Draw Big, Fast and Free

Meegin - 18 x 24 colored pencil - Graham Smith

I was invited by Joe Shoopak, the Director of Artistic Development, to teach a series of Life Drawing Workshops at Sony Online Entertainment. The Workshop is open only to their artists and animators. We draw once a week, in 2 month cycles throughout the year.

It is amazing the contrast, that these artists, experts in the most advanced software, working at the highest technical level are interested in drawing from life with traditional materials.

You can't get more high tech than computer rendered video games, and you can't get any more basic than charcoal. Even with a 21 inch Cintiq on their desk, these artists are eager to draw with a burnt stick. Figure that.

Meegin - 18 x 24 colored pencil

Meegin was drawn at the Life Drawing Workshop at Art Institute on Wednesday night. I attend for fun and practice, and because I talk too much during the class I teach.

Below are some 3-5 minute demo drawings of Sivitri done during the first Workshop this week at Sony. This weeks lesson: Draw big, fast and free.

Sivitri 18 x 24, graphite

Martin Luther King Jr.

Sketchbook Jam - Piglette & the Winged Beasts

Musicians play, while artists draw in their sketchbooks at the Friday Night Sketchbook Jam in Encinitas. Vanessa Lemen, of Studio 2nd Street hosts this wildly popular event once a month and I was happy to attend, listen to the music and draw.

Piglette & the Winged Beasts entertained us with their musicianship and impromptu performances. Piglette, Alex Barnawell, charmed the crowd with "Love Sucks" as Winged Beast Vladimir accompanied her on guitar. As a special treat, Vanessa Lemen jammed with the band, singing and playing trumpet, ensuring a great time was had by all.



These drawing were done in a 5 x 8 Moleskine sketchbook, with assorted rollerball pens, Faber Castell Pitt artist brush pen and a Rotring EF Art Pen. These drawing were done over the course of a 3 hour evening.


Steve White is a guitar jamming powerhouse. His playing is outstanding, rich and rhythmic. Steve's chair sat on a large flat wooden box that appeared amplified, his wooden clogs made the room pulse with the rhythm of his foot drum.


Shannon Bates sat in and gave a virtuoso performance on both sax and flute. Switching effortlessly between instruments. Yael Gmash played guitar, danced and sang original compositions with her beautiful voice.


Guitarist and vocalist Vladimir Yarovinsky impressed and entertained the room with improvised blues jams with the lovely and talented musician, Yael Gmach.

...love sucks, when your forehead hits the floor, love sucks even more...



Love Sucks

Vladimir Yarovinsky | MySpace Music Videos