Art Prompt: Draw in Public

I got called out for drawing at a jazz club

Last night I went to The Baked Potato. It’s a jazz club that’s been in Studio City since the 70’s and I would include it in any decent “Things to do in LA” list.

It’s intimate and cozy, their menu has over twenty different baked potatoes on it, the potatoes are the biggest potatoes I’ve ever seen in my life, I could go on and on about the potatoes, but the important thing is the music, which is usually great!

I love to zone out to the music while drawing in my sketchbook and glancing at other people in the audience.

Which leads me to our art prompt this week: Draw in public!

I’m not bullshitting you with these little assignments. They all come from stuff I’m actually doing!

So, drawing, out there, in the world. Could be anywhere, really.

• on public transit

• at a cafe

• at the park

• at a jazz club that serves giant potatoes

• If you’re physically unable to go anywhere, just sketch inside your home. Don’t let me tell you what to do!

The main benefit is to get outside stimuli and inspiration, so you’re not just relying on your usual bullshit. Look around you and notice what’s happening visually. Is there an interesting bit of machinery, a beautiful bit of architecture, or a stranger wearing a cool outfit? I find a detail I like, I start drawing it, then I usually turn it into something else rather than try to accurately represent reality.

At the club, I saw a man wearing this heart sweater:

And a woman with a big glasses and a fun skirt.

I completely beefed it while trying to draw her hand. Look at that fuckin thing.

BUT MISTAKES ARE GOOD. They lead to happy surprises and fun proportions. Like huge guitar/skinny legs here:

If you’re drawing strangers: Some of you might feel creepy or awkward doing this. I don’t generally ask for permission (because I’m usually just drawing part of their outfit and I don’t want them to pose), but if my subjects seem uncomfortable, I stop looking at them and draw something else. Usually they’re just curious and want to see what I’m sketching. I try not to draw faces unless I can be discreet, because people get really sensitive about how they’re drawn.

This exercise is partly about getting out of your comfort zone and feeling more chill being ~a person who makes art~.

In the middle of the show last night, the guitarist picked up the mic and asked, “Are you drawing?!” I startled and slammed my sketchbook shut, flashing back to being a teenager in trouble yet again for drawing during class.

Of course he wasn’t pissed at all, he thought it was cool. Afterwards, I showed the band my drawings of them as animals. The saxophonist said, “Wow, I’ve never been a deer before! A double deer!”

I’d love to see your public drawings in the (semi-private) chat, if you want to post them! <3

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I’m taking pre-orders for these new prints I made, I’m calling them “Winter Florals.”

I see them as sirens, guiding me through a confusing seasonal and emotional transition…

I took some video of myself painting these and can edit/post that here later, if that process is interesting to anyone? Let me know :)