Sketchbook: Bakugan Battle Brawlers

Some doodles from my sketchbook.


I am fortunate to have some talented, great friends who let me stay with them when I'm in Brooklyn. Their son (sketched above) is a terrific kid. He's very inclusive. He shows me all of his toys.



I had never heard of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, which are hard plastic balls that *SPROING* into little creatures when you push them against a bit of metal, like a fridge door.

Below: he explains their operation to me and which one is his favorite (there are many kinds of balls that turn into a variety of creatures).


Above: the horned Pyrus Dragonoid. Nix's Mixed Bag has photos.

Sketchbook: Traditional Irish Music Session

Sketched in between pints of Smithwicks' at The Shaskeen in Manchester, NH. This was a traditional Irish music session on Saturday afternoon, December 11, 2010. I accompanied my wife (not pictured), who was one of the half-dozen musicians who there that day. She plays the fiddle and flute. I am not a musician myself.







I try to be unobtrusive. But, as I was sketching, the woman next to me noticed. She leaned way over to look. She made a noise -- something like "Oh" or "Oooh." When the musicians get going, it can be hard to hear. Anyway, she looked at me and smiled and said, "I thought you were doing your school work." (!?!?!?!!?!) I suppose I should be flattered since the last time I was in school was in the 1980s.

Travels with Ink and Nib and Brush

Traveling? I don't envy you. But if you have to travel, and you are dedicated old school cartoonist who loves the old school drawing tools, then you already have a method for safely transporting your beloved art supplies through the rigors of the TSA, the baggage handlers, airplane pressure, etc.

Here's what I do:


Nibs! Those nibs that you have delicately broken in can be easily placed ...


... in a protective matchbox. When the TSA employee asks, Do you have anything that could be considered a weapon? -- Well, I have do not believe that nibs could be used as a weapon. At least, not a very effective one. Regardless, nibs get checked thru baggage. Along with the holder.
I like the ink in those squatty glass containers that are tough and ready for some travel tumbling and turbulence. (No Higgins Ink plastic containers if you please!) Wrapped in a couple layers of plastic wrap and then this baby is wrapped again in swaddling clothes (i.e., a black t-shirt),

A good brush is like your pal. Like a pen nib, it needs to be broken in and then it can last (with the proper care) for a long time. The problem is how do you protect your brush shape?

I just get a card (an index card, or piece of cardboard) and tape the brush down. And then I take another card and tape it on top, creating, for all intents and purposes, a snug brush sandwich.

Confession: I usually use those Pigma permanent ink pens. Below is a drawing from last year depicting "the pens on my desk:"



Related: Some sketchbook drawings and a few more of my sketches.

Also related: Do you have too many sketchbooks?