Life Drawing at the BAG

As running laps in Prospect park is to the marathon runner, drawing from the nude model is to most artists, especially ones who work in the animation industry. Not all however. I have met a couple of extremely talented people who work in L.A. as supervising animators on blockbuster movies who can't life draw, or rather, just won't. They don't need to, they're just that good. For me, life drawing is more than just learning how to capture a mood or tell a story in as few lines as possible. For 3 hours I'm surrounded by people who are all there to draw, the energy in the room is a very positive one and most importantly no one can bother me with text messengers or phone calls. Sometimes I feel that I should draw from the model all day, every day.
Monday nights from 7-10 at the Brooklyn Artists Gym is where you'll find me, although, I'll be busy drawing.

Napkin Show Promo

I still need to confirm the date but I'll post it up as soon as I know for certain.

Save the napkins!

So there's a good chance that Zartosht and I will be displaying some napkin drawings either late in July or early August at the Crooked Tail Cafe on 3rd Ave. I'll post up the details once they become finalized. The show is tentatively called "A night out on Smith Street"
These I found while emptying my pockets before I threw my jeans in the washing machine- not too sure about the two top ones but the bottom one was a sketch from Union Hall- a hipster girl playing Bocce.

Post its from this weekend

As the sunlight bleeds into darkness, and the sunrise announces a new morning, it is hard to tell what day it is, especially over a holiday long weekend.

I took up residence unexpectedly on Friday morning at the Diner on 4th ave and was in a sketchy sort of mood. Sitting near the window is one of my favorite places to draw people as they wait for the light to change. Some don't wait and end up risking their lives J-walking. tsk. tsk.


This sketch of my friend Josh was from the Zombie Hut on Smith street. Yes, the drink was blue. I had one as well. Very tasty.

This may have been another night, not too sure, but Zartosht, Josh, Shirin and I were at the Whiskey Bar. I used a slight wash of Jim Beam White for this one, at 6 dollars for 2 ounces, I should have stuck with the 4 dollar Crown Royal.

comic panel

So I thought I'd share my very first comic panel. I have 6 more to do, hopefully by next monday I'll post them up to www.talesfromtherooftop.blogspot.com.
any critiques are more than welcome in terms of inking/layout, ect... the story is a short one ,a back story introducing one of the characters.
tequila?

Cowboy in Brooklyn

Fat people and cowboys. Two things when I see, my heart skips a beat and I must reach for the nearest pen and sketchbook/napkin/post-it note and draw them. In fact, I'm going to dedicate the rest of this month to doing just so. Man alive, what If I come across a FAT COWBOY???, oh man.........

Long tan, Iran

While I sat eating my pad thai at Long Tan, I listened to the conversation taking place next to me. One girl exclaimed " I never thought I'd ever meet an Iraaaanian", as she recounted her experience from the week before in her southern twang. This was followed by a few jokes about running- get it? I ran? ha. Then the conversation finally returned to one couple's television odyssey. I had no idea Lost was over. When did it even begin? Zartosht and Ali were on their way to drink with me. This girl was possibly going to meet Iranians numbers 2 and 3, all in one week. Wow. I didn't bother introducing them however. We left, for another bar on 5th ave where we chatted over a few pints and sketched, on the eve of a bloody revolution.
My thoughts go out to those fighting for their freedom.

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.

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.