DrawingonNapkins

Latest Project

2011-01-24T22:23:00.012-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Here's why...
Credits:
Written by:Peter Joseph
Narrated by: Jacques Fresco
Directed by:Zartosht Soltani, Phil Lockerby
Animation: Sean Branigan, Phil Lockerby, Zartosht Soltani,Laura Zheng Will Pittas
Backgrounds: Zartosht Soltani
Compositing: Zartosht Soltani,Una Lorenzen
My thanks to the above, and:
Mick Raffle
Simon Ampel
Franz Palomares
Hubert Chan
Bryan Cox
Phil Ferg
Sally Syberg
Micheal Ferraro
my family
The Re-Animation Library in Gowanus
Canal Bar
Gus
Brooklyn in General

some cleaned up animation

2010-07-28T15:22:00.002-04:00

This is a cleaned up shot of a poor German soldier taking a bullet to the head. I think it was Eric Burton and the animals who said it pretty well - "war, what is it good for, absolutely nothing."
I hope to be able to post up the rest of the short film which is nearing completion this month.

Toronto airport sketches

2010-07-23T00:50:00.002-04:00

In between New York and Winnipeg- In between a couple of beers at the airport bar in Toronto and boarding my flight I sketched these. In my opinion airports are the best place to sketch. I'm just saying.....

sketches from the BAG

2010-05-29T20:34:00.005-04:00

These are just a couple sketches of Claudia, either from last year or this year, not sure. Not even sure where these are to be honest, I'm glad I scanned them, she's really a great model.

Building on Bond napkin

2010-04-29T11:43:00.003-04:00

Another long day working on the short film- Z walked me halfway home and we stopped in for a beer and sketched for an hour or so. not too long before I can show you the film. It's almost done.

great Lakes

2010-04-01T13:29:00.004-04:00

Out for a late night beer at Great Lakes with Zartosht, I noticed this couple in an intense conversation. I liked how their lines of action formed a triangle. I also liked how the guy was seemingly begging when he leaned in so close to her, but maybe he wasn't begging at all- probably apologizing - but then where were the flowers?

Post it note animation found under book.

2010-03-05T17:24:00.001-05:00

napkin of Z

2010-02-17T19:41:00.003-05:00

Back in Brooklyn
over at Zartosht's, we talked about our current project
I drew
Z took a nap
we drank some wine
then he showed me this drawing that I did last year.

Post its from st. Elizabeth

2010-02-07T12:21:00.003-05:00

Dave, Chris, Andre and I braved the cold and walked from Dave's apartment in the village to the St. Elisabeth Pub. I sketched the people around me as usual. Post it notes can absorb a few drops of beer, but not quite like water color paper so don't use too much, besides it's so tasty why would you want to waste it on your drawing- I recommend a darker beer and a brown ink brush pen like this one.
The couple was on their first date, I'm guessing. As one left for the bathroom and the other remained- they would inevitably look at their cellular telephone. Maybe it was giving them first date advice , I really don't know.

Drawing from the model

2010-02-04T13:21:00.004-05:00

Life drawings from Uqam's wed. night life drawing session. I've had a hard time going back to my pencils after a solid summer of brush pens. Maybe I also enjoy the brush pen because it forces me to think harder about where that line is headed- since there is no eraser or "undo" button. I find that starting in a lighter grey tone and then following up with a darker tone is a good practice- most of the time this will only happen in the 5 min poses.- even then , not enough time for a lot of detail, so sometimes I just pick out the main point of the pose and emphasize that.

but what the heck do I know anyways-

Happy Winter Card

2010-02-01T16:20:00.000-05:00

A winter greeting, a belated one , but one nonetheless.

Napkins from the St. Elizabeth

2010-01-28T13:49:00.002-05:00

after another great life drawing session - (by great I mean the model was great, the sketches can always be better) we headed to the bar for a well deserved 3 beers and sketched on some napkins.

some more life drawings...

2010-01-24T20:52:00.004-05:00

Today at life drawing the model was really putting forth some great poses for the group-I had drawn a 'burlesque-ish' type model the day before and it was so evident in her lack of intensity and imagination in her poses that she was not experienced. She boasted that it was her first time at the end of the session- but she was a very sweet girl indeed. She nearly picked my drawing in a contest for a bottle of Stolichnaya, but after having to put to friend to bed that same night because of a vodka incident- I'm glad I lost. I'm glad I did not win that drawing contest. But I'm going to win at one, one day........and we will do vodka shots to celebrate.
Na zdorovie!

