Dr. Sketchy's napkins

billed as the "world's sexiest geek", Justine Joli was the model at last weekend's Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School here in NY. It was crowded, I couldn't see the stage and most of her body was obstructed by cardboard cut outs of 80's video game icons. It was dark, I could barely see where my pen was meeting the paper or napkin, and the guy behind me kept using my chair as an easel. I think I'll head back once it starts to snow again. Until then I'd rather draw in peace and quiet, in a park somewhere or in the corner of a sleazy dive bar.

Peeing Toast

I have nothing to say about this little animation other than it made some people smile, isn't that all one can ask for?

Union Square

As I looked around the room where I sleep on my futon at night, I found that the clutter was mostly made of sketchbooks, comics, novels and dvd’s. I also noticed two pairs of shoes near my desk, but I had no idea how they got there. As I thumbed through an old sketchbook, I stared at each drawing. It’s as if they all were a portal of sorts, a gateway to a time and place, stirring up sounds, smells and emotions of a summer past.

sketchbook: Toasties Union sq- summer 2008
Post-Its: R train, Jun 10 , 09

Lit Bar

The other night Bryan, Zartosht and I were out after work. We began at the usual Toasties, and after that wandered on down to Lit Bar on Second Ave. We ordered our whiskeys and sat down on the bench adjacent to where everyone stood. I looked over at Bryan as he opened his sketchbook with a grin on his face, and Zee doing the same, but with an even bigger smile. I then took a sip of my whiskey and went to take a leak.

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.

Prospect Park Sketch

I don't think I've posted this sketch of the carousel in Prospect park yet, It was done last August, over by the entrance to the zoo. Sometimes I walk into the park with every intention of getting to the zoo but it's as if sometimes it's there, and other times it isn't. When I can't find it, I don't try to push it, I take it as a sign, like a voice saying, "Phil, you're not supposed to draw animals today".

yet another memory sketch

I saw this guy the other day on my way to my Brooklyn studio space. He didn't look that confused but I thought pushing his expression would make a more convincing drawing.

Memory Sketch from Thursday

I was eating breakfast at the South Slope Diner on 4th and Union this morning. Are they still called that? They keep changing their name...New College, South slope, It's something else now, but I stop at 2 name changes. Root Hill , if you change your name again I'm still calling you Root Hill ( they used to be Brooklyn Bean). Do I change my name every few months? Should I start introducing myself as PJ or Felipe? Aaaaanyway..... I digress. This lady was crossing the street with her daughter, It was windy and not really raining that hard. what's with the umbrella?

Memory sketch

I've been taking Stephen Silver's character design class over at schoolism.com, and it's been a very rewarding experience thus far. One of the exercises he stresses is memory sketching. This gentleman I saw on the corner of 3rd avenue the other morning. Man Alive was he ever thin, I walked passed him and was so caught up in the shape of his head and hat that I didn't bother drawing in the rest of his body. This is a lot of fun to do and I suggest it to any artist to practice and have fun with.

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.

Gowanus Yacht Club Napkins

After a great Memorial Day bbq at the Canal Bar on 3rd avenue, Josh, Wilbur and I walked up to Smith street with some Coconuts, left over from Friday's Carrol Street bbq. Thanks to the undercover cops for NOT giving us public drinking tickets/fines/jail time.

As we sat there and drank our black label beer, Zee and I started to sketch, as Josh and Wilbur cracked away at the remaining coconuts.

This girl sat very still and was an easy subject for both of us to sketch.

This is a great drawing by Zee. As the girl and her friends left we showed her the drawings and she seemed to really like them. She was visiting from Beirut(Lebanon) and hopefully she has a good stay in Brooklyn.

More Yacht Club Napkins

the Grease Pencil

These quick sketches were done on the R train coming home from life drawing a few weeks back. I like using the Grease Pencil or "China Marker" because it necessitates a quick, loose style of drawing. The first time I used a grease pencil was at Burger King in Richmond B.C. After removing the whopper from the microwave, I would mark off if it had extra onions or if it had no tomatoes. Then I'd stuff my mouth full of onion rings.

Barbes sketches

A few weeks ago Mick and I took a stroll up to Barbes on 6th avenue to watch some live music and sketch.

We sat on the side near the very front, and when Zee showed up he was standing with the crowd packed into the small room. Halfway through the set some crazy drunk guy shows up and of course, it was someone Zee and I had met briefly last summer. As he shouted and banged his hands on the ceiling, hugging Zee and pointing in my direction I could barely contain my laughter.

The Trombonist in the second band was well into his 60's and was rocking out. His wife was in the crowd and she took lots of pictures. Zee drew her once he got a seat with us.

A couple of very pretty ladies were dancing to our right, and of course I could not help but ignore the performers in front of me.

Barbes is a great little place to sketch and I'll definitely be back very soon.

Great Lakes

Being a passenger in an airplane makes me nervous for a few reasons. I've been around pilots all my life and I know they are just as infallible as the next person. I also have this reoccurring dream where a jet liner falls from the sky and as it does I watch it closely to see in which direction I should run, narrowly escaping the burning debris. So a couple of weeks ago I took a late night stroll to Great Lakes on fifth ave, had a couple of Brooklyn Lagers and sketched Ginger, to take my mind off the impending early morning flight to Toronto. Thank you to Justin for the picture.