I recently bought a new watercolor block because I intend to do some paintings. For those who don't know what a block is, it's a watercolor book of many pages of paper glued to each other along the edges forming a block. This way when you paint using water, the pages don't buckle. They lay flat because they are glued together. This eliminates the problem of trying to work on bowed and buckled paper. When I took the wrapping off my newly purchased block and opened it, I realized all the paper was black. I meant to buy white. So I figured, let me see what I can accomplish on black paper. When I was done and cut the first page I worked on out of the block, I discovered that all the other pages were white. That black page was just a protective cover page. It was also the moment I realized that I am an IDIOT.
Audrey
“How To Steal A Million” is a 1966 film with a young Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. I recently watched it on the Criterion channel. It’s not the best caper movie ever made but it’s worth it to see just for Hepburn’s outfits by Givenchy.
Goldfish
Bubble Tea
I was drawing a few of my patented striped balloons coming out of the tea pot I just sketched when my wife looked over my shoulder and said, “bubble tea.” This made me laugh because I hadn’t thought of that at all. So I added the floating tea bag with a bubble logo to enhance the unconscious gag.
Ali
I just finished watching the Ken Burns documentary about Muhammad Ali. It seems like Ali lived seven or eight lives. Incredible series to see.
Horse Racing
Medina Spirit, the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby passed away in the beginning of December. Medina failed a drug test for banned substances after the derby and was disqualified from running in the Belmont Stakes and therefore could not attempt the Triple Crown. When large amounts of money is involved, then you can be certain abuse of the animals is lurking in every nook and cranny. I would bet twenty bucks on that.
Vincente Fernandez
30 years ago, I took a trip to Mexico. Right off the bat, I went to a music store and bought some random cassettes to listen to Mexican music while I drove. One cassette completely blew me away. Turned out to be a dude named Vincente Fernandez. When I got back to NYC, I bought more of his music and I was hooked. In 1995, he did a show at Radio City Music Hall. I scored 4th row seats and it was one of the craziest shows I’ve ever seen. He continuously drank from wine skins handed to him from people in the audience. Women handed him bouquets of flowers. He was backed by an enormous mariachi orchestra. Everyone was dressed to the nines with huge sombreros on that gave Liberace a run for his money. Vincente even wore six shooters with gun belt holsters. His booming voice shook the building. A true legend. Sadly, he passed last week but I’m happy to have his music in my life.
Early Birds
I’ve always been an early bird. I’m not sure I catch much at that hour but I am able to get my meditation in before I face the day. Well, maybe I catch a few pieces of toast with hummus, avacado, and sliced radishes. My eyes hane opened between 5:30 and 6 everyday for the past several decades. I’ve never needed an alarm clock. That’s why I post my doodles to the silly interweb at such an untimely hour each day.
FUR-FREE
ELLE is the first fashion magazine to become completely fur-free. They will ban animal fur in all editorials, websites, advertisements, and press images. That goes for all 45 global editions. A spokeswoman said, “fur appears to be outdated and not fashionable anymore.” Better late than never. Now if only some of the other outdated fashion magazines could follow suit.
Pour
I have a great knack for uncovering items to draw when I’m staying at people’s homes. The real trick is turning all of them into an interesting drawing. My forte is creating something out of everyday objects. At least I assume this is something.
Christmas Gift
Last call for getting my book of over 600 illustrations for Christmas. Perfect for dyslexic folks. Just stare at my nutty drawings. Available on Amazon or any other bookseller.
Don't Eat Lobsters
A new report commissioned by the British government concluded that lobsters, crabs, crayfish, octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish are capable of experiencing pain and suffering and should be treated as sentinent beings. It is the culmination of 300 scientific studies. They are now working on passing legislation to protect these animals from chefs and home cooks. Now we know better.
Goodall
I did this drawing of Jane Goodall as I listened to her on a podcast. Then I read her new book, which is actually just a long interview with her. She's quite an original.
