Thursday, December 30, 2010

My favorite red bag.

I like small and light book bags, which freeing your hands and allow you to fit sketchbook, pencil case and Ipod. Including necessary thing like chewing gum, glasses case, GPS, lipstick, hand cream, car keys and camera.

2 guys.

Sketched on the way in the auto station and outside, waiting for snow plowing of parking spot. So many damaged cars I saw around. Painful.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Autoshop.

Sketched in the morning in Autoshop, while guys look for that sensor. I think it is a bit too much  of adventures one after another for me. Running around, planning, talking, fixing, driving, renting, leasing, but all I want to sit somewhere in the corner with my inks and sketchbook... My 80-yearold pencil in brown book.

Bag and snow blizzard.


I drew here bag I took with me Upstate and on the top is my new pencil with level in it, old, with 1.18 mm lead, very cute, it says "Monroe" on the clip. I was thinking it could be useful while drawing architecture, but honestly I am used to trust my eye more than measuring.  We got into the middle of snow blizzard coming back home from Upstate, it took us 10 hours of driving, 4 bags of pretzel sandwiches with cheddar and tones of music on Ipod. We saw so many accidents, cars stuck in snow, helpless people, but it was amazing too me that everyone was kind and nice to each other, strangers. Going into Verrazano was the scariest, total mess of skidding cars, trucks, people and deep snow masses.  Kind truck let us pass through to the safer grounds. And at  2 in the morning Brooklyn looked like a scene from the horror movie with snow covered streets and abandoned busses and cars in the middle of the roads, here and there people unable to part with their beloved cars. Tomorrow going there again.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Green combo pen/pencil, 1930.

This green marble combo fountain pen/pencil from 1930 is really good looking and would be fun to draw with if I only would be able to figure out how to refill pen side with ink. I have a wild guess that it should be this little fetus metal clip in the middle, if it pressed it will squeeze the sock.  Didn't try it yet. Underneath is Poly Prep, school, drawn with flat brush and ink. I love flat brushes. Should do something on different paper with it.

Wigman pencil and running around.


Adorable big Wigman advertising pencil from old times with 1.18 mm lead. I used thick Bohemia Works woodless pencil 6B( it broke, so I wrapped it with scotch tape), white pen, couple of colored pencils and Ebony for people in the doc. office. Downloaded  few In-Grid songs for tomorrow's trip.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Dragged sketchbook along the way.

Sketched with Ebony pencil when I had a minute from all sides in the office, in the car, waiting for kielbasa and eggs for late breakfast. (kielbasa |kilˈbäsə; kēl-|noun
a type of highly seasoned Polish sausage, typically containing garlic.ORIGIN Polish, literally ‘sausage) this what it said in the Dictionary.  No way, kielbasa is not a sausage, but thousand of flavors thousand of way to prepare meat with spices sort of cold cuts... Anyway, may be I should do series on kielbasas? I drew another advertising pencil, Kolberg with pencils and a bit of ink.

Sketch in brown sketchbook and Opel.

Doodling in the car while waiting in Connecticut and 4 color Opel pencil, for which I can't find leads. :-(  1.8 mm Very interesting mechanism.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Another sketch in unusual sketchbook.

Some sort of urban structure towards Easts, Nostrand, didn't pay attention on the street sign, just liked the silhouette.  Bijou box watercolor and pen.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Emmons Ave in Brooklyn.

Emmons Ave near Canal.  Further away bunch of restaurants, marina, some stores, boats on the right, behind the bridge. Teens like to hang out here.  I used 3 inks and one green color pencil Watercolor Derwent for the car in Watercolor Moleskine A4.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Some of my pencils over my small walls portfolio book.

Here some of my vintage pencils, old marble pen/pencil combo (still don't know how to fill it up with ink), my mom's letter knife, white pen, little box with hinged lid for eraser, sharpener and extra leads for old pencils, Blackwing, Rosetta 5'6, water brush, Autopoint, Mordan with pretty hard lead, some of my Moleskines over photo book of my works on walls. On the left photo of this quick murals more then 10 feet tall, used scaffold here.

Autopoint.


Didn't have time to draw, so few scribbles and my new pencil Autopoint, old, of course, from Ebay. Takes 0.9 mm lead, 2 colors, blue and red. My friend got in trouble, so helped, froze,  got tired, was thirsty, this why drawing this thin pencil brought me some peace tonight. I got very interesting pen/pencil combo from 1930, but don't know how to refill it yet. Next to draw. Google is not helpful.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

December sketch with Blackwing.


Sketched with Palomino Blackwing. Finally, the best on this paper is Blackwing, smooth and easy. And touch of white pen from Jetpens and Little song...Sebastian.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Teacher from my first college.

Emmanuel Lipkind.
I was never his student, but one time, when I was punished by others for breaking rules in painting, he was the only one who told me that he is on my side, that he respect my searching and likes my experiments. It was a huge deal to me. It was about my painting "Music" and composition "Celebration".

That is pretty cool approach.

Painting Michael Jackson.

