Drizzle.

Sketched today with watercolor and ink while waiting for Alex at 18 street, because didn't want to look for parking myself and wanted to try this new sketchbook, given to me as a present. A bit disappointed, was hoping for watercolor paper. Here brush scratches helplessly unable to unload, so water brushes no good for that, had to wet paper and add constantly. So sitting home now and drinking tea with pieces of orange in it and wishing for heavy, sexy watercolor book. In-Grid, song from my Ipod

Yellow truck on Ave T.

Ink in Moleskine. Roadwork. Music to hear. The Curse.

Biennale.

Biennale.

Manhattan Bridge.

Ink in Moleskine.

Bread.

I tried this wonderful homemade bread at Thanksgiving dinner, made by Marina, who got this recipe from Switzerland artist she works with. I loved it. So even I was a little tipsy from Jack Daniels and Coke, I wrote it down and one day want to make it myself. I didn't draw it because was busy eating it and than it was gone. Here ink in Moleskine.

Winton's children.

I was really touched by the story someone sent via email about englishman Nicholas Winton, who instead of planned ski vacation in Switzerland went to Czechoslovakia and saved 669 lives of children during Nazis occupation. I used ink and blue for eyes in WC Moleskine A4. I am glad I did it on Thanksgiving.

First spread in brown book.

I came back to the first page, drew even on a book's jacket. This tree was gleaming in the night on the Gas station on the way to college, I had few extra minutes because I came to early, so I put Ipod on loud and had fun. Amazing Lynn Chapman said that one of the tricks to start  a day to dance for an hour (she was able for 10 minutes) before starting work ( in her case on book illustration) alone in a studio, to clear head and prepare yourself. I used to do it in my young oil painting days, when lived alone and wanted to paint for 16 hours a day. Anyway here trying different materials on this brown paper. Face doesn't look like me, but white acrylic goes on this thin paper.

Quick sketch in brown book.

I found this sketchbook with brown paper on my shelve, got so happy that didn't notice that drew on the third spread. Paper is very thin and does not take ink well. On the back of this woven fabric cover small sticker saying DKNY, I guess, I got it in happy times in Home Goods. Should be good for soft pencil, for Blackwing. Here is a little study on composition I want to do in ink about Children of Holocaust.

Childhood.

Here my first drawing Childhood,  I want to do couple of paintings in acrylic. I used ink and couple of Inktense pencils in watercolor Moleskine, I used my new Pilot water brush, I got on ebay, I like it, watery. I feel that ink is always been my loved media, remembering my everyday early morning @ 7 sketching on the streets of Moscow before classes start in college and my short white coat altered from my stepmother's jacket one day covered by purplish-black ink from overturn by the wind bottle of ink.

November 20 sketches in Hemp book.

Drew this with Eversharp, pretty hard lead pencil from 1920.

This drew with 1932 pencil with much softer lead. Men were a little surprised by my blank expression, when I scribbled in my little green book, when business was finished, but I didn't leave right away. It was around a hundred men there and 2 women including me.What a boring conversations about women I overheard, while sketching. I drew this bagel but didn't eat it. I had to leave too soon for my next appointment.

I didn't feel bad to scribble in this sketchbook whatever I passed by, because it is cheap and small, I don't care to waste pages, I tried my new Pilot water brush, it made my day brighter.

Sketches on the run in Hemp book.

Drew with 80-year-old pencil in my scrapbook so my waiting was not difficult.

Sheepshead Bay.

Sheepshead Bay from Manhattan Beach side, view on Canal and Emmons ave. Piece and quiet on this side,  shopping and restaurants on the other. I used ink and blue pencil for the bridge and roofs of Loehmann's. Tomorrow morning I am off to the post office to pick up my new two Pilot water brushes. So exited to try it.

My tools from JetPens.

Threw some of my drawing supply over the Tangerines. JetPens my favorite store for art materials, I have a huge Wish list there, so much more I want from them. Pen brushes, pencils, pens, inks, accenting pens, stamps, etc.

Tangerines.

Tangerines for my daughter. I want everything to be beautiful around her. And it is. We just have to notice that. I liked it on black plate. I used ink and wanted more color, so used few  Inktense pencils. In Moleskine A4. Could not resist adding few words in Japanese. Sort of  cryptic way of expressing my mood.

