RATNER'S 111 2nd Ave NYC

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen and Faber-Castell Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook. I was listening to an interview with Bob Mankoff on NPR during which I heard him say " I'm not arguing, I'm Jewish". So funny! It brought back memories of when we used to go to Ratner's deli after concerts at the Fillmore on the lower eastside in New York. It was in Ratner's where I heard a customer ask a waiter "Why are you arguing with me"?, and the waiter responded "I'm not arguing, I'm Jewish".The place was open 24 hours a day and the old waiters really took care of you. They also gave you an education. I learned a lot of phrases like "nosh", "haimisher mensch" and "schmooz". Those guys never smiled, but oh man...the food was delicious! Egg creams! Pastries! Cheese cake! Sigh! Today I wondered if it was still around but found out that it went out of business and closed about 10 years ago. So in a moment of nostalgia I drew this from one of the last photos taken of the place in it's final rundown condition. I'm sad that its gone but I cherish the memories that were made there.

DISTURBED MAN AT BI-MART

I seem to attract my share of weirdos and I don't know why. I was in the hardware section of the local Bi-Mart store completely focused on what I needed when I felt a presence close to me...too close. I look down and there he was: some old dude in a blue coverall suit talking to me about the "goddamn Chinese and their light bulbs and I'm not gonna buy 'em." I backed off two steps and began to quickly assess this fellow. Why is he talking to me? If I saw me in a store I would not come up to me babbling all kinds of nonsense...then he starts in with "the damn Gubmint and I'm not gonna let Obama tell me what to do...take away my guns"...blah blah blah and so forth. Should I tell him they have more nuclear weapons than they will ever need and don't need his guns? Should I tell him don't watch the news because it will just make him scared so he'll have to go out and buy things he doesn't need to make himself feel better? Sigh. I decided to tell him that it was going to be ok. That often times my mind obscures my capacity to see things clearly and what I do then is grab my pen and sketchbook, put on some nice music and relax. I looked into his watery eyes and he seemed to calm down. I told him at the very least go have a root beer float then go to the library...they have a great selection of Bach cd's free. It may have worked for as I was leaving the store he was in the office supply section looking at pencils! - 11" x 14" Uniball pen and Faber Castell Pitt big brush pens in Strathmore sketchbook

ROBERT HUNTER POET

11 1/2" x 8 1/2"  Pentel pen, Speedball super black India ink, Kuretake ink and Faber-Castel Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

BILL KREUTZMANN MUSICIAN

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen and Faber-Castell Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

PHIL LESH MUSICIAN FALLOUT FROM THE PHIL ZONE

 11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton #12 roung brush and FaberCastell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

BOB WEIR MUSICIAN

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, WInsor Newton Tole Series 620 #6 brush and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

MICKEY HART PLANET DRUM

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, WInsor Newton Tole Series 620 #6 brush and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

STITCHES

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes, crowquill pen and Speedball super black India ink in Moleskine A3 sketchbook. In 2009 I had a basil cell carcinoma removed from my nose. During a Mohs procedure my doctor removed the tissue, then a plastic surgeon reconstructed the nose from the side and stitched it up. After five years there is a 95% chance of non-recurrence. Take my advice....wear that sun block every day and become a hat person.

MONKS BLESSING PORTLAND, OREGON

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo ink and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Canson sketchbook

KALACHAKRA CEREMONY

KALACHAKRA CEREMONY  - 11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo black Sumi ink and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

HARVEY PEKAR WAITING FOR A JUMO

Study from Waiting For A Jump by Harvey Pekar and artist Gerry Shamray. I'm trying to improve by studying Shamray's work and I love all of Pekar's stories. This panel I did from Shamray is 11 1'2" x 8 1/2" Uniball pen and Speedball super black India ink using Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush in Canson sketchbook

STUDY OF STERANKO PANEL

Study from a panel by the great Jim Steranko. I'm learning about perspective and dynamic shading by copying his work. 11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton series 7 #3 brush in Canson sketchbook

HARVEY PEKAR AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK TO EARTH

Study from Around the World and Back to Earth by Harvey Pekar illustrated by Ed Piskar 11 1'2" x 8 1'2" Uniball pen and Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush in Canson sketchbook

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT COLESCOTT

5 Minute quick sketch of one of my favorite artists (Robert Colescott 1925-2009) 11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Canson sketchbook.

YUN LEE AND TOMMY KANE

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen and Faber-Casrell big brushes in Canson sketchbook

MONKEY (THE CRITIC)

1 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen in Canson sketchbook. This is the one who says "Hmmm, not good enough"

MONKEY (THE MOCKER)

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen and Faber-Castell big brushes in Canson sketch book. This is the one who laughs at your artwork.

MONKEY (THE HOWLER)

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pentel brush pen in Canson sketchbook. This is the ugliest and loudest. A cross between a monkey and werewolf. He tries to bring you down by getting you to compare yourself to others. He manifests just as you are doing your best work.

EXPERIMENTAL FACE

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo ink, watercolor and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Canson sketchbook

BEARDED TOMMY KANE

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo ink and Faber-Castell Big brushes in Canson sketchbook

FARRELL'S BAR AND GRILL

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo ink and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook.

POLITICS

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor-Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Faber-Castell big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook. (I ripped off the concept from another artist online and modified it)

SECRETS

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo ink, watercolor and Faber-Castell Pitt big brushes in Canson sketchbook

FROG SCULPTURE SALEM OREGON

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Faber Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

TURTLE MUSICIANS DOWNTOWN EUGENE OREGON

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Faber - Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook.

TURTLE MUSICIAN EUGENE OREGON

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Faber - Castell Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook.

RYAN HAMMER DOWN

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo black sumi ink and Faber-Castell Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

CASINO SLOTS 2

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Faber - Castell Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

CASINO SLOTS

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo black Sumi ink and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

CAFE VISIT

CAFE VISIT - 11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

ONE DAY IN COURT

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fude brush, Yasutomo ink and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

LIBRARY COFFEE SHOP

11 1/2" x 81/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3

PARIS 1995

11 1/2" x 81/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3

SPEED READING TRAP

11 1/2" x 8 1/2"  Speedball black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

NEWS OF THE WORLD

11 1/2" x 8 1/2"  Speedball black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

LIBRARY GENT

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3

LIBRARY GIRL

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3

LIBRARY

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine A3

LYNN COHEN ART SUPPLIES

8" x 5" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush and Pitt big brushes in Moleskine sketchbook

STRANGE HAIR IN STRANGE PLACES

JE SUIS CHARLIE

For my friends in France, especially my friend Jean-Christophe Defline. Light will prevail over dark. Art for all.

SBS LOVE FOR J C DEFLINE JE SUIS CHARLIE 01/09/15

SBS Klassmate Pamela Mcgee Leal suggested a group hug for our dear friend Jean-Christophe Defline ...All of SBS sends love to you.  01/09/15  Je Suis Charlie

DREAMWORLD

 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush, crowquill pen and Faber Castell Pitt big brushes in Strathmore Mixed media sketchbook

MUSIC IN THE YARD

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #1 brush, Faber Castell Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

SMARTPHONES IN THE COFFEE SHOP

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" SPeedball super black India ink, Winsor Newton Series 7 #1 brush, Faber Castell Pitt big brush pens in Moleskine A3 sketchbook

CHESS IN THE PARK

11" x 14" Speedball super black India ink, crowquill pen and Winsor Newton Series 7 #3 brush on Bristol board

FROM DREAM JOURNAL BOB DYLAN CALLS FROM DC

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Speedball super black India ink, crowquill pen, Winsor Newton Series 7 #1 brush, Niji waterbrush and watercolor in Strathmore Mixed media sketchbook

SKOOL TEE SHIRT DESIGN

8 1/2" x 51/2" Fude brush, Niji waterbrush and watercolor in Strathmore multi media sketchbook

PSYCHOLOGY IS THE SYSTEMATIC SUBORDINATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO FALSE SOCIAL NORMS #2

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Fude brush, Niji waterbrush and watercolor in Strathmore Mixed media sketchbook

PSYCHOLOGY IS THE SYSTEMATIC SUBORDINATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO FALSE SOCIAL NORMS

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Fude brush, Niji waterbrush and watercolor in Strathmore Mixed media sketchbook