Today I tried to simplify.
On the black paper.
I just used a white colorstick
both the point and the side:

Then I just got tired of this
DoingSomethingDifferent.

Took out white paper
and enjoyed some graceful linework:

I sure have been busy playing with my art supplies today. Here's a quick cac I did to try the Lasso tool in PhotoShop:

The day's not over yet.
Now I drew a picture of a young man who works at McDonalds in NYC - near 14th Street Union Square:

I can't believe what I'm into now.

I had been a black velvet snob of course - when I first saw them, the high contrast of paintings on black velvet, my little girl eyes said 'WOW'. But I quickly learned that "it's a trick. So easy. Because anything you put on black velvet will look great." That's what they said. BUT DID YOU EVER TRY IT???

All these years later, as a grownup, I finally decided to try it. And I found out that it's not as easy as I thought. I didn't actually have black VELVET, but I tried drawing my Caricatures on black paper. Here's one done with colorsticks - the same medium I use on white paper:

After I drew it, I wished I remembered to use lost and found lines, so I eliminated some of the lines in PhotoShop:

While I was in PhotoShop, I noticed that the PhotoShop Computer colors looked so much brighter on black paper than on white paper. So I had to see what it could do. I couldn't use most of the Computer techniques because it was drawn with rough lines, so all I did was to paint with the mouse. Here's what I came out with:

I gotta do THAT. It would be a great option for many parties. I decided that I gotta figure out how to draw quickly with bright colors on black paper. So far, my brightest picture was done with pastels:

This Computer version that you're seeing actually looks a little brighter than the Original -
because of the Light from the Scanner. I still think I have to try 'velvet'. I think some Art Stores carry something called velvet-paper. That would be appropriate for pastels. It's on my list of wonderful things to do.

Turns out that drawing on black is a different game than drawing on white -
not just that things look different on the black paper, but also that you have to dream up a different picture than you would have put on white paper. About painting on black velvet - Don't knock it til you try it. Keep an open mind. Admit that you thought it was WOW the first time you saw it. It is fuuuuuuunnnn. That's what I have to say.

To Hire this Artist:
(516)579-4706
visualdust@gmail.com

Another day just hanging out with another Artist. I've drawn him lots of times, but today's was really special. First I was copying the little cartoons that he was doodling. Then, I drew his face right onto the same page. Nothing planned, and I like what happened. It really represents 'Elgin' to me :

Then my day went on. Drawing strangers that I see around me. Here are some New Yorkers. Done with ugly colors. Because I just brought along the colorsticks that I wouldn't be using for my 'real' work
when I'm just hanging out:

Hey ~ ~ Hi ~ ~

This is a 'shout out' to all the wonderful people I drew last night at Sardi's. Hello!!!
Some of you had asked me to post the photos that I took at the party. So here they are. The ones that came out in focus (Photography isn't my forte:-)

I'm very pleased with the pictures I've been drawing lately. I've finally been seeing the whole face as a whole landscape before placing the individual features.:

Today I'm going to show you some predraws - the sort of stuff I drAW BEFORE I commit to marker. I call'm scribbles:

I drew those on the train/subway. Sometimes I go into marker right there - sometimes I take home the predraws and then I finish them up at home. Here are some that have the marker added:

Here's one that I finished up completely with shading and background:

And here's one in full color: