoming Too Art for TV show in September.


Bryan Cox works as a freelance animation artist and designer in New York City. Over the course of the past year, Bryan has re-ignited an old compulsion to sketch on location. This is due, in no small part, to falling in with the other kindred spirits represented at this exhibition.
A large selection of the artist’s other sketches can be viewed on Facebook. His animation work can be seen at www.bryancoxanimation.com.



Day slave to a technology career, Lauren Gardner rebels in analog photography. Embracing the imperfect nature of
Celluloid and chemicals, her photos focus on emotions and moments. She is currently working on a NYC Polaroid emulsion lift project and friend-wide facebook profile picture domination.
Her work can be found at http://flickr.com/photos/poohlaga/

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.

Painting and beer coaster

Things have been very hectic around here lately, work, renting a new studio space, the recent acquisition of www.drawingonbeercoasters.blogspot.com,etc,etc. Here's a beer coaster Drawing from Sample on Smith Street- with a Jameson wash I believe. And an original inked drawing, still on display(and for sale) at the Crooked Tail Cafe on 3rd Ave. Stop on by for a sandwich and a coffee, and say hi to Phil. They're going to be having more shows coming up in April and I will let everyone know.
Cheers.