Street.

Nothing special about this street in Brooklyn, but it caught my eye. When you start wondering, you won't notice how you start speaking in familiar language all the time, how everything translated into visual images. I used ink in Moleskine, red and yellow Pitt brushes for touch of color.

Red truck in Brooklyn.

I keep inking Brooklyn in Moleskine. It seems the right media for it. I wrote in Japanese "Big Red" with a little double meaning, hope it recognizable, because it seems Japanese letters looks like mini drawings, it shows what it means.  On the top just the song I listen on Pandora radio and wanted to look up. And a list to do. I like to use Moleskine as my scrap book, so it gives me all it can.

Mike.

Portrait of Mike from "One on one". I promised him a drawing. Now he is off to Saint Martin, turquoise water and white sand, so I will give it to him after he'll be back, and I will add some lettering here. I used ink on Arches block. Good paper is awesome. Now I am free for late breakfast: smoked duck breast, tomato, black german bread and coffee. I would draw it, but too hungry. :-)

My friend Mark.

We know each other for more than quarter of a century, share great memories, had so much fun with our exquisite circle of friends in Moscow, how many wonderful books came to me from his hands, how much delicious homemade liqueur was consumed on our intellectual parties (Lena and Mark were in science field). I used another vintage advertising pencil and ink in furry album, I got long time ago in Home Goods, it said Kim Robertson inside on the back cover in silver letters on the fabric sticker. Kim Robertson is London based designer.

I made it lighter, made him older, because he said he looks like young terrorist, so I add a little miserability  and gray hair. I added touch of blue pencil to the glasses on the top.

Pogacsa.

Pogacsa is sort of Hungarian biscuits. I met Erno at work few years ago. Erno and Klara gave it to me as "feel better" gift on one cold and windy night. Taste is mind blowing. I think Klara adds caraway seeds and cheese to it. I love it. I drew it with  another vintage advertising pencil and inked in Moleskine.

Mail man.

My yard with beautiful trees, rows of benches, walking away mail man, who often brings me pencils from all over the globe. Yesterday I got vintage pencils from man from MO, who didn't take money, I was trying to buy one, he sent me 4. His name is Joe. Thank you very much, Joe. I drew with one of them, the oldest, you said, over 80 years old, the one with red end, so smooth. I love them. I will draw it.  I used ink in Moleskine.

Reflection.

Something about this  photo. When I feel down, sad, empty- the beauty is still exist. I just have to remember to lift up my head.

Sketching on the way and Mordan.

Sketched on the way while getting gas, waiting for a few minutes, writing list for tomorrow and patting cat. My new pencil Mordan, 1932. Pretty soft lead for an oldie. Ink in Hemp sketchbook.

Cute houses in Brooklyn.

It is not typical design for Brooklyn, I thought its looked a little German or like in Riga, Latvia. I used couple of inks and could not resist to add my beloved red touch, even in reality umbrella was black, washed out by rain to almost white. Alex was patiently posing.

Overstuffed Susan's room.

I really don't like suffocating design of this living room, too many pillows everywhere, no place to sit even for size 0 butt.   Like in a furniture store. Too bedroomy, too elderly, too 25 years ago. But I had nothing better to do to pass the time, so exercised my golden pencil in Moleskine, sitting on the floor.

Sketching at the hospital.

I took my friend for procedure there and while waiting had short time to sketch people. I used my new Yard-O-Led pencil (1934 I think) with vintage 1.18 mm lead, it was surprisingly soft on Moleskine paper, last sketch outlined with Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen. Had to rush, because my friend wanted me with her upstairs.

My new pencil Yard-O-Led.

Golden beauty from England with 1.18 mm lead. It has 12 compartment for storing extra leads, measuring yard all together, this why it got its name in 1934 year. Exiting. Cant wait to try it.

Pizza Margherita.

I was kept away from drawing by really annoying force. But being trapped also part of life... Here ink drawing of delicious pizza Margherita, made by local pizza place, here in the mountains. I used couple of inks in Moleskine sketchbook. And we had my beloved layered Sheridan's liqueur.