Bar Post its

2010-01-22T23:15:00.004-05:00

I was waiting for my friend Phil when I sketched these.
Phil Never showed up.
That bastard.
Just Kidding Phil.
For those who don't think I have a friend named Phil you must think I'm crazy, but I'm betting those who know me think the same anyways.
(post its from Ms. Villeray bar on Villeray)
(post it with subway guy from last week)

Tuesday Night life drawing in Montreal

2010-01-20T13:06:00.002-05:00

I went Life drawing last night and although I was extremely tired I still enjoyed myself and had the most fun sketching the model's portrait for the last 12 minutes. The gentleman on the bottom right of the page was one intense dude. Every few minutes his long parchment paper would curl up into his drawing hand and he'd slap it down hastily-like a dog trainer teaching his canine to stay seated and every time he did that I chuckled.

Self Portrait

2010-01-18T01:35:00.004-05:00

A rare glimpse of yours truly drawn a couple of months ago. I'm really itching to get out this week and sketch- indoors of course. Montreal is full of warm people but it doesn't really matter when it's too cold to wander around. This evening I made spaghetti sauce and thanks to a gross miscalculation it seems as though I need not go outside for another 2 days, unless of course I have a craving for fish tacos.

life drawing montreal part deux

2010-01-11T00:27:00.005-05:00

Another Sunday afternoon life drawing session- this time with a male model. After a parade of female models at the Brooklyn Artists Gym I finally had an opportunity to draw a guy. I asked my brother's friends to pose for me over the holidays but they never got back to me, now I'll stop bugging them.

Life Drawing in Montreal

2010-01-05T03:17:00.005-05:00

On Sunday I made it out to life drawing- Galerie Synesthésie on St. Catherine's.
A nice little studio- they even had juice,wine, cheese, cruditees, and more.
They also sell art supplies at cost.
What a coincidence then when I showed up with nothing but a few pencils and an empty stomach!

ruff stick man/leaf animation

2009-12-08T13:53:00.002-05:00

Just a couple of scenes for a short short film- all done on post it note pads. I hesitate to even call it a film but there is a little hint of a story here. I just missed flipping paper that's why I chose to embark on this little project for myself- trust me, staying up until 4 am every night scanning these little guys in is starting to wear me down. It takes longer to scan everything in and composite it than it does to animate these- but there's really no other way to share them.

R train drawing

2009-12-04T10:55:00.003-05:00

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.

Post its from breakfast Saturday

2009-11-30T09:49:00.000-05:00

Keeping a pad of post it notes in my back pocket is something I picked up from my good friend Sean. In Brooklyn he’s known as Canadian Sean, not to be confused with Sean McBride- American Sean. What’s great about post its or napkins is that you don’t feel the pressure to draw when you’re not in the mood, unlike always lugging around a bulky sketchbook crying for you to draw in it- like a spoiled fat kid, begging his mother for more ice cream.
No disrespect to the sketchbook though- I just cleaned up my closet and must have stacked a few dozen from the last 3 years. Looking around my apartment floor now I see piles of yellow rectangles, and a whole lot of them crumpled up as well, and I wonder where all of them will end up, if not in a shoebox on the corner of Carroll and 3rd avenue next to the trash bins.

post its

2009-11-25T02:41:00.003-05:00

Out at Canal bar to hang out with Melissa- brought me Post it's along and a pen and sketched some people.

2009-11-21T15:00:00.002-05:00

Out at the Tea Lounge on Friday with my good friend Greg- I brought along some post it notes and had some fun.

character design studies

2009-11-20T16:33:00.003-05:00

I'm going through the process of organizing the files on my computer- and I found these, 2 studies for a 'goth' girl for a small project for a really solid and entertaining documentary film called "No Manifesto" about the U.K. band The Manic Street Preachers.All the animation is nearly done and I can't wait to show it! The final design of the girl looks nothing like these first quick sketches, but I had to do these in order to get the final look down. I'll post up some more when it's all done- until then, be nice to one another- and share, for the love of god!!!!!!

