Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Unsanctioned


My buddy Robert came up for a visit from Phoenix this weekend and we went on a two day unsanctioned Sketchcrawl 4.5. Sketchcrawl was the brainchild of Enrico Casarosa and I was lucky enough to go on Sketchcrawl 4 last month (see one of my earlier posts for some sketches.) Enrico is a great artist and you should check out his work HERE You can also see his work and many others on the SKETCHCRAWL WEBSITE AND FORUMS

We started in Marin County on Friday at Muir Woods, then we headed to the beach which is the pic you see at the top of this post.


Eventually we made our way back to San Rafael for a tasty dinner at La Toscana and then for some Apple Cider at the Aroma Cafe. By that point we were both kind of tired and some punchy drawings like above happened.


Day 2 started in San Francisco. Robert didn't get to go on Sketchcrawl 4 so, I thought I would take him on a route similar to the one we all took back in late August. That means we started at Delores Park. I don't know why, but I seem to start these days out with some rather detailed work instead of some light easy sketching to warm myself up.

We eventually made our way to the Haight-Ashbury district where I did some rather dreadful drawings. While in the area I was called a pimp, we got to see a guy try to jack a car, we were asked if we wanted any bud, and I was asked by some scary guy in Golden Gate Park whether I wanted to see his hog. Oh the joys of the big city.

By this point the sun had disappeared under some clouds and the wind kicked up. We sheltered ourselves in the Canvas Cafe where Robert got to see the Dan Lee Exhibition before it was taken down that same evening. We drew some caricatures (with mixed results) of some of the patrons of the cafe.


We then ended the day in Sausalito for a last sketch or two. This was probably my best of the day although, I wish I had captured the warm light that was hitting the buildings as the sun began to set. I was tempted to go back in when I got home with a few hits of gouache, but I thought it was best to leave well enough alone. Returning to a painting usually leads to me screwing it up.

4 comments:

Gerald de Dios said...

I think that's awesome that you created your own "Sketchcrawl 4.5". Your sketches turned out great with a lot of variety in mediums. Your story of Haight-Ashbury was similar to my Sketchcrawl 4...Some guy in San Francisco Giants gear, whistle in his mouth, on a bike, asked if I needed some "Head-banger Boogie". But it can't beat beaing called a "PIMP" (hahaha) I'm glad you left your last sketch alone, it's always nice to look back at your sketches as if it was a photo you snapped, that moment you were at that location.

Garrett Shikuma said...

Hey these drawing/painting look awesome! I did a sketchcrawl with my buddies around here (los angeles). It was so much fun and exhausting at the same time. Nothing like a drawing marathon.

Great stuff...

Jon McNally said...

If these drawings are any indication, it looks like you had a great time, John!

monkeyfeather said...

Thanks. I wish my friend Robert had something to publish his drawings on. He's a KILLER artist.