John Carpenter

This is an odd thing to be posting but, for reasons it would take me too long to type it was this or nothing. It's a job I did for the Wall St Journal back in 2006. John Carpenter and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Kitty

This is the cat we are looking after whilst abandoning our own two.

Angie In Repose

We are still at the cabin and Angie finally sat down long enough for me to attempt this drawing. She said I made her look like a serial killer, personally I think she looks more like a cereal eater.

From The Window

This sketch took two hours. I know this because whilst I was doing it I had Manchester United V Hull on the TV and we both finished at the same time. Does life get any better? The answer is yes because I failed to mention I had a bottle of Yuengling.

Woodstock

This is the house we are staying in for the holiday season. It's just too good to be true.

Gils At Pete's

Happy Holidays everyone.

Xmass Eve

The perfect occasion to showcase another cheesy book cover. This was one of my first covers I did when I came to America which makes it about 20 years old. I have to point out two things.
1. I haven't been out sketching much lately, I'm not fed up with it by any means but life inter veins some times, I expect to be able to do some drawing over the weekend.

2. That's me in the painting laying down the smack whilst Steve McQueen watches with admiration (bottom left). Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Have a happy holiday season good people of the world, I have tomorrow's post all drawn up for you, I know you have better things to do but just in case you get a moment.

Running

Running from the holiday spirit perhaps. This is a really old book cover that hasn't seen the light of day for all the obvious reasons. This goes back to a time when I didn't know that I didn't know what I was doing. As for running from the holiday spirit, I sometimes wish I could take a year off or maybe it should be like the World Cup and come every four years. Any thoughts?

Dude

Here we go again.

Chumley's

Here is a rather festive look at a bar that no longer exists. This was the perfect place for a holiday pint.

VA Sketching Day

On Thursday a group representing the Society of Illustrators when to the VA hospital on 23rd st the sketch the patients as a kind of holiday event. I was in really good company here. From left to right, Mike was our Va liaison, Artists Bob Smith, Victor Juhasz, Joan Chiverton, Steve Brodner, me and Ed Murr.

Here Comes The Snow

This is why I don't ski anymore.

Dudette

I'm not getting out much lately I need to get sketching again. Here is my last subway drawing. Today I'm going to a VA hospital to draw the patients. It's something I do with the Society Of Illustrators, we give the drawings to the patients and it's a bit of light relief for them in this festive season.

Shoes

That's my opinion anyway.

Holiday Shopping

On Madison Avenue. At some point the fear of not doing it outweighs the fear of doing it.

Lady on the 5

The sleep of the dead, I was almost tempted to stay on the train and keep drawing but common sense prevailed.

The Boss (unfinished)

Routing around in the studio today I came across this unfinished painting of Bruce, I don't remember starting it and clearly I lost interest but It will do for todays posting. It's raining and I'm moving real slow today. How you doing?

Dude

On the way home from the city at about 1am everybody seems to look like this.

Boy

I was drawing in Red Hook one morning when a young lady approached me to see what I was doing. She said she was an nanny and would I draw a portrait of the young boy she was looking after for a gift for the boy's parents. She sent me a bunch of pictures I used a couple of them and drew this portrait. I'm charging her $100, I don't know how much nannys make.

Portrait of a Dude

Tis none other.

My Kind Of Guy

Unlike yesterdays model, this guy knew how to stay put. I don't ask for much from my fellow commuters. It's cats and dogs outside today so I'm blessed with full days work at home and an audio book, my kind of day.

Almost

This was going quite well and then he got off.

Another Birthday

I'm 47 today, when I think back to being 37 all I can say is these last 10 years have been the best in my life, largely thanks to Angie who has given me a life worth living. I'm going to make these next 10 years count so when I look back at 57 I can do so with some satisfaction. The game's afoot my friends. This is a drawing from Bill's I don't know if I'll get there today but it's a worthy place to spend any birthday.

Wooley Hat

It's starting to turn cold in New York, yesterday we had snow although today seems really beautiful. That's enough about the weather, how you doing?

Stuff

Aptly titled or what?

Award Night

Wednesday night I received the Stevan Dohanos award from the Society of Illustrators. Great night for me and my misses.

Chumley's

As he leans in she leans out, maybe because he wasn't wearing any socks.

The Battle Of Pussy Willow Creek

I did this illustration for use in an independent movie of the same title, I missed the screening this week, damn.

Teddy's

Teddy's is in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn. Williamsburgh has gone through tremendous change lately but Teddy's is a classic old bar, how old? it was owned by Mae West's parents and the legendary performer was born in the apartment above the bar. I haven't done a drawing for the outside of the bar but you know it's coming.

Closet Confidential

This is what I did with Sketch "A". I'll let you know what the art director has to say but this is the story so far.

Dude In A Mood

No cheering this one up.

Angie

He's a quickie of the misses.

Whoops

Was it something I said?

Happy Thanksgiving

Do you remember when you had to shoot your own turkey?

Cutie

On the 5 train into Manhattan on Monday, She read, I drew, and all was right with the world.

Yesterday's Guy

I've been doing these bar sketches for years now and You run into the same people from time to time. These are two sketches I did of the chap from yesterdays post, they were done in a bar called JD's which no longer exists. I did a great many sketches of the regulars in JD's and they all and to find another watering hole when it closed. For this guy it was P.J Clarke's which is only two blocks from where JD's once stood.

P.J Clarke's

Here is a chap enjoying a drink and the news paper on a Monday Lunchtime. Ease into the week, that's what I say.

Sunday Afternoon

Might as well sleep though it.

Angie And Gils

This was a quick sketch of Angie and Gil's on the way into the city last weekend to visit the high line. Not the best likeness of either but it was hard to manage that in the short time I had. Excuses excuses.

Stevan Dohanos Award Winner 2009

I found out this week that this painting won the Stevan Dohanos award for the Member Open Show from the Society of Illustrators.
I'm thrilled because I've never won anything before except for a coloring in competition when I was 9(I was good at staying within the lines). For those of you that are New York based the Member Open show will be up as of Dec 1st and there will be an opening reception on Wednesday Dec 2nd at 6pm.

As for yesterday, the art director chose 'A' You can't win them all.

Closet Confidential

Three sketches for a book cover, I like c.

Queen Mary 2

I was on my way home from Fairways yesterday when I noticed this massive ship moored in Red Hook. It was towering over the houses and I had to find a place to sit and sketch it. That's down town Manhattan to the left.

Gills

Gills came for another visit from Bonnie Scotland and I'm never going to drink again. I think that tells the story.

Franklin Park

This was my other drawing from Saturday. I really can't think of anything else to say about this one. Sketch of the day!

Lauren

Yesterday the weather was pretty miserable so I took myself off to Franklin Park for some indoor drawing. I was so quite in the bar that Lauren who was bar tending that evening agreed to sit for a portrait. It's an ill wind as they say. Thanks Lauren.

Mike

Mike likes Ike.

Game Boy

He got to the next level right before my eyes.