Sunday Eve Doodlin'

2009-11-16T02:50:00.001-05:00

As a busy couple of weeks approaches I figure I'd doodle a bunch on a Sunday night and share one with y'all.

Comic Page

2009-11-12T15:24:00.000-05:00

Page 2 of a 5 page comic- the first and hopefully not the last!

Cricket Players in the Park

2009-11-10T17:19:00.006-05:00

I just love watching these guys in prospect park playing Cricket. If I knew the rules I'd probably join in. One evening after indoor soccer a couple of years back at the Grand Saloon bar, my friend Andy once explained the game to me using sugar packets. 6 pints later, I don't think I really understood much more about the sport, but was intrigued by the fact that they break for tea.
As for the volleyballers, I really don't have much to say, other than, I hope they at least get dates or meet people. Why else subject your forearms to the repeated slapping of a ball?

making a new portfolio

2009-11-08T13:28:00.003-05:00

A compilation of some recent quick portraits done at the Brooklyn Brewery a few weeks back with Sean and Z. The past few weeks I've been assembling a new portfolio, throwing out the old and ushering in the new drawings that will best represent me at this moment in time- which leads me to think that in another few years I'll have long forgotten about these sketches. If I come across them in the future I'll probably cringe at the sight of them- but that's okay, it will have meant that I've improved.

tea lounge sketches

2009-11-05T03:17:00.001-05:00

I think that the New York Yankees won tonight, however, I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of the front page as I walk past a newspaper stand tomorrow.
Earlier this evening I was at the Tea lounge-one of my favorite haunts. As the Jazz band blared away I sat with my back to them. Directly in front of me was a fellow whose gaze never left his computer screen. To his right a girl just as pre occupied- except she had a smile on her face.
To my right sat two pretty girls, chit chatting away quietly. Just beyond them sat a guy who seemed to be solving a cross word puzzle, or weighing the pros and cons of living with his girlfriend, or both.
A while after that a man stood with his coat draped over his arm, he must have been waiting for his date- what a gentleman!
I left shortly after they walked out arm in arm.
As I strolled down towards 5th avenue to grab some dinner, I could already hear the howls of the Yankees fans.

Brooklyn Brewery Sketches

2009-11-04T11:37:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple of more post it note sketches- I had completely forgotten about these, but I remember drawing them. Zee gave them to me the other night, after a 2 week absence of just the two of us having a few drinks and a few laughs.

He says he has some better ones , some napkins that we drew on at a bar called Pianos last month. Zee and Bryan are two of my biggest supporters I must say - brutally honest at times, they have pushed me to the next step in my long ascent up the artistic ladder, but wait...where does it lead?

fort lauderdale

2009-11-02T12:48:00.001-05:00

I found it difficult to just lay there in the Florida sunshine, after all, had I dragged my sketchbook and pencils all this way- just to lay in my backpack?

napkin doodle

2009-10-31T19:00:00.005-04:00

Why does it happen so often when Z and I are drawing next to each other at a bar, someone will always ask if we're having a drawing contest. If we were having a drawing contest, then obviously we'd be wearing our wristbands and racquetball goggles, a requisite to each and every drawing contest.
I just assumed everyone was aware of that.
If we're wearing our casual wear, then we're just having fun-
and trying to do better than our last drawing.

Sketches from Dorval

2009-10-28T09:00:00.002-04:00

These two sketches are from my most recent trip to Montreal. As I was adding some texture to the woman's hair, I heard a familiar voice say "there he is". It was my brother and his lady friend who by chance walked past me. I knew they were to arrive a while after I did, but we had not exchanged flight information. Although the arrivals area at Dorval airport is quite small, I still like how the trip started off, by chance. The synchronicities did not stop there however. Perhaps I'll get into them another time.

