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Sketch in Moleskine, last day of the summer.

The only positive moment I see in visiting doctor's office is possibility to sketch people. No offense, to meet a good doctor nowadays is equal to a happy marriage... to a prince. I know few.
Today, I heard, the last day of the summer.

Today in Moleskine.

Went to Manhattan to help a friend, couldn't sketch on the way, so grabbed few minutes for a sketch later. Met couple of nice people, who will never see again. Used few water soluble pencils and wash in Moleskine, few pages left.

March 4, 2012.

Today I was lucky to visit Frick Museum (almost for free from 11am-1pm on Sundays) and saw 9 Renoirs and small room of drawings from  Charles Ryskamp's collection .   I gave my friend  a little lecture on composition of famous Renoir's "Umbrellas", I even liked it myself, my speech about rhythms of top of umbrellas, rhythms of feet, hands, light spaces on the top and the bottom, how they meet, direction of glances, diagonals of the structure. It was fun to analyze and find amazing decisions artist made. We gave up audio tour, because my little remarks about funny stories and techniques were more entertaining, whatever I remembered from my art history lessons and books I read.
Room of drawings was wonderful, seeing artist's hand in action, following quick lines... I wish I would work in a museum, watching, caring, sorting drawings in chronological order, awesome.

I sketched people on the train and a little bit in the Tramp plaza where we had coffee after "Chipotle", because in few Starbacks was no comfortable place to sit.

I used beloved Palomino Blackwing 602 and a little bit of dying ink.

Subway sketches.

Yesterday's trip to the City was highlighted by sketching people with Palomino Blackwing 602 on a Subway and wandering in the New York Central art supply store. I should do it more often, sketch people, it trains the eye and make coordination between brain and hand better.

I got myself Stillman and Burn sketchbook, Gamma series, with a bit thick and ivory paper, hope it would be good for ink, and few watercolor papers. Now I would be more serious and mark which one I used, so I will know what to get next time.  It is all about union of paper and ink, makes a big difference.

Feb 19 on Subway.

Sketched few people on the train on Sunday. Wanted to get to museum to see 9 Renoirs and few interesting drawings, but the line of people was so long and we were dressed so light that we decide to pass and took amazing stroll through the Central Park, enjoying beautiful patches of nature in the heart of the City. End up eating Shake Shack on the bench Uptown, bathing in the sun and laughing at the New York dogs passing by.
This little ball pen is from the Muji store in Times Square. I wanted to get calligraphy pen, but they didn't have it. I got little sketchbook for $4.50 with yellowish thin paper for simple pencil sketches, so I  won't feel bad for wasting Moleskine pages.

Messy page.

Messy page from my moleskine. I like to drag my sketchbook everywhere in case I may see something interesting or write down some useful info. So here few things I want to investigate like black African soap and Mexican Acerola cherries, advantages of Holy basil and reminder to bring two ID's for signing up for the pool. On the top few sketches of people I met. Just life. When buying mayo on sale in the supermarket I noticed 2 nice places for sketching, so hoping for good weather and peace of mind.

Sketch in Eastchester, NY.

Quick pencil sketch in Eastchester  while waiting in the car. I think it is time to give up my little Palomino Blackwing 602 armed with point protector and rubber sleeve, it is worn out close to 3 inches and falling under my palm. Still,  I like when pencil is a bit worked up, seems, has more energy and personality. I start cheating on this little one with new Palomino Blackwing 602 at home, using it here-there for small tasks, now it should go into my orange pencil case, to be taken on trips.

Songs I heard today. Magic Voice.

Barcelona.
Jo Amar It's me who comes to you The one who plays in the courtyards I come to you and play Song of you, excited city lalala... Oh Barcelona Barcelona "me'odi" not "peratich" on musical instruments lalala... Oh Barcelona Barcelona on stringed instruments, With a guitar and mandolin. The splendor of your soil captured my heart Oh Barcelona! To you I brought the best of my song accept this present and remember the echo of my voice like a souvernir of love lalalala.

Don't reject me in my old age - Michel Cohen, Psalm 71:9:
Don't reject me in my old age. Don't forsake me when my strength fails.

Waiting in the car in autumn shoes.

I did this sketch in moleskine with ink, without preliminary pencil lines, freezing in a cold car, in double parking, in thin shoes,  for 15-20 minutes.

Life in Moleskine.

Moleskine for me not just for picturesque drawings but everyday companion for my lists, studies, thoughts, sketches, schedules, address book, doodles, shoulder I can cry on, etc. :-)

Sketches in Moleskine, December 30.

Sketched people around me. This little boy with Mohawk noticed me drawing and  engaged me into adult like conversation about drawings, styles, favorite pencils, anime, comics, comic stories about fights with devils, etc. I usually avoid even eye contact to keep my freedom, but had to respond to his direct questions. Funny, I didn't feel that I am talking to a child, but to a fellow artist.

I usually remember people I sketched for a long time and hold myself from jumping at them with "Oh hi, we know each other." if I meet them somewhere.

Sketches in Moleskine on the run.

I made this Federico Aubele's song my ringtone,"Despertar", for my ear it sounds "Desperate", but in Spanish it means "Awakening". So even when I  get calls from unpleasant recipients, like mortage companies, it still gives me warm vibe. Here used ink and Palomino Blackwing 602 pencil. Drew my lovable Fellini cat.

From Blackwing to Kuretake pens. This wine was really delicious, especially because was shared with a good friend. Also my reading (online) and memo list.

december 23.

I feel bad wasting my Moleskine pages on such casual sketches, collecting peoples faces and gestures, people, who I may never see again in my life, for a few minutes appreciating their inner beauty, admire their movements, shapes of their nostrils, respecting their moods, getting richer in feelings and forgetting it all when my Subway stop comes or my name called to go to the doctor. But what is better than pull out Moleskine and Palomino Blackwing 602?

Sketches.

Sketches at the doc office with pencil and bit of Noodler's ball pen.

Sketches on the run in December.

Spread in moleskine. Mackenzie-Childs tea kettle for fighting December melancholy. Ink, Kuretake pens, lists.

Sketching with Blackwing and Noodler's pen

I was glad to have few minutes for myself to draw people in the waiting room.

December 1 in Moleskine.

Sketched on the way people on Subway, used  Palomino Blackwing 602 pencil, love this pencil, faithful helper.

Sketching in the doc office in Moleskine.

Didn't do anything productive today except cooking wonderful meal and this few sketches in the doctor's office highlighted my day. Palomino Blackwing 602 and Pentel Multi8 pencils in Moleskine.

Sketching in Moleskine.

I feel bad to waste Moleskine pages on such casual sketches, but honestly I was so happy to be out with pencil and sketchbook, so grabbed whatever I saw on the way: people on a train, little bar while waiting for the concert, my free glass of wine, ticket, my overprotected Blackwing 602 pencil. It got so short, I put on it point protector and little rubber cushion I ripped from ball pen. Very comfortable.