Gang Gang Sketch

September 3rd launched the TBA (time based art) festival in Portland, OR and as their kickoff Gang Gang Dance played a free show. The festival was held in a converted high school that had been abandoned since 1981; with every facet and room turned into an art display of some kind. The concert was in the old auditorium and in attendance was, what seemed to be, every twenty something year old in Portland. I did my best to get a few sketches in, but it was difficult with everyone jumping and dancing in front of me, however I did pioneer the new drawing style of "dance-sketching." It was a really fun time and ended how all good times should end- with cheap Mexican food (this time it was burritos from the vegan taco truck).



Here's a video I found of the end of the show where the audience stormed the stage and turned it into a dance party.

Vile wooden dungeon

Nearly a month ago I had the pleasure of seeing Kurt Vile, Woods, and Dungen all at the same show. My favorite of the three was Woods who put on an excellent set, despite the mellowness of their record. The most entertaining part being the effects guy sitting on the floor and over emoting every lyric with Meatloaf like precision. I really couldn't believe it actually. Dungen, however, was silly and dramatic and we left midway during their set to get donuts. Oreo cookie and froot loops! God Bless Voodoo Donuts.

Okay, last one.

On our last night in town we went to a Burmese restaurant with Alexis, Josh, and my old friends from SFSU Ijah and Natalie. Burmese food is kinda like Indian food with a dash of Thai, but to be honest I wasn't thaaaaat into it. Luckily the dish we ordered turned out to be my favorite of the table (some kind of spicy crispy tofu I think?). The best thing that came out of it though was a dish called Coconut Rice, which is simply rice made with coconut milk instead of water. It's so obvious yet I've never thought of it! I tried to recreate it today in my own kitchen with only mildly disastrous consequences. I'll let you know when I get the damn thing right. Here's a sketch of Josh and Ijah, who is now sporting the "Jeff Goldblume" look with his new haircut.

Another blog about my trip to San Francisco

I've been trying to pull my sketch book out more often lately which means I'm a little bit backed up on this thing, so you're just going to have to bare with me as I talk about things that have long since passed. Here are some drawings of Swoops and Theresa (the two people I went to SF with) that I did while staying with Alexis in Oakland. Let it be noted that I'm not really that happy with how either of these drawings came out. But I'm posting them here anyways. Deal with it.





There are many reasons I look forward to my biannual trips to San Francisco, but one that sticks out in my mind is the food. For some reason SF has some of the best and most unique food around, which caters to my specific tastes. This last trip included veggie Chinese food, Indian pizza, Crepes from the Japan-town mall, Burmese food, By-Rite AND Bombay ice cream, Ritual coffee, and In N Out. How can you beat that? You can't. My only regret is that I didn't get any Mexican food, but that's okay- I'll get my fix in San Diego. Oh yeah, by the way, I'm going back down yet again. BOOM!

I went to San Francisco

Two weekends ago I went to San Francisco with Swoops and my German friend Theresa. The first three nights we stayed near the Fillmore and Japantown at Steve's place. He has a mustache now and hangs out with three cats and a vocal Schnauzer.



The last two nights we stayed with our friend Alexis in Oakland. Alexis and I go way back- she was at my Bar Mitzvah. We made mashed potatoes at her house and flew kites. Last weekend she was in Seattle, but we couldn't make it up. Hopefully we'll see her again in Portland someday!

Weary Spangler

Another doodle from work for you today. This is another of the few drawings I've posted on here that is not from real life. I wasn't sure what sort of hair to give him, but when in doubt use Egon Spangler's hair from The REAL Ghostbusters, that's what I always say at least. I think it's pretty evident in this drawing that I've been reading the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen books. Kevin O'Neill's drawing style seems to have rubbed off on me a bit. The Black Dossier was a bit dense, but still enjoyable in my opinion, and the last chapter was rendered beautifully in red and blue 3-D. Luckily Stephanie had a pair of old school glasses lying around so I could really appreciate the depth and work that went into it. It also gave me an amazing idea (that has probably been done before): 3-D tattoos!

Stampede

Last month was my Grandfather's 89th birthday. He's been an avid stamp collector his whole life, even going as far to keep up stamp collection's for his sons and grandchildren who don't care at all, so I figured it was about time he was on a stamp. I'm pretty sure he'll appreciate this card, even though it's a month late.

Customer sneak sketch + Partially blind contour = today's post

Something I've grown to realize about myself artistically is that I have considerable trouble drawing things that don't look exactly as they are right in front of me. Basically I have trouble skewing reality in my drawings, which is ironic because I so often imagine myself apart from this reality. One way I've found around that, however, is to put different obstacles in front of myself such as using a drawing utensil with a far thicker point than I'm used to, or working in a new medium entirely. One tool that I've found I enjoy is drawing something as a partial blind contour and then embellishing upon that drawing once I've got the rough outline done. This provides for a skewed drawing that isn't exactly what I was drawing, but is sometimes even more interesting. Sometimes it will even put emotion into the drawing that I never intended to be there at all. Thus I 'm happy to say that the person depicted in the drawing above looks almost nothing like that in real life.

This is what I do at work: Part II

Okay, forget everything I said before. There is no more sketching at work. Who could find the time? Between customers looking at me like I'm an idiot for even offering them the option of "bag or no bag" (yes I'm fully aware that it's goddamn raining outside), and people sending their five year old up to the counter to empty out pockets of change for me to count up because they think it's cute, I've had no time to draw anything at work today.

However, I did draw a few things last weekend. Here are some silly additions made to the store map made by myself and my coworker Brendan Jones, author of the brilliant web comic Breakfast of the Gods. Obviously these drawings are far beneath his talent, so make sure to check out his comic and maybe buy a t-shirt while you're at it!

This is what I do at work Part 1

Well my new computer chord has finally come in the mail which means that we're back on track. Most of the time my job is incredibly busy and I barely have a spare moment to rest my "scanning hand" let alone pick it up again to sketch something out. But there are those times, mostly closing shifts where things get deader than MJ's sparkly gloved hand, that I do manage to draw something at work. Not necessarily my best work, but it helps relieve the monotony of it all and keeps my mind on other things. This is the view from Orange Room bag check and a rogue's gallery of woodland creatures:





Last night I went to a free Gang Gang Dance show at an abandoned High School that had been converted into an art space for the show. This was the kick off for Portland's Time Based Art festival which goes on for the next two weeks I think. There was an abundance of dancing, boots, vegan tacos, red stripes, mustaches, and neon colors, and a great time was had by all. During the encore the crowd stormed the stage and turned it into a dance party. I've recently started a new sketch book where I draw pictures of live acts I've attended. These will be posted sometime this week I'm sure.