2009-10-27T10:52:00.002-04:00

Straight ahead animation done a few weeks ago at a quaint little bar called Great Lakes.

painting in progress

2009-10-18T21:45:00.001-04:00

Up shot of a painting in progress.
of various women,
in various stages of undress.

time

2009-10-16T14:00:00.000-04:00

just a random, late night doodle.

paint

2009-10-13T02:32:00.003-04:00

poetry month

Green or red,
Red or green,
Is the life we’ve chosen,
Is that so obscene?

life drawing

2009-10-04T06:37:00.000-04:00

life drawing at the B.A.G. WITH POST ITS! and Modelo beer. What would life drawing be without a can of beer, eh? maybe it's my Canadian side shining through.

post its again

2009-10-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Zartosht also drew the guy on the right. One fun aspect of drawing with a group is that you get to see how other people see the world, and moreover, how they chose to interpret it. His drawing of this guy exaggerated his heroin, haggardly, zombie-like presence even more. When the zombie dude saw Zee’s drawing he exclaimed “…..but it’s only a caricature, right?” As his scrawny arms made a lunge for his chair awaiting him at the table next to us, I caught Zartosht smiling.

PI_6C

2009-10-01T17:39:00.001-04:00

Real quick, loose character studies of characters at the aforementioned bar.

post its and pastels

2009-09-30T20:25:00.001-04:00

instead of sharing some animation I did on bar napkins, I will post these. I tried a few times to upload the video, but all I got was the spinning wheel of death. Maybe I'll try another time.

bar napkin animation

2009-09-30T19:57:00.005-04:00

Idle hands are the devil's playground-
and blank bar napkins are there to be drawn on, which is what I did the other night at Great Lakes over on 5th ave.

PI_7A

2009-09-30T17:40:00.000-04:00

Out at the Brooklyn Brewery this past Friday, Zartosht , Sean and I sketched for a few hours on some post-it notes.

PI_6B

2009-09-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

Just a couple more post-it sketches from KGB bar- your typical snapshot of most bars I would imagine- a newly formed couple anxiously close to one another, talking to a third person who may or may not be waiting his turn at a chance with the lady.

PI_6A

2009-09-28T09:00:00.001-04:00

The drawing of the girl on the left does not quite resemble the subject but does that really matter? If I wanted to I could have taken a picture I suppose- but she probably would have smiled, which would have totally ruined it, not to mention she would have thought me to be really creepy. She was hamming it up for her friends anyway- no need to inflate her already blimp like ego.
Sarah, on the right, was listening intently at this moment in a conversation at the KGB bar.- if you’re reading this Sarah, I hope this drawing finds you.

Post it series_01

2009-09-27T17:22:00.001-04:00

I’ve pre-posted some recent post it note sketches for the next 2 weeks, so that there will be a couple of new sketches every day, most of which were done at the Brooklyn Brewery on Friday, and KGB bar on Thursday. I’ll kick it off with sketches from Union Hall, and each post will be accompanied by some minor rambling by yours truly.
Enjoy.

There’s just something about a pretty woman with a bob haircut and an exposed upper back that makes me scramble for the nearest pen and paper, and mutter the words “man alive!” She could tell that I was perhaps drawing her, which led to the second pose. Which makes me wonder- if she hadn’t realized I was sketching her would she have appeared to be so vivacious?

20 min pose

2009-09-24T15:08:00.002-04:00

I've been back into the swing of life drawing this past month, and although I've got a ways to go , looking back to my life drawings even from 4 years ago I see some slight improvements. I guess that's all we can ask of an artist, just to put forth their best and see what happens.

Brooklyn Promenade

2009-09-23T20:14:00.003-04:00

I was out sketching this past Saturday with Sean and Zartosht. We had a bite to eat on Montague street, then walked to the promenade where I sketched some buildings for a change. Then we all met up later at Building on Bond and drew for another few hours and had a couple of glasses of wine. ok- maybe 4 or 5. but we were there for at least 7 hours. I'll post up some of those sketches later.
Happy Fall everyone.

post it from Building on Bond

2009-09-18T18:17:00.001-04:00

Are Post-it's the new Napkins? let's see- change is good, ya?

Williamsburg Savings Bank

2009-09-15T17:09:00.003-04:00

Waiting for Lauren a cold Saturday morning in April, I sketched this outside of the bagel shop in Fort Greene. You can't go many places in Brooklyn without seeing the Williamsburg Savings Bank building. If I look at it from this angle, the hands of the two clocks, even though they are showing the same time, appear to be very different. I suppose It's all about perspective, in drawing, as in life- take the time to walk around to look at things from every angle. Okay, enough of the deep stuff. Who wants to hit canal bar and sketch?

tea lounge, bob drawings

2009-09-14T12:46:00.001-04:00

a page from my most recent sketchbook- taking a break from the brush pens, well, at least for a few days.

