Random images from 2004 sketchbook (I)

Busy Morning at Melriches

Who were they?

Sitting outside the VAG, the Vancouver Art Gallery that is, I noticed this couple. I had just been walking around the Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping's show- it was amazing. I stepped out to get some air and noticed this couple, they looked fascinating. The guy had this "pissed off smoker" look and the lady was awkwardly moving in a wheelchair. They seemed like they went through a car accident or similar traumatic event together. The muscles of his back were taut with what seemed like either anger or apathy if that is possible.

The words of the Prophets are written on the...

Bean Around the World Coffee

No, i don't do crappy puns. That is the name of a coffee chain, this location on Granville was full of cool staff, two of which are drawn here, the woman in the extreme lower right foreground and the manager in the striped shirt.

Local talent

There are many interesting people that i was able to observe and sketch. Melriches is a coffee shop downtown that has this amazing cross-section of people and cool staff.
This guy is from Yorkshire and probably has had more coffee than he needs for several lifetimes, one high strung Mother scratcher.
I cannot remember all the details but he wanted Blair and the entire parliament brought up on trial and i think he was a conspiracy type.

Otherwise, really sweet.

Vancouver by Sketch

We were talking about Vancouver and after suggesting a few places for a friend to go, it made me nostalgic and I looked through a recent sketchbook all done in Vanny's 10,000 coffee shops.

Imaginary Cabaret and Spiegel cast

Old people in the front reading ancient books

These people were hard to believe. They had seats right at the front, before the show they argued like crazy while gesticulating madly at this canvas bag, which time revealed, was full of dusty books.

Books so dusty that the guy with glasses blew away what he could in a dramatic flourish.
I really thought they would have had pickled eggs in the bag.

What do I know?

the Drummer

Da Da Dahling

More musicians

the Rumoli Bros

The Piano has been drinking and sleepin'

brad, le M.C.

the bassist

Brad reads the paper

Bass and Trumpet

a couple of characters

Dave

This has a Toulouse-Lautrec feel, i think

Oh, the Ladies.

Anya

Dave, he picks up panties

Noah the Producer/trumpet player

encore le M.C.

Le M.C.

Spiegel

Well, here it is.

After painting and drawing the people of the lovely Spiegel Tent and Tavern on several occasions, i have put down the brush and putting some images online.

If you had a chance to check out the show, you probably enjoyed the quirky production.

Of course, i thought it would be more an ode to the Weimar Republic. So, no Joel Grey no Liza Minelli but equally fantastic.

Velcom unt beinvenue, Hallo to Cabaret...unts da Spiegel.

Alley at Night

Late Night on Granville

Sometimes its nice to get drunk with a camera near you. Sitting in Barney's the local bar near 14th on Granville, i drank a fair quantity of booze and figured it was time to get on the street for some air. Amazingly it was not raining.

Something about shooting at night with black and white, it always seems seedy, possibly surveillance footage-which is great.

Trans-America building...Is there an earthquake?

My favorite window in Vancouver

Christmas Day, 2006.

Bizarro World? California 2007.

Violet smoking, again.

Nicole at the Mumia rally 2007

Cambden Town June 2006

The Boss 2007

Louis Negin, July 11, 2007

Looking really tough

Coffee Drinkers in Vancouver maybe

This was drawn in either the end of June or early July when I came back to Toronto, not sure. What I am sure of was I was really up close to be looking at the inside of this guy's coffee cup, jeesh that is personal.