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.

Brothersport

My younger brother came up to visit this past weekend which meant the Schraer brother trifecta was once again together again. We had a great time, minus some brotherly squabbling (as brothers tend to do) and I managed to sneak a few sketches in of both of them this time. In the first drawing Jacob reminds me of an old timey British butler and there is something seriously wrong with Daniel's face in the other sketch. Too bad! That's all for now.

I'm a spy....

I completely forgot to mention some really big news. I recently got rehired at Powell's City of Books as an occasional cashier, filling in shifts etc. Take THAT recession. This actually has a multitude of upsides beyond the financial boost. For one I can now bike to and from work which gives me some much needed exercise. I've always had a problem with pure exercise, but biking with a destination is just up my alley. Secondly, there is a Buffalo Exchange across the street from Powell's which means I have a better chance of finding those perfect jeans and shoes I so desperately need. If I check after every shift I'm bound to find them, right? RIGHT?? Thirdly when I don't feel like biking to work I can take the bus and rediscover and refine the lost art of sneak sketching. I did this a lot when I lived in San Francisco and I forgot how awesome it is. Buses are actually havens for interesting looking folk who you WANT to draw. It also forces me to get all the important parts down and not dwell on the details. Following is sneak sketch #1 and #2.





The woman was actually drawn at a coffee shop (obviously) but the same skills are needed. I actually had some time to throw in some color with this one and I'm really happy with the results. I have to try and use color more often.

It occurs to me that I've downloaded a lot of French music lately. First it was a five disc collection by Yves Montand who I sought out after falling in love with the track "Rue St. Vincent" off the Rushmore soundtrack, which led me to an extensive collection of songs about Paris, and I most recently acquired a collection of French girl pop music from the 60s. It's not all great but it's certainly broken up the familiarity of my music library.

I also just finished reading "Joker" by Brian Azzarello (art by Lee Bermejo). It depicts a more modern version of the Joker, closer to Heath Ledgers interpretation, and almost no appearance of Batman. Not a life changing book, but definitely entertaining and well executed.

Makeup draft

Okay, let's not beat around the bush. I've been absent. REALLY absent. I've neglected my poor blog and now I have to pay the toll. Is anyone still out there? I've been working on projects here and there. I finished the wedding invite I mentioned...and I haven't finished a number of other projects I've started. Here's the first of a slew of sketches that I've done in the past few weeks.



A friend of mine. This was a preliminary sketch for a more polished piece that I've procrastinated on for quite a while. Still hoping for the kick in the pants to finish it.



Spectators at an MJ tribute show featuring local Portland musicians. As you can imagine the results were underwhelming, save one really good interpretation. I should mention that I missed the first half of the show. For some reason I really wanted to add in giant vegetables coming out of the ground. As you can see it never came to fruition.



Preliminary sketch for wedding invitation decoration. The happy couple are avid brewers of their own beer and wanted the design to incorporate hops. This was difficult since I've never seen hops before in real life, but the internet seemed to know what they looked like.

I hope this return post was adequate. Come back tomorrow for more back sketches. I PROMISE. Now it's time for more sketching and maybe watching Twins, which Stephanie has never seen. I know, weird right?

Bathroom Mirror

Before moving out of my old house I did a doodle of myself looking through the charming medicine cabinet mirror. I regret not taking a picture of the yellow and orange trimmed bathroom since it was unique in a way that 100 year old bathrooms tend to be. Also, it lacked any electrical outlets. Seriously. It's these small things you take for granted until you find yourself weaving an extension cord through the kitchen in order to trim your beard.

I did this more completed drawing based off my sketchy little doodle and I'm pretty happy with the result. I like the way the information has gotten skewed in the process, like a game of visual telephone (those of you who know me can attest that I do not actually look like this). I also like the way the frame of the mirror acts as a frame for the whole image, making it somewhat of a claustrophobic composition. In the future I hope to experiment more with doing complete drawings from quick sketches.

Photo Challenge #1

Well, I didn't receive very many replies to my photo blog challenge, but I'm way behind on the ones that I did get so I guess it's okay. My friend Aaron submitted a photo hoping it would be used for my Horrible Mustache Experiment series, and I guess I was won over because I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. Even if it's not solely a mustache I think we can all agree that it's pretty horrible.



My new house is coming together and I'm starting to find time to work regularly on art again. Right now I'm working on a new illustration for a wedding invite and another piece for music blog, Chicken's Don't Clap.

New art show - "I Wish I Could"

Here are some pictures of the show "I wish I could" that I did in conjunction with Stephanie Brachmann and installed the last week of June at the Emerson Space Case in NE Portland.



The previous month we went around and asked people from our community to anonymously finish the sentence "I wish I could..." and put it in the box. The pieces in the show incorporate every single answer we got.



Stephanie and I each did three linoleum cuts of different hands for the prints. She executed her master printing skills for this project and I exercised my much underused cursive skills for the lettering. I actually don't think I've written in cursive since middle school until last month, but now that I have a bunch of fancy pens and ink I'll have to put them to some good use. Maybe finally get around to writing that novel... Anyway, here are a few of my favorite pieces from the show.


















The show will be up until July 25th, 2009. The Emerson Space Case is located at the corner of NE Emerson and NE 30th in Portland, OR, 2 blocks north of Alberta.



Now, for some much needed rest.

Outside Concordia Coffee shop

After much last minute work Stephanie and I finished out art project and got it installed (pictures coming soon). Now I have time to focus on freaking out about moving to a new house and turning 26 on the same day. Also - Michael Jackson is dead! Right now I'm busting this awesome MJ mix made by a friend of a friend and I suggest you do the same. If I find the time maybe I'll do an MJ tribute sketch?