Sebastian Krüger paints Michael Jackson.  Master of portrait.
http://sebastian-kruger-news.blogspot.com/

Sketching people in dark sketchbook.

Still trying to find  easiest material for this thin paper. Used first brown 5.6 Rosetta pencil, but it was too weak, than Shorty with 7B lead - weak also. This guy was looking at me with such fierce force, I got the message: I see what you doing! - that I was really worried he'll attack me, even I knew, I probably beat him up, he is smaller than me.

Chinese sweets.

Chinese sweets really help with anxiety and cold weather. Side affect - couple of extra pounds, but only if you pay attention. I used ink and couple of Inktense pencils in watercolor Moleskine. We don't have snow yet, but it was pretty cold and windy near the ocean.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Helped with backdrop for theater play.

I was asked to come and help with painting backdrop for theater play for charity. So it was a big mess with perspective. It is Germany in 70's. I came, a stranger, only foreigner and jumped in. Bunch of women, not professionals. I was directing them, put tape to simplify perspective, jump from ladder to ladder, they stayed for a night to finish. It is may be 17 feet tall and more than 30 feet wide. Have to say it was fun.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Yellow leaves.

This house with bags of leaves is on 18 Street in Brooklyn, not far from where Maytal works. I had so much fun with ink and add 3 Inktense pencils: green, brown and yellow.  Today I lost my mind and got some treasures on Ebay, can't face it yet...

Mural with woven layer.

Left side.
Right side. Friday I add another 40 minutes to do the top layer of glaze. So this mural took me all together 13 hours to make including chatting with my daughter on the phone, eating salad on the floor, drinking coffee, talking to Hungarian housekeeper, sweetest lady who doesn't speak English(and I know around 5 words and mostly cursing in Hungarian). This housekeeper was singing opera arias downstairs, it felt good that at list someone was happy.
On the way home, while driving I listen to In-Grid Le Dragueur

Friday, December 10, 2010

Added another few hours to it.

Mural on the wall, I think 5 feet tall.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Today's sketches of people.


I wanted to draw more people, I got it today. Pencil in Moleskine.

Fellini advised me to get this pencil holder from Jetpens.

I agreed.

Beginning of mural.

Abstract kinda mural in the bathroom, above the tub, texture should be woven, a bit like fabric, some physical texture too, I guess in trees.  It still with compound patches, underpainting to prepare the wall better. Standing on the plywood above the tub.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Red roofs in Brooklyn.

Drew from double parked car somewhere in Brooklyn, didn't pay attention what street, because ran away from police, giving tickets (was waiting for Alex and parked on the on the cleaning side of the street illegally). Know that I turned somewhere from Stillwell  Ave in Southern part of Brooklyn. I like this red roofs, I wish I can live in the house like this, especially if it will have wood stove with Holland tiles and dark 18 century furniture. Used ink and pencil in Moleskine.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Sketching in the doctor's office, while waiting.

I was pretty happy to be late for appointment because it gave me extra 15 minutes of waiting and sketching. I used pencil in Moleskine. It was warm inside and crazy windy outside. I really want to go for a few hours somewhere in the hospital or some office to draw people.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Maytal.

Portrait of Maytal. She is really beautiful girl. I used ink and drop of Inktense pencils leftover,  smudged on plastic lid I use for palette sometimes. On Arches watercolor block, grain torchon, 140 lb. I have only 4 pages left.  Size 9"x12"
I have one bigger from old times, 12"x16", but it won't fit into scanner and it will take me much longer to do because of the size. That would be good to paint on easel somewhere in he fields of France, may be, one day...

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Fellini, as usual, inspecting my art supply stuff.

Fellini inspecting stuff on my table.

Old pencil on scribble page.

As usual I used Moleskine for my daily activities dragging it through appointments, lists, curiosity and admiration for my antique 80 year old pencil. I love that this pencil looks like a pen, so it is pretty discreet  when I sketch in public with "smart" face, looking like writing notes, harmless. Lead is 1.18 mm

Friday, December 3, 2010

Grapes on the wall in few hours.




I would do more details, but had only afternoon for that. May be one day if repair would be completed in the "New  House" I will paint grape vines in the kitchen for my own pleasure. My dream kitchen would be painted as  French Provence kitchen with blue and yellow cabinets, stone on the floor, baskets and bottles of oil and vinegar in old milk crates. And I will hang all my favorite copper kitchen accessories.  And pillow for cats. Dreamzzz....

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Persimmon Margarita.


It was not as delicious as it was really pretty. In this tall flute wine glasses. We listen to our long loved Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Squirrel Nut Zippers.  Never got tired of them. I used ink and Inktense pencils for bits of color in Moleskine.




Tuesday, November 30, 2010

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

Monday, November 29, 2010

Yellow truck on Ave T.

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

Biennale.

Biennale.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Manhattan Bridge.


Ink in Moleskine.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

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.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

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.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

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.

Monday, November 22, 2010

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.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

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.

Friday, November 19, 2010

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.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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.

Monday, November 15, 2010

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.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

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.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

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.

Friday, November 12, 2010

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. :-)