#364: Merry Christmas, Drawing on Inanimate Objects, Organic Grill NYC Sketchbook!

+Morris has been walking around the house dressed as a boy king.

Dec 21, 2023

This week has been jam-packed with deadlines, holiday parties, and trying to get my Christmas cards in the mail before 2024, so your weekly edition is hitting you today. It actually kind of feels better sending it on Thursdays… (I might keep it that way for 2024.)

Thank you to everyone who recommended things to see and do in Paris! The 10th Wedding Anniversary trip Sophie and I had planned this year was put on ice, so we’re squeezing in a short trip starting today. That means you won’t hear from me before Christmas. So, I will say now…

He will be staying in New York with his favourite Uncle Paulie, getting spoiled rotten and playing with his fellow wet-nosed pals. He’ll barely notice we’re gone!

Mugs, Corks, and other things I’ve been drawing on this week.

I swear to god there is nothing I haven’t tried drawing on this year in an attempt to get ahead of the A.I. art curve. The generators have gobbled up so much of my traditional work that I’m now taking gigs at events where I draw people on inanimate objects. If you stand still too long I’ll end up drawing on YOU.

Something to Binge on Christmas Day

While you’re on the couch digesting various holiday meats, you can watch a whole season of me and Courtney Quinn judging freaking ridiculous Christmas cakes and other holiday-related art on HBO Max. I promise there are subtitles for my Australian accent.

Watch it now

Had enough of the holidays already?

Keep this purpose-built Screaming Pillow nearby for when you just need to excuse yourself from the room and yelp loudly into the void just to get through the day.

Get one for every room!

This week’s Sketchbook is from one of the best locally-owned and run restaurants in New York: The Organic Grill.
After 23 years in the East Village, Vlad has moved his delicious latkes West to 3rd Street (Opposite the Comedy Cellar @ The Village Underground.
In 2024 I’ll be doing some live drawing from this location, so if you’re in New York, like good unprocessed food, and have always wanted a live sketch, keep your eyes peeled for when I’ll be there in January.

A few of you asked how I drew that painting of Morris as the Holiday Goblin last week. Here are some of the rejected sketches and process scribbles:

While I do love the convenience of an iPad/Wacom/Xenselabs tablet… I can’t ever replicate the joy of using analog tools. I’m starting a new Substack in 2024 called “Process Junkie” to explore all of the joys of the Process of making art. If you’re interested in that kind of thing, you can sign up here.