Bob, the funniest cat in Brooklyn.

thoughts on drawing

2009-09-11T18:36:00.003-04:00

As we draw from life, our eyes glance at the subject and then bolt down to face the empty sketchpad and as this process repeats itself over and over, the drawing is sculpted.

As our hand anxiously waits its turn, it wavers with excitement, or hesitation, or both.
And then, most often than not, upon returning our gaze to the subject they have moved!
It is then we realize that nothing stays still- even statues erode over time.

As we record these stories in pencil or ink, we are not limited to our subject but rather to our imagination, since each and every drawing is from our memory.

This dude was dancing up a storm, earlier this summer at this outdoor dance party near my place. I didn't draw much at this weekly sunday afternoon event after this day though, rather, I joined in and danced.

Happy Birthday to Canal Bar

2009-08-28T14:13:00.002-04:00

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).

Sketchbook vs. Computers

2009-08-26T18:08:00.003-04:00

I am the proud owner of a very slow computer, which makes my job very difficult sometimes since most of the work I do is digital. For instance, today was spent wrestling with a software program which will go unnamed. Rather than spending hours finessing drawings and trying to bring characters to life, I spend hitting the ALT CTRL DEL buttons to restart my computer. But I'm not complaining or anything....I just have to figure out a way to either make the computer work for me (buy a new one perhaps?)- or fore go this digital revolution, toss this laptop in the recycling bin, and burst into the world with nothing but a sketchbook- well, and some clothes of course.

Weekend in the slope

2009-08-24T14:09:00.003-04:00

I purchased a new phone the other day and this one has a camera feature. Yes, I can take pictures now, and I am really excited about this prospect. One of the first pictures I took was of a sketch I did early Saturday morning at Barbes. I then gave the drawing away, walked towards home with Justin and Zartosht, had a BLT sandwich then crashed.

Prospect Park Sketches

2009-08-21T12:44:00.004-04:00

Just a couple of sketches done in Prospect Park, the guy laying down from late last year, and the trees from this July. Not much beats an afternoon there with a sketchbook some friends, and some wobbly pops.

Wilbur from Canal Bar

2009-08-18T15:09:00.002-04:00

Wilbur used to live above Canal Bar. I always wonder what it would be like to live above a bar- would I feel obliged to go there every night? Probably. It's a good thing that I live 172 steps from the Canal Bar, 160 if I'm in a good mood, 190 if I'm feeling down. Wilbur now lives a few blocks away, I'd say at least 500 steps away, but I'll have to check. I'll ask him this Sunday at Canal, where he tends bar.

Keith from Union Hall

2009-08-17T12:24:00.002-04:00

This is Keith, from Union Hall on 5th. Zartosht and I were there sketching him a couple of weeks ago. I darkened his shirt after I scanned this, so the one hanging at the Crooked Tail is a tiny bit different. I think my next sketching project will all be about Gowanus. Its people, buildings and of course the canal itself.

Bryan, Lauren and Zartosht

2009-08-13T12:21:00.000-04:00

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/

Great Lakes Napkin

2009-08-05T13:58:00.004-04:00

A quick sketch of Megan from Great Lakes on 5th ave. Out with Zartosht last night, I realized that these days of drinking and drawing at Brooklyn bars may be nearing an end. It's like an invisible force, nudging you in a certain direction, the same one that brought me here, I feel, Is now whisking me away to a new adventure.
Some people take photos to remember certain events, others write in their journals. My memories are sketched on various forms of paper products. I can remember where I was and who I was with for most sketches I've done, sometimes I can even hear the music that was playing at the time. The brain is more powerful than I think we can imagine.

Bell House

2009-08-04T13:17:00.002-04:00

This is a quick sketch from a couple of months ago of Naomi from the Bell House.
back to work!

