I recently read an enlightening biography of Andy Warhol (Pop, by Tony Scherman and David Dalton). One unique aspect of his vision was that he saw little difference between art galleries and supermarkets. In other words, he saw art in even the most mundane aspects of American culture. With that in mind, I attempted drawing this little tribute to his genius.
Signed prints of this piece are available here (in my Etsy shop).
Heres a portrait of the brilliant singer/songwriter, Amy Winehouse, in which I utilized makeup brushes to create depth. So many iconic singers have tragically died at 27 years of age, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Brian Jones. Sadly, Amy joined that club in 2011. I drew this tribute on a map of her hometown, London. Signed prints are available here!
Here’s a portrait of the Marlene Dietrich, drawn on a map of Berlin. In the first half of the 20th century, Marlene Dietrich was one of the biggest movie stars in the world. This talented actress/singer/diva was also known for her humanitarian efforts during WW 2. She helped German and French exiles find housing, as well as advocating for their citizenship in the US. As a bisexual woman, she enjoyed spending time at drag clubs in 1920s Berlin (her home town) . Materials: Pen, dry brush, and pencil
Prints of this piece can be purchased here.
detail of the original drawing
the original drawing, framed
Here’s a portrait of Austrian painter, Egon Schiele, drawn on a map of Vienna. I discovered this brilliant artist while studying drawing in the 1980s at Parsons School of Design. His work has inspired me ever since then. A protégé of Gustav Klimt, he was a true master of capturing the human form. Materials: Pen, dry brush, and pencil
Here's my charcoal portrait of boxer, Mike Tyson, one of the most complex characters to come out of Brooklyn. He's a combination of fierceness, sensitivity, intelligence, volatility and self-depreciating humor - all wrapped into one larger-than-life human being. Prints of this piece are available here!
I took this group portrait of some recent drawings. "Mike Tyson" measures 18" by 22".
Every Christmas I draw custom cards in celebration of our four-legged family members. It's fun to give loved ones little original drawings. Here are a few examples from the last three years.
2016 cards...
2015 cards...
2014 cards...
Here's a drawing on a map of the the Arctic regions. This is part of a series called World Tour - in which all the pieces are drawn on vintage maps. I was studying this map, and it seemed to be telling me to draw a polar bear on it. So I did! Signed prints are available here!
Here's a portrait of Howard WW 2 veteran, Howard Zinn, who went on to become a professor, historian, and activist. His pivotal book, A People's History of the United States, told the story of America from the perspective of the powerless, as opposed to those in power. Prints of this piece are available here!
This sketchbook spread was inspired by Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction. This book walks readers through the major extinctions which have taken place on Earth. She also discusses the history of zoology, in which the first book (published in 1758) on this subject was Carolus Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. This Swedish scientist attempted to map out an order to the animal, plant and insect kingdoms. His work was an important building block towards our modern understanding of nature and evolution.