Bison

I’ve been drawing a lot with my friends Keith and Stephen. Occasionally I dish out a few pointers but mostly it’s a way to hang. As my eyes deteriorate, I decided to use a bigger sketchbook. I bought a Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Softcover 8” X 10”, 150 gsm Heavyweight paper. The second I started using it, I realized the paper was too thin. It was buckling and I could see through to the other side. A bit of a mess really. Instead of getting rid of it, I kept using it when I went out with my buddies. I figured it would be my crappy book I’d use to give lessons but a funny thing happened. I accidentally started to make great illustrations in it and I got used to the crummy paper. In the interim, I’d sent away for a new Stillman & Birn Beta Series Softcover, 8” X 10”, 270 gsm EXTRA HEAVYWEIGHT Paper. When it arrived, I realized it was a Rolls Royce compared to the other sketchbook. I’m going to stick with the current one until I complete it because I can’t break my habit of finishing what I started.

Bernini

I’ve have created a series of portraits of Renaissance artists rendered as if they were alive today. This is Gian Lorenzo Bernini who actually lived in the 1600s. He created massive public sculptures and fountains in Italy. All of them quite famous. There’s no doubt he would have done marvelous and enormous works of art in the current world given all the new materials to work with and foundries to help him execute. I have a feeling he might dabble in some graffiti on the side with an occasional DJ gig for laughs.

Mona Lisa

I was drawing in the Natural History Museum when a small kid came up to me and gave me the, “I’m about to say something to you, look.” So, I stopped my sketching and gave him my full attention. Then he laid it on me. Pointing at my drawing he said, “that seems a lot more better than the Mona Lisa.” More better was a great way of putting it. Not sure I agreed with him but he was thrilled with his observation.

Mushroom Farming

A recent New York Times article told the story of a family run hog farm that works for the big factory farm system. It got to the point where they were making no money and having to work side jobs on top of the endless farm hours. Farmer, Tanner Faaborg said, “I want to make rural America a place where people want to grow up otherwise the heartland will end up one big manufacturing plant.” Small farms have disappeared and the land has been swallowed up by large agricultural companies. Iowa is now home to 4000 factory farms, more than any other state. So, the Faaborg’s have gotten rid of the hogs and now raise mushrooms for medicinal purpose with financial help from a nonprofit group, the Transfarmation Project which is run by Mercy for Animals. Hopefully plant-based alternatives can help save some of these small family farms. Tanner wants to create a system for other farmers to eventually follow. He even convinced his parents to install solar panels and to drive an electric car.

Collage

This is the last of my drawings from our recent trip to Europe. The bear was in a breakfast joint in Bruges, Coke was cafe in Amsterdam, Van Eyck statue in Belgium, yellow masked bust in hotel lobby in Edinburgh, and some images I drew travelling on trains from postcards I purchased at various places.

Salt & Pepper

My two friends, Stephen and Keith and myself have developed a little routine of eating breakfast at an aging diner before we head to draw at the Museum of Natural History. My new thang is to show up a half hour earlier than them to draw table condiments at our booth. This is the latest installment.

Ronda

This is a drawing I did in Ronda, Spain. Outside the bull fighting ring sits this statue of an elegant bull. I was surprised this, killing an animal for spectators’ business, still operates in this day and age. I’m a lot more clueless than I thought. The buildings in this sketch, I drew during the torrential rains that caused all the terrible flooding in Spain. Clearly, I was drawing in places with awnings so I stayed dry. Valencia and Rhonda are visual feasts. The only issue I had in Espana is with the food. It seems to be the hardest country to be a vegan in. I ate, Mexican and Italian. It’s weird to be in Spain and not be able to eat any of their culinary delights. On a side note, Spain has the best weathervanes in the world.

Ibiza Flowers

I was obsessively picking up flowers and leaves from the ground in Ibiza. It’s a habit I can’t seem to break. I don’t ever see other folks doing it, although I know you’re out there. When I travel, my pockets are stuffed with flora. Tiny dry leaves and pollen float from my clothes as I go through airport screening. Stewardesses eyeball my botanical sketching shenanigans with inner giggles. Everyone stops cold when they flip through a Kaner sketchbook and get to the horticulture page. Makes it all worth it.

Day Bed

This was a beautiful Moroccan canopy bed I saw in Ibiza. I figured this would be the only one I’d ever encounter in my life, so I decided to draw it. Very therapeutic. I never set foot in a night club while I was on the island.

Ibiza

In Ibiza, the hedgehogs hide, the chickens cluck, the rabbits hop, the exotic birds swoop, and the lizards scramble. All the while, this squirrel sketched. There were a lot of ancient olive trees where we stayed. Each with their own unique personality. This one actually chose me to draw it, not vice versa. Each morning, I illustrated as much as I could before breakfast. Although the property had many trees, I only had time for one.

Brick House

This building in Bruges must have used up most of the bricks in the country when it was built. The bricklayers must have taken 2 weeks off after finishing this job. It’s now a chocolate shop. I think all the chocolates are shaped like little bricks (just kidding). Each building in town has such a cute personality. I chose this one to represent them all.

The Dam

Spent a few days in Amsterdam. These were buildings across the canal from where we stayed. In real life, these buildings were not lined up like this. I choose random buildings I admired and then placed them in the scene even though they were not anywhere near each other. I stayed hidden from the bike paths when I drew so as not to get stampeded.