New years Eve

Last year I think I posted a drawing from the outside of McSorley's so this this year here is another look at the inside. This drawing captures a little of what it's all about. To see the other McSorley's drawings click HERE

Quick Studies

These were done at the Tea Lounge, always a great people watching venue.

Pete's Tavern

Another New York classic, Pete's claims to be the oldest original bar in New York having been open since 1864, there seems to be a lot on contention about this as a few other bars make similar claims. I'll get to the bottom of this my friends, research is key.

Laptop Land

Looking for love or working on the definitive novel? I have to wonder what all these people are so intent on when they take their laptops to the Tea Lounge. Due to WiFi issues, I've been taking my laptop out too, but then I know what I'm up to.

Bill's

Here is another look at the exterior of Bill's on 54th st. I love this this place, I posted a pencil sketch about a year ago and sold it to one of the regulars at the bar. Who says crime doesn't pay?

Happy Holidays

This is Chris, I met him at Old Town yesterday, he spotted me drawing him and was cool about it, not always the case I can assure you. We exchanged drinks and chat and it made for a great start to the Christmas celebrations. Happy Holidays people.

Holiday Spirit

This dude is loaded with it. I'm about to get loaded myself. Happy Holidays everyone.

Old Town Bar

Here is a festive look at the Old Town Bar, another of my favorites and home of the till, to see all the other Old Town drawings click HERE.

Bill's

I'm stealing WiFi from a coffee shop in Brooklyn that has no heat, but enough about me, how are you doing?
This is a detail of a larger, as yet unfinished drawing of one of my favorite lunch time haunts, Bill's at 54th st between Madison and Park, you can't beat it for atmosphere. If ever you say the film "Micheal Clayton" you will have seen this bar on film at least. To see my other attempts at this bar click HERE. You notice I always sit in the same place, I'm going to have to work on that, creature of habit that I am.

Some People

Some people sleep on the subway, others read this lady slept while holding her book open in front of her. Now that's what I call multi-tasking.

I Missed A Day

That day being yesterday, I had the drawing but not the internet connection, it's not a long story but one I can't be bothered to type. One school of thought is that I owe you a drawing another is that I got a free ride, I'm liking the free ride thing myself.
It's my second missed day since I started this blog 18 months ago, not too bad.

Little Dudes

Another blast from the past and a simple rendering exercise. Circa 1985, gouache on paper, back in the days when I thought I knew it all.

I'm Shameless

"Another till!" I hear you scream, yes but a till with a difference. for a start I drew this with pens and also it's a detail for a larger drawing so you have that to look forward to (we can't wait).It's all part of my master plan.

Quickie No 4

Here we are again. I'm really hoping to get to the Society on Thursday although the outlook seems somewhat bleak at the moment. I'm under heavy deadline with Upper Deck, I love it of course but it can feel like house arrest sometimes.

Kirsty McColl

This is another old one, so old I think I'm the only one who ever saw it. That last statement makes no sense what so ever but it's early on a Monday morning. Of course I could delete it and start again.....I'll think about it and come back later.

Zanten

Now here is a face you can trust.

Whoops

Quickie No 3

I'm on a roll with my quickies, just ask anyone who knows me.

Quickie No 2

Revisiting some of these sketches that I have overlooked, I'm finding some that appeal to me. My criteria for what I think makes a good drawing is always changing, that can't be a bad thing...can it?

Quickie

This was a real quick study, I don't usually post the super quick ones but, as is often the case, less can be more.

Subway Dudes

Or "Dudes On A Subway" I was conflicted over the title as you can imagine. I only hope I made the right choice. I must go and lie down now and reflect on the remains of the day.

Monday Nude

And what better way to start the week. Where do I go from here I wonder.

It's My Birthday

I was thinking about what might make a good birthday posting and I had been digging through my old work in order to give a talk at FIT(as mentioned in a previous post)and I came across my first ever professional job for Classic Bike magazine in England back in 1983. I'm amazed to discover I'm 46 today, I don't know quite how it happened but there you are. I must also say this though, I'm having the time of my life. Thanks Angie.

