Mike Tyson at Pinkberry

(per Elyse's request, I've filed this entry into my art blog. Are you happy NOW Miz Librarian?!)

I'm noticing that as I encounter these birds of paradise a.k.a. CELEBRITIES in Los Angeles, that I am waaaaaay to cool to whip out my camera and get all pappo or razzy on their asses.

I usually affect that "You don't impress me but that guy standing BEHIND you has me utterly captivated." demeanor while furtively making mental notes about EVERY detail of their appearance.

Or in the case of Mr. Mike Tyson, I just didn't want the guy to beat my ass. Plus I value my ears. They're cute, tiny, and perfectly proportional to my head.

But seeing Mr. Tyson at my local Pinkberry's was too much of a hoot to NOT share with you all. So without further adieu, I am going to introduce you to my FIRST EVER Celebrity Encounter Art Lesson.

Lesson 1: See and Draw Mike Tyson!


Step 1: If Mike Tyson was a Shape He'd Be A....

The first thing I noticed about Mike was that he looked like a block.

So everyone grab your pencils and draw a basic square...or rectangle like me. He was kinda puffy too...so don't be so rigid with the lines or sharp with your edges.

Step 2: Mike Tyson's Turtley Proportions


Because Mike Tyson has almost zero neck, feel free to draw his head in the body. Like turtle!
Define his waistline in the middle.


Step 3: Mike Tyson's Sassy Figure Comes Together

His years of tough training have blessed Mr. Tyson with arms and legs that could mortally wound a tiny 115 pound girl who is subtly trying to take a photo of him with a camphone.

Step 4: Mike Tyson in TECHNICOLOR!


Mike was in an almost all white outfit. To be frank I was too busy staring at his face tatoo to notice what color his shoes were. Let's just say they were blue. And because Mike is a proud black man, let's not make him pink or yellow shall we?

Step 5: Plug in the Details That Make Mike...simply....MIKE.

Here we put in the finishing touches. Bringing Mike to life is all through the details. (FACE TATOO) and inserting the things that make Mike...simply Mike (FACE TATOO).

So there you have it. Not only do you know what it's like to SEE a living legend, but now you know who to draw him. All without the threat of getting a camera smashed into your face.

FEET

If there is anything I USED to hate drawing more...its feet. The human foot has always tripped me up in life drawing. Sometimes, my drawings will mysteriously, um, stop just a little below the waist when I'm drawing a person. Oops!

But to be a better artist..to grow I must force myself out of this little corner I've painted myself in, and make myself learn. Hence, I've been drawing and looking at feet. ALL DAY. LOTS AND LOTS OF FEET.

I feel like a foot fetishist. Oh YEEEEAH! TOES! WOOOOH! LOOK AT THAT ARCH!

These are my sketches, and some random notes.










And at the end of the day...I think all the pain was worth it. Here's the sketch I drew afterwards:

High Fashion in Tarzana, CA

I've been meaning to draw more pictures from life, but I haven't been inspired to lately until I started noticing some of the interesting fashions sported by the residents of Tarzana,CA.
Especially at the Coffee Bean and Panda Express next to my offices. Ever too shy to whip out my camera, I've decided to opt for a more subtle and lasting approach of using pencil and paper to preserve these images to memory.


Like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life...okay no. But somehow this seemed less yicky when I heard them speaking French. Aaaaah...the French.


I am all about women with a little swerve to their curve, junk in the trunk, jiggle to their wiggle...but sister here needs to learn how to dress to play DOWN her ASSets. Pajama capri pants with girl clown smiley faces are NOT the way to go gurl.

Incidentally, Tarzana is also the town where Britney up and shaved her head all crazy like that.

Something in the water?

A Shot of Erin From the Roadtrip

Erin is definately prettier than my drawing. Sorry!

A Phone Conversation With Tom

A Disney Freak

I saw this girl at the airport in Taipei. I was too close to take a surreptitious photo of her, so I commited her and her outfit to my memory.

For this drawing I used Illustrator. Got over my fear of drawing in vectors. Wheeeeeee....!!!!

People in Assorted States of Dress and Undress

1-Minute Poses -I'm such a prude, I love drawing clothed people...

2-Minute Poses- One of the designers in our studio asked if he could keep these. :)


10 Minute Pose- "I call this...Bald Adonis."

30 Minute Pose- At Spring St. Studio in NYC

Washington Square Park Dog Run- And finally...Nekkid' Dogs