A night on Smith Street, Bartenders on Napkins

2009-07-30T15:22:00.003-04:00

So It's official, Z and I will be displaying some of our latest bartender drawings, on napkins, of course.
We wanted to celebrate the good times we've had over the last couple of years bar hopping and bar sketching.
We'll kick it off in a couple of weeks at the Crooked Tail Cafe in beautiful Gowanus, Brooklyn.
I'll be supplying some wine but feel free to bring whatever you like, we'll hit the canal bar afterwards.

the details:

Who: Bar Napkin artists Zartosht Soltani and Phil Lockerby
What: Bartenders on napkins from Sample, Zombie Hut, Boat, The Bell House, Canal Bar, Great Lakes,the Gate and many more.
Where: Crooked Tail Cafe, 272 3rd ave, corner president street in Brooklyn. R train to Union or F/G to smith and Carroll
When: Friday, Aug. 14th 2009 from 7-10
Why: why not? don't you like to party?

Drawings from the Gate

2009-07-23T07:23:00.003-04:00

These two people seemed to like their drawings. Apparently I "nailed the breasts" in the one, and the other I would say bears a resemblance to the bartender at the Gate on 5th ave.

Sunday's Napkins

2009-07-22T11:18:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, Josh, Greg and I were out at the Brooklyn Yard, next to the Carrol st. bridge. After that we headed up the street to the Gowanus Yacht Club, were I sketched these. I gave some drawings away as usual, and kept some for myself, after all, I'm not really that nice.

Prospect Park Drum Circle

2009-07-21T13:46:00.002-04:00

On Sunday morning I decided to drag myself out of Futon and into the park. It had been a few weeks since I headed out with nothing but a sketchbook in hand and a positive attitude. After a couple of years running past the African drum circle in Prospect Park, I had finally arrived there to sketch. I filled my belly with a fish sandwich and sat down in a prime spot facing the circle. The beats of the drums kept me going, I must have drawn for at least 2 hours non stop. These are a few sketches, and with a free drumming track off of the net, it's as if you were there, well, without the fish sandwich, but I just saved you 5 dollars.

Life Drawing at the BAG

2009-07-14T12:25:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-12T14:51:00.001-04:00

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

Save the napkins!

2009-07-08T14:39:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-06T17:28:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-26T18:41:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-26T11:39:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-23T12:34:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-21T14:36:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-19T13:37:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-17T16:32:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-12T01:48:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-05T13:50:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-05T01:21:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-03T15:16:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-29T16:51:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-28T16:48:00.005-04:00

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

2009-05-27T23:55:00.000-04:00

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

2009-05-27T13:40:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-25T12:08:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-25T12:02:00.001-04:00

the Grease Pencil

2009-05-22T12:09:00.003-04:00

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

2009-05-19T12:08:00.005-04:00

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

2009-05-18T14:23:00.003-04:00

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.

walking canvas party

2009-05-15T16:08:00.002-04:00

I hate nightclubs, I always have. I'm sure there are some nice people that go to clubs and maybe that person is YOU, but if I want to dance I usually do so in the comfort of my own kitchen when no one is looking. As my friend Steve says "If you see me dancing call me a taxi right away." I'm not really one for deafening pop music, overpriced drinks and excesses of douchebaggery. I like to take in my douchebaggery in small doses, that's why I stick to bars these days WITH ONE EXCEPTION - friends of mine have been putting on these full moon party events (www.moonlightnights.org) and the last event was a walking canvas party at 40C on ave C. Lots of cool people and a friendly vibe made for a pleasant, albeit exhaustive evening, I don't recall taking too many brakes between 10pm and 4am. Thank you to all who let me draw on you, and for all those drinks.

Two girls one napkin

2009-05-11T10:04:00.004-04:00

I shook my father's hand and at the same time unbuckled my seat belt. "Give me a call later if you need to be picked up" he told me. I wouldn't be needing a ride though, no need to wake him up at midnight. If my friends were too drunk to drive me home then I'd phone up a taxi cab. It was 8pm and I was to meet Ted and Chris at 8:30. Mike and Eric would show up later. I was early and I knew it, I desperately needed to get some bar sketching in before they all showed up. As the waitress took my beer order a drunk fat woman in her 30's to her right yelled for some napkins. "I'll have a few napkins too if you don't mind" I chipped in. She thought I was joking, there was no spill at my table.
Upon returning from the bar with some napkins to my full beer I fumbled for my pens and proceeded to sketch, except for the first time in a long time I was afraid of someone getting offended if they caught me drawing them. I played it safe and sketched some of the waitresses from the back. I would avoid drawing the men in the bar that night, and later would give all the drawings away to the respective girls.

