This is one of my favorite illustrations its called “Feel My Pain.” In it a guy has his new air force ones scuffed on his first day wearing them out side. A tragedy without a doubt. You’ve seen this piece before but now for the first time I’m sharing with you a piece of planning of this artwork. I super imposed the original sketch on top of the actual artwork (somewhat) to show how it all began. This is a peak into my sketchbook. Even if its a pinhole peak.  

Over the course of my life studying art I’ve accumulated and completed about 15 sketch books of various sizes. 8×6 all the way up to 11×15. This doesn’t include the 4 journals I’ve written and drawn in but does take into account the 3 years I took off from 1999-2002 where I did nothing but work shit jobs, watch movies, play video games and discover what AOL had to offer. Chat rooms how do I miss thee.

Since my return I’ve learned that in order to become a better illustrator you have to do the one thing that defines you. That’s illustrate. Early and often. Now, if you see me out, travelling around the city there’s a 90% chance that I’ll have my sketch book on me. I draw/design/illustrate at least every day at some point in some fashion.

Last week, I attended an event at the Wix Lounge, in NYC, entitled “Promote Your Art.” A really informative talk discussing the different techniques an artist can use to promote the work they love to do. After the panel there was a networking session where I met a woman who represents illustrators and she was surprised that I had one of my journal/sketch books on me. “Most artists I meet don’t carry books with them any more” she said. Which shocked me because most illustrators I know do carry them. (S/O to Phil Mamuyac)

I wrote all this to say to all my fellow illustrators, painters and artists: Carry a damn sketch book. It doesn’t have to be a Strathmore 400 or a Canson Classic. It can be a generic, lined, spiral notebook that’s big enough to fit in your back pocket. When inspiration strikes you have should have a way to document it. Although you might feel you’ll remember the moment, there’s a chance you won’t. That’s a risk I choose not to take.

Another week another sketch out the old book. I know my posts have been a little erratic lately but I’ve been working on a few projects and I need to focus on them. I will be back and I will complete the total collection of images… how I’m just not sure yet?

So every Friday, I will be posting images from my sketchbook that I carry with me pretty much all the time. 90% of the images are from my commute to work each day hence why you’ll see people sleeping and MTA based images. Hope you enjoy it. More after the jump…

The scanner I’m using really sucks and I scanned the last two pages like 3 times each and couldnt’ get it to line up right… I gotta buy a new scanner…

More Sketches from the book. These are train bound drawings. As an artist you gotta draw everyday, every chance you get. Here are a few of my portraits of my fellow commuters here in NY.

As I try to catch up on my daily illustration goal I’m gonna start posting stuff from my sketch book. Here is a look at my character designs I’ve been working on enjoy and I’d love to hear your feedback.