Fanelli's Cafe

They have really great food in this place and I've always liked the gingham table cloth look. The soups really are great and indeed they must be to justify the kiosk.

Fanelli's Cafe

I've been turning my attention to this place lately, this is not a drawing that conveys the charm of the place to me so it's back to the drawing board. I was trying t make too much of the fact that this is the only bar I know of with a soup kiosk. I'll be posting more Fanelli's drawings in the near future. Every time I think I'm closing in on this book I'm reminded of yet another bar to add, it really is endless.

Alex

Alex is Fraser's son, I drew this one yesterday at the Hard Rock Cafe as Alex was watching the TV. I did both Portraits in Fraser's sketchbook so he could hang on to them.

Fraser

This is Fraser, I drew him while we were sitting outside the Heartland Brewery having a pint. I've know Fraser since we were both 17 and attending art college in Falmouth, England. I hadn't seen him in about a decade but he came to see in in England when I was back in February and now here we are again. Where does the time go.

Dude

Did anyone notice that I missed yesterday?.... Good. Here is a chap riding the subway off to have a jolly good time, as am I, I've got and old college friend of mine and his son staying with me at the moment. Got to go.

Subway Inn

here is another look at the Subway Inn, truly a dive as previously mentioned although I'm now thinking of other dives to add to the collection. Thank you all for staying with me as I slog my way through this arduous task.

Milano's

Here is another look inside Milano's, this one from just inside the front door. This is a long and narrow bar, a great place to hide from the world.

Two For The Rails

I'm back.

Scenes From The Cape

I've just got back from the Cape and here is a Brief hint of the my 4 day sketch workout. Eddy and I went through the M.A program at FIT together and he offered me the chance to go with him on this job. I learned a great deal, mainly that when you work a gig like this caricatures are the way to go. We are doing another one at the end of August, I'm determined to have a whole different style working by then. Onwards and upwards. BTW Eddy is the one in the yellow shorts.

Tori

This is one of my Cape Cod portraits, actually this is Eddy(my partner in crime)'s niece. One more session to go.

A Quickie From The Trenches

This is a quick drawing whilst waiting for business at the fair in Barnstable, Cape Cod. Back at it today. Feeling a little punchy.

Long Day

This is an illustration from Bob Powers new book and also how I felt comming home from a day of drawing yesterday.

Milano's

I'm up at the Cape at the moment and on the fly, stealing WifI and running out of juice. So this is inside Milano's which is a long and thin bar full of some serious drinking types. I love it.

Milano's

I can't quite bring myself to call this a dive bar because it has so much character. It is the last surviving Bowery bar and is located at 51 Houston St. It's been on the go since 1880. Tomorrow I'll take you inside, you lucky people.

Subway Inn

It's 3.30pm on a Tuesday and the bar is full, this place is all red and black and in need of a overhaul that it will never get, it's a retreat from the world and as far away from Blommingdale's as it is close (if that makes any sense). Someone once said "no matter what time it is, it's always 3am at the Subway". I hope this was worth the wait.

Subway Inn

This is an absolute dive bar, it's on 60th St at Lexington Ave right by Bloomingdale's. Each time I go in there I vow not to return but then on a hot day when you flee like slamming a quick one it's a place. No draft beers in this place which lets you know it isn't even really trying. tomorrows drawing will take you inside, you just can't wait can you.

Brooklyn Bridge

As promised, this is Roebling's Brooklyn bridge, they just don't build them like this anymore. I've drawn this bridge a few times now but you can never really do it justice.

The Roebling Bridge

This bridge was built by John A. Roebling and spans the Delaware river in upstate New York. Roebling also built the Brooklyn bridge and I'll have another drawing of that for you tomorrow. That Roebling dude was up to all sorts of nonsense as you will see by clicking HERE.

Happy Hour

These guys were well into the Friday spirit.

Studebaker Building

I've been eyeing this one for a sketch for sometime and yesterday proved to be the day. It used to be a showroom for Studebaker cars but now it seems to be apartments. It sticks out like a saw thumb in Crown Heights. I'm sketching Brooklyn a lot at the moment so I can get back to posting on Urban Sketchers.

Sky Watch

That's what this piece called of hardware is called. I was walking Angie to the subway one morning and there it was, I had to do a drawing of it but by time I returned the cab was on the ground. I spoke to the police officer, Diana and she put it back up in the sky for me. Thanks Diana, this one's for you.

Bob Powers New Book

My friend Bob has his new book out today and is doing a reading at 7.30 tonight at the Barnes& Noble in Greenwhich village at 6th nave and 8th st. I did the illustrations for this book, 18 in all, and had a good time doing them. I'm going to the reading tonight so maybe I'll see you there. For details of Bobs book and the reading click HERE.

Brooklyn Bridge

I was strolling around Dumbo yesterday in search of a drawing opportunity I got two done and this is the other one.

Ken's Broome St Bar

Here I am inside Ken's and to my delight I've got a reader, life's too good to me sometimes.

Guilty

I recently went to court to defend myself against a driving violation ticket. I was given a ticket for driving whilst talking on a cell phone, my point being I would have needed a cell phone with me in order for that to be a possibility so I went to court to make this point. I won. Not so this cab driver who was found guilty of driving the wrong way down a one way street. I couldn't hear his argument but the judge didn't buy it.

July 4th

Here am I continuing the military theme and getting into the 4th of July spirit at the same time. You are all forgiven in advance for not checking in with this blog today for who could think of such things with the promise of a hot dog looming so large.

And Again

Now it's getting silly, but what else could I do when I came across this one. The same two guys laying down the smack whilst on what looks like a ski holiday. This image is about as insipid as it gets, what was I thinking?

Another 20 Year Old

If it was a single malt scotch it might have aged a little better. These are the same two models I used for the painting I posted a couple of days ago (scroll down, I dare you). I probably have a few more book covers with these guys, I'll try to remember there names. Great times shooting reference at the Bob Osonitch Studio on 4th ave in Manhattan. Good old Bob, if you were the last shoot of the day you usually got offered a beer, that's my kind of guy.

Train Delay

I got stuck on the subway yesterday after an unfortunate incident at Franklin Ave in Brooklyn, I don't know exactly what happened but I did have a little more time than usual on this sketch. It's an ill wind, as they say.