Central Park Rocks the House

The little kid on the right has just been introduced to his very first water balloon. I never thought about that before. I wonder what I was like when I was given my very first water balloon. Well actually, knowing me I probably gave it a name and tucked it in next to Ollie.

You'd be amazed how perfect Central Park can be. I wanted to get over to the castle near Columbus Circle since it's one of the best places ever but I ended up spending most of the day over on the Museum mile side. I got some great kid action. Lately I've been focusing on faces. I want to start doing more full body sketches, but those kids just crawl around so quickly! I can't wait until the Fall when I can get back to life drawing. In the mean time, Central Park can really get your pencil rolling.

These girls played the way I think everyone should play. They were so busy having fun they completely lost track of time. They spent the entire morning jumping from spot to spot and changing their make believe stories again and again. The heat didn't bother them and since they were lucky enough to be in their swimsuits, neither did the rain.

Here's a creepy dad who was watching his kids. . . at least I hope they were his kids.

This was my favorite drawing of the day or perhaps the Summer. I loved watching this girl. She was a very young mom who had brought her kid to the park for the first time. She kept trying to explain how to play and telling him what other kids were like. Her son immediately took to the park but every time he fell down or ran into another little kid she'd clutch her hand over her heart.

It's Too Hot to Draw

The park is hot. I braved it on an afternoon this last week. I love getting a tan in less time than it takes to brush my hair. Most of the kids weren't slightly phased by the temperature, they were still running around like madmen. Man, I wish I were five again.

This poor kid's mother bought her this long sleeved shirt for the 4th of July. She was yelling across the park, "I didn't just buy you that shirt so you could wear it one time, girl. Who do you think you are? Vera Wang?" So yeah, Dixie's got a cousin. Welcome to the family Myra.

A Day of Swimming --- With the Fishes

This weekend I rocked it aquarium style.
Certain fish have gained a kind of celebrity status since release of Pixar's 'Finding Nemo.' This Blue Tang who had nothing whatsoever to do with the making of the movie has become hard to live with since Dory's screen debut.
It's amazing how much of people's knowledge of fish comes entirely from watching Nemo on screen. Everyone is constantly screaming 'I found Nemo.' It's amusing. Everyone who yells it out seems convinced they're an original. I refused to include my drawings of clown fish in this particular post. Afterall, Clown Fish aren't funny. Speaking of fish in movies, the guy on the right looked exactly like Steve Buscemi.
The turtles were pretty funny this time around. They usually keep to themselves. They were comfortable just hanging out in the open for once. The Iguana who I lovingly call Elizard was, as always, happy to put on a show. I like the little drawing of him in the corner of this page.
I thought it would be best to end the post with my favorite. No matter what, the fish we knighted 'Word' will always be one of the best parts of my visits to Coney Island.

Hey Macy's, You've got Nothing on This Parade

Sweet, sweet Coney Island

Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure of witnessing the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. I use the word 'witnessing' because I was half expecting to be questioned by police after it was over. Talk about a fest of fins and flesh! I'm aware my blog has gone totally kid friendly so I'll shelve the tons of nudie sketches I brought home.

The heavy exposure of parts usually best left unexposed was very exciting for the younger audience.

A Week In Pictures

I started a new job last week, full time with benefits, the stuff an artist's dreams are made of. It's funny but things that went from bad to worse all year long are now spinning in full speed in the opposite direction. Things are going from great to fantastic to fantastically great. Along with the theme of the week I discovered Washington Square park on one of my lunchtime jaunts last week. Now I spend most days there drawing during lunch or after I punch out. It's about the best thing ever.

Most kids are easy to call. They're either New Yorker kids or tourist kids. Tourist kids are always freaked to death by the squirrels.

The Summer blockbusters have arrived. I can tell it will be essential to see movies on opening weekend if I intend to continue drawing kids in the park. They love spoiling the plots. These soaked girls were playing at being Jean Grey back from the dead. After a week of drawing this one's my favorite. She looked and acted like I do so of course she was the coolest kid on the block. Now, if only the drawing of her chasing the mean boys away from the pidgeons they were terrorizing had turned out better. . .

Naturally Wonderful Natural History Museum

It's been months since I've been to the Natural History Museum. I had forgotten how fantastic the place is! My sister and I spent a day there a few weeks ago and had a marvelous time. These are some of the sketches I did while we partied dino-style.
My favorite dino of the day is as follows, it is far from anatomically correct but it's got something I want all of my drawings to have. When I look at it I can almost detach myself from it as if someone else drew it and my first thought is, whoever drew that had fun while they were drawing. That's what an impulse I want in all of my work.

I really like the museum's dinosaurs, they awe me and make me feel like a tiny child in a vast world, which is my favorite feeling. This time they weren't my focus. We spent a lot of time in the North America rooms and I had one of my favorite moments with my sister while we just sat quietly and drew owls. There were plenty to draw and these were my two favorite. The case they have them in is lit in a creepy way. They made me want to run straight home to watch 'Twin Peaks.'

I spent my fair share of time at the North American ducks

We visited the rhinos before we put the sketchbooks away. I can't wait to go back.

YAY for the baby!

A Sweet Swatch

Tah Dah! Mission accomplished. I'm afraid we're going to see a revisit of the bedazzler incident of 1995. Once I learned how to Bedazzle I didn't own a single thing that wasn't studded and shiny. I could see the same thing happening with this growing need to create patterns. . .

Little Angels. . .

I like these but I don't really think they're interesting enough this way. . . . Can we say wrapping paper swatch? Huh? Huh? Oh yeah. WRAPPING PAPER SWATCH!