forest fire

So I was walking around Prospect Park this summer and stumbled upon this fire hydrant (or johnny pump as we say in old school bklyn). It was along one of the trails. Of course the first thing to come to my mind was the Dead Kennedys song Forest Fire. So Here is a little clip of the song just for your enjoyment. Don't get any ideas though...

ENERGY

I never drank coffee until I had kids and now I don't know how I would handle life without it. Actually I've recently become addicted to chai, the super sweet kind in a box. How comforting it is when I feel my heart rate go up a few notches and I start to talk super fast. Actually right now I am typing this like a speed demon because I just had a big ole' cup of it. Will I ever be able to end my addiction? Will I ever be able to function without it? Should I care?

drink me

My family is the ultimate in reusing things. This jug was brought to my aunt's house about 10 years ago from my father. He said he loved this apple juice and wanted everyone to try it. Not only that, check out the bottle it comes in? My dad was really in love with the Martinelli apple juice bottles and now his sister was falling for them too. Well she fell hard because she kept the damn bottle for 10 years! I have to admit, I love them too. They are simple and really do make you think of an apple with the leaves at the top. The lemon/lime-aid my aunt made was pretty damn good too. My father, a true granola wanna-be hippie, would have loved the reuse this bottle has gotten and the would have enjoyed the sweet juice that had a few sprigs of mint to spice it up. You go Aunt Joy!

lake

More Smallwood fun! Can you tell I like the Catskills? Although this looks more like the Hamptons with the madras pattern on the word lake...

trail

I really didn't like this when I first penned it in. I thought I went too heavy on the 'trail', but I realize that the trail I was drawing was actually that heavy. It was a black tar trail on the edge of Atlantic Higlands, NJ, along the water. The sky was blue and yellow and the willow swayed in the wind. As I look at it now I see that I did capture some bit of the essence of that man-made trail. As beautiful as the view from the trail is, the actual road is just that... A road... BORING! And you know what??? My word 'trail' is kind of boring too... I guess I did an okay job after all...

smallwood

So I'm reliving the good times of my summer through these sketches. I was lounging on the beach of Smallwood Lake in the Catskills, looking across the lake at this log cabin. I have to say that I love me a log cabin. It was fun to draw this because of all the textures. Some people really like my more architectural stuff. This is for you guys. Enjoy!

3 wheels

I drew this at my mother's house and she said, "It's nice, but the proportions are all wrong." And you wonder why I didn't draw when I was a kid? Never-the-less, I like this sketch and isn't that what really matters for something that comes from your heart?

fridge

I spent a bunch of time with my mom this summer. One place was their cabin in the Catskills (a sketch of that is coming soon). It has the best vintage fridge and I had to draw it. Although this is not the most elaborate of things, the art deco shapes are irresistible. Check out the handle. It is so sturdy and make a big click when you open it. How could you not love that?

Thirst

So I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctors office and I was so bored and so thirsty. Then I saw it... The water fountain! The perfect thing to draw. I can't really say I like this sketch too much, but it did help the time go by. Now if only I have enough pee for that damn cup.....

Sugar

I drew this one day when I was at the famous Tom's Restaurant. If you haven't been there I suggest you do. But don't go on Sunday because they are closed.

I used to have a serious sugar addiction. I'm talking hiding boxes of brown sugar under my bed. It was gross! Now I barely eat sugar, but when I do I can seriously go off. I ate a pint of ice cream the other night in about 5 minutes. I don't know what it is, but when that sweetness hits my tongue I can't slow down. I need to stop talking about this because I'm ready to close the store so I can get a Twix bar...