Content

I mean, does this lady look like she is experiencing inner piece or what?

Nude Dudette

Had a great day yesterday end ended with sketch night at the Society. I'm having another go at working with these Pitt pens. I never attempted to try a do life drawing with them so this was kind of an experiment.

Dude With Bag

I don't know what was in the bag but he doesn't look happy about it does he? My guess is it's a bad school report because I remember having to take a few of those home myself.

Blast From The Past

I've been going through some rally old stuff recently preparing for a talk I'm going to give at FIT. This is an illustration sample I must have done at least 25 years ago, I came across a few more that I'll post over the coming weeks. Trip down memory lane for me.

Fed Up

At least that's the impression she gave me.

Oh Yes I Did!

Did you think it was too soon for me to lay another "Old Town" till on you? You can't keep a good till down my friends and for those of you who haven't seen my previous till drawings click HERE. This is actually the 10th till I've posted although I've drawn way more than that.

Lady

It's Sunday and Angie has promised if I'm really really good I'll get to go to Ikea instead of watching the United v City game on TV. Life is sweet my friends.

Old Town Bar

Here are a couple of the regulars at the Old Town Bar. You will no doubt be pleased to learn that after a recent visit I was able to do another till drawing. Can't wait can you?

Nostrand Avenue

This is the street at the end of the block where we live, I didn't think this sketch was finished but Angie told me it was so I'm posting it. Hope you've all recovered from yesterdays excesses.

Happy Thanksgiving

This is the view from Sarah Palin's bedroom, don't ask me how I know that, just except it and let's move on. Enjoy the day good people of the World.

Wednesday's Nude

This is one from last weeks haul, or as much of it that would fit om my scanner bed. If I can get a bar in a some point today then we are almost back to normal service. It's thanks giving eve today in America so it's getting a little festive.

Two For Nevins St

That's where they got off anyway. I couldn't work out if they were together or not, they were sat side by side with plenty of empty seats around them but beyond that they didn't interact. We all have those days though.

Court St

This is the drawing I was doing before Dominic sat with me.

Dude

You see all sorts on the subway but I could do with a few more models like this one.

Nudes on Thursday

Thursday night we went back to the Society for sketch night, when I say we I mean Angie and Gillian and myself. we had also gone on Tuesday but bailed early. This time we stuck it out although Angie and Gills decided to remain at the bar while I drew. Gills did manage to get some drawing in and I've posted her drawing beneath mine. That's just the kind of guy I am.

Fanelli's

Is a great bar on Prince St in Soho. I sat and drew while Angie and Gils were shopping. Could have been worse, could have been much worse.

Robert Johnson

this is a sketch I had done for a magazine, the finished painting can be seen on my Website in the portraits section. Go and have a look why don't ya.

Nude

Went back to the Society last night almost by accident, I intended to go on Thursday, probably will, in fact. Anyway, hadn't been in a long while struggled and bailed out early, this is the closest I came to getting a result.

Almost Gils

This is my cousin Gils on the subway yesterday......almost.

Dominic

Dominic is an English bloke who came and sat with me whilst I was drawing a street scene in Brooklyn yesterday. When I sat he came and sat with me I mean he was wheeling a chair up the street and he just parked it by me and started talking. At that point I stopped drawing the street and started to draw Dominic. Crime of opportunity, so to speak. We had a couple of pints and he told me a joke then he wheeled his chair off and that was that. Sketch of the day.

This Is Vincent

Vincent looks like trouble to me.

Head Study

This was some woman sat at a bar staring into space, she sat, I drew, enough said.

MTA

I had to go into the city again yesterday so I seized the opportunity to get a sketch in. My really heavy deadline is almost over so I should be able to get back to "Bars and Nudes". Oh happy days.

None Too Pleased

Organize Your Corpses

That's the title of this one. It was the first in a series of three book covers so far. the SECOND and THIRD have already been posted but this was done before I started this blog. I gave the original painting to our friends Susie and Ed since many of the objects in the painting can be found in their CABIN.

Book Jacket Roughs

Not much to choose between these two but I'll post the finished painting tomorrow, yes I work that quick