Out with Zartosht the other night, these 2 girls didn't mind me drawing them at all, nor did the one on the left mind Z drawing a beautiful tattoo on her back.
Z picked up dinner and I took care of the cab ride home.

Life Drawings

2009-04-29T18:01:00.004-04:00

These are just a few of my favorite life drawings of this past month, I really need to start going a lot more consistently if I'm ever going to improve. Inspired by my online character design instructor, Steve Silver, I've been approaching my drawings differently of late, and I'm feeling good about this new direction.
The female model was just stunning, I don't know if I did her any justice but I tried my best. Then I met up with some friends at the Gowanus Yacht Club over on Smith street and downed a few beers, a nice way to end the day, wouldn't you say?

Bar Tano napkin

2009-04-28T13:05:00.003-04:00

My good friend Dave from Montreal was feeling a little rugged the other morning, so I decided to poke a little fun at him and draw as much as I could squeeze onto this napkin before our breakfast arrived. I ordered him a bloody mary also, isn't that what friends are for?

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-22T18:29:00.003-04:00

a pretty rough attempt at digital painting here, take it easy on me! :)
I must imagine that mother earth is pretty sad these days, we've been mistreating her for over a hundred years now and yet we pretend that dedicating one day out of the year in her honour is going to solve our problems. I think we're doomed as a species, and I'm a pretty optimistic person, but I'm also no fool. As long as we keep buying into this system of capitalism and consumerism I think we can kiss her goodbye- but, hey, I don't want to be the party pooper here! Happy Birthday my dear friend.

Sunday eve doodling

2009-04-20T20:04:00.002-04:00

What are memories?- but moments upon moments of the past buried deeply away in our minds. Some stand out alone like continents on a world map while others are like islands scattered across the ocean, miles of gaps in between them. I personally enjoy those moments of frozen time that are difficult to get to, because after all, nothing beats a private island with some good friends.
This painting, although unintentional at the time brings back many memories, some painful, some joyous. I suppose I could say I'm on a shaky canoe sometimes, but what's wrong with getting wet once in a while.
eh?

Prank #3

2009-04-20T12:55:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty absent minded these days, I uploaded the incorrect video last week and Zee brought it to my attention. Here ya go!

Succesful cracker prank

2009-04-17T17:25:00.002-04:00

I'm done with these cracker pranks for a little while, I've a lot of work to get done, but it's fun to goof off every once in a while. I really think Zee's genuinely scared by this tiny package of crackers dangling next to him. Funny stuff.

Art Gallery Bar

2009-04-16T16:14:00.003-04:00

It's not often someone hands me a pen and asks me to draw on the wall of their establishment. I usually do it incognito, inebriated in the bathroom stall.
This time it was on a large sheet of paper at the Art Gallery bar in the LES at a full moon party event. I had fun, I must say, but I much prefer to draw alone.

Failed Prank attempt #2

2009-04-14T11:00:00.003-04:00

This one makes me laugh every time I see it. Zartosht is pulling the string, Sean McBride is the victim.

Failed Prank attempt #1

2009-04-14T10:13:00.004-04:00

I have a lot of fun working at Flickerlab here in NY. Even if some of the projects are not the most challenging in terms of pushing my animation limits, I always try to find a way to expand my artistic abilities. For instance, I could be working on educational flash animation that is quite boring and laborious, I could come into work and bitch and complain, bring the energy level down to those people I work with, or.... I could use the opportunity to work on my organizational and people skills, especially when put in the role of supervisor for certain projects.
Such isn't the case right now. We are currently wrapping up on a cool little animated sequence for an Australian documentary, all about living and eating healthy, which can seem a little ironic when some of us may show up the occasional day a bit hungover and grab a burger and fries for lunch, not to mention all those smoke breaks.
Nonetheless, I still think it's fun to play a friendly little prank once in a while, or once a week depending on the stress level. This is our best attempt thus far, what I'd really like to see is someone freak out or scream like a girl only to find a little package of crackers floating above their heads.