Fall

This past weekend, my wife took me to a sheep and wool festival where thousands of knitters gather. It was held in Rheinbeck, New York which was nice because of the fall foliage viewing. The festival has a county fair vibe. The weather was great and because the crowd was 90% women, it was easy for me to find a bathroom where I was the only human using it. At the house we rented, I would draw leaves to amuse myself while serious knitting was going down.

Braces

This drawing I did on the back inside cover of the new sketchbook I’m working on. I like to look at something amusing each time I crack open the book. This sketch seems to do the trick.

Chicken Issues

Every once in a while, I come across a fact related to the food industry that shocks me even more than usual. 90% of all land animals killed for food are chickens. Think about that for a second. With all the billions of cows, pigs, sheep, turkeys, rabbits, and lambs that get whacked each day, nothing comes close to the agony of being born a chicken. Maybe cutting back on the nuggets a bit is in order or buy my new book, Vegan Art, which could open your mind some.

Other Half

What may be the best brewery in the country happens to be around the corner from me. The Other Half brewery. I’m sure beer officiandos may want to debate this fact but these guys would be in the discussion. I did this drawing of their tanks and as a result I now know everyone who works there. It’s funny how much attention one can attract with pen and paper. At this point, I only drink non-alcoholic beer but everyone I bring there is blown away. It’s packed with beards from moning till night. @otherhalfnyc

Virgil Abloh

I recently went to the Brooklyn Museum to see the work of Virgil Abloh. He was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton. His museum show consisted of sculptures, drawings, clothes he designed, sneakers, packaging, digital work, branding, music, and books. A true renaissance man. Unfortunately, he passed away quite recently at the age of 41. It inspired me to do a drawing of him.

Hoboken New Jersey

Hoboken is a bit of a college town. The streets are filled with young people. I stuck out a bit. When I drew on the streets, no youngsters took any interest, only my peers did. I think the reason is because I wasn’t doing it on a laptop or an iPad. That seemed to keep them at bay. It was as if I was doing a cave painting and they had no interest in my ancient way of doing things.

Vegan Dogs

Whenever I post one of my little vegan animation videos promoting my new vegan book, people immediately unfollow me by the dozens. It never fails to occur. Plus, I get angry DMs. I recently read that Cracker Barrel, which is an American chain restaurant, added a plant-based breakfast sausage to their menu. It instantly caused an uproar even though those same customers could still order the same foods they have always been able to. Furious customers vowed never to return and made all kinds of threats to the company. Seems that offering one single alternative choice that doesn’t involve murdering and abusing animals is a good way to piss folks off. I’m starting to think maybe it’s me who has it all wrong.

Homeless

I recently spent some time in Hoboken, New Jersey. Home of Sinatra. It’s a lovely little town. Lots of young people, great energy. I drew in the train station early one morning. As this bloke slept peacefully, a mom entered the empty station and her her child started to scream at the top of his lungs. He liked the acoustics and was testing out his echo. The poor dude finally sat straight up out of a dead sleep. He staggered outside after approving my sketch.

MONH

I recently made my first trip back to the Museum of Natural History in three years. Renewed my membership and drew some taxidermy. New York is not yet back to full tourist strength so it was easy to draw without crowds huddled over me. Felt good to be back in my old haunt.

Chickens

Over 72 billion chickens around the world were slaughtered in 2019. That’s 197 million chickens a day. My new book, “Vegan Art, A Book Of Visual Protest” is filled with over 200 works of art illustrating why humans should not be eating any animals at all. Photographers, illustrators, painters, and cartoonists visualize just how destructive all this is to our health and the planet’s too. Purchase one to make the world a better place to live in. Only $28 bucks on Amazon.

Manure

There was a wheelbarrow at our house in the Berkshires. It was used to move manure around. I used it as something to draw. Then I sketched Daisy the donkey. Turned out to be a perfect combo, a manure spreader and a manure maker.

Monkey Surf

It’s the end of summer, so of course I drew a monkey surfing. This also happens to be the last illustration in my current sketchbook. Soon, I’ll film myself flipping through the completed sketchbook and post it. Another one bites the dust.