I took my friend Stephen with me to a local Brooklyn Pizzaria that is quite famous. Baby Luc’s. The same owner as Lucali’s, where every celebrity on earth eats pizza. Stephen and I drew there while having lunch. I showed him my new still life sketchbook and added this Parmesan delivery unit to an empty page. He dug what I was up to and quickly found his own still life to sketch.
Sea Shells
There are about 200 Italian bakeries in my neighborhood. At least it feels that way. None are newer than a 100 years old. People get their cannolies in one bakery and then their cookies in another and then their sfogliatella in yet another. Each has a reputation as best at something. It’s a bit crazy but thems the rules. This bakery in particular is the one that seems to be the most photographed. They haven’t changed their sunbleached storefront sign since the American Revolution. This place is genuinely authentic in an age of Artificial Everything.
Halloween Masks
I haven’t drawn in two months. There were other priorities. Luckily, I have begun to draw again. My first sketch is just in time for Halloween.
Odd Pairings
Here is another drawing from my still life sketchbook. Two objects that don’t go together.
New Sketchbook
From a tea pot on a table to a mannequin in a store window. My still life drawing sketchbook is taking shape.
Snoopy
A drawing concoction by yours truly. The very last drawing I did in my recently finished Moleskine sketchbook. I just hadn’t posted this one yet.
Still Life's
This is another sketch I did in my new still life sketchbook. Each page always makes for an odd pairing.
Fireboat
This retired Fireboat is a restaurant for kids. Children go crazy when they go onboard. It lives on the waterfront in Brooklyn by Pier 6. My friend Petronis and I went and drew it. We did not go onboard or go crazy. The Manhattan skyline looks on.
Berkshires
This is a drawing I did in the Berkshires at the end of summer. I like to sketch everything out of scale sometimes. It makes for an interesting drawing. I never know how these will turn out when I start. This one is weirdly satisfying.
New Sketchbook
I have a new sketchbook where I just draw little still lifes. I use a Uniball Vision pen and no pencil at all. Because my style is so elaborate, I needed to have at least one book where I can do a sketch even if I don’t have very much time to spare. One drawing per page. Starting to get a collection of odd pairings.
Coming Soon
This Thursday I’ll post a flip-through of my latest finished sketchbook but at normal speed. People have asked me repeatedly for this in the past, yet I’ve never done it before. It’s two minutes long and I think no one will watch it though. That’s my prediction but who knows. You’ll actually be able to see each drawing clearly for once.
Lion
The Sneaky Artist (Nishant Jain) was in town so we met at The New York Public Library. He brought along artists, Anabella Cherry, Danna Feintuch and New Yorker magazine cartoonist, Avi Steinberg. I drew the rear end of one of the famed lions that live in front of the Library. We chatted endlessly about drawing while we all kept our pens moving.
Gowanus
There is a coffee joint down the block from me in Brooklyn. It’s in an old warehouse garage. The place is hipster heaven. Every person that enters has a one speed bike they leave outside. They’re also covered head to toe in tattoos. I’m talking like fifty tattoos each. Every inch of each arm and leg is completely filled up. I’m the tattoo-free grandpa sitting out front on a little bench. I was drawing this scene across the street while sipping a hibiscus ice tea. Not only am I the only one without tats, I’m the only freak not drinking coffee. In some ways, I’m the most radical looking dude there because I just don’t fit in. As they look over my shoulder observing my sketch, I start to get the high fives, fist bumps, and head nods. Maybe I am a hipster afterall.
