Elroy

 

colored pencil from sketchbook

We lost our faithful, loyal and best buddy, Elroy on Monday. 

I was looking for this sketch done last December when I was working on ideas for future Christmas cards. This one was done of Elroy wearing a plush reindeer hoodie. He looks a little crazy here, but sometimes that tooth came out. So, instead of an elf lip-locked to a giant candy cane, this is what you can expect for this year's card. 

He was a good boy. 

Sketch Safari At The Detroit Zoo

 In the two sketch groups that I am a part of, there has been talk for about a year now of having a sketch night at the Detroit Zoo. We were finally able to do so, albeit a low turnout for this first time. We started when most people are still at work (peeps can arrive whenever they want as the zoo is open until 8 on Wednesdays) and there was intermittent rain, but that didn't deter us. Plus, there are buildings to duck (pun intended?) into when the rain became heavy. The animals were quite active, so we did a lot of walking around and taking pics. We did sketch, as that was the plan!

Here a some sketches that I did.

The male otter was out and was swimming in the rain. before he became active, I sketched the enclosure, including the water slide.

The top sketch is of the otter zipping by underwater. Sketching movement quickly is an exercise one must work at. The rhinos were out and about, moving around in the rain. 

Charles Henry Turner Sketch

 

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colored pencil in sketchbook

So, just in time for Black History Month, I have learned about an entomologist that I had never heard of before after beginning to read Peter Kuper's Insectology. And quite frankly, that shouldn't be, since what this man, Charles Henry Turner (1867-1923) studied and wrote about is right up my alley, so to speak. 

Turner studied the intelligence of arthropods, that bees talked to one another and can recognize colors, that ants are not just robotic, reactionary creatures, but have individual personalities, that spiders are smart... I could go on. I've been doing some internet dives and seeking anything I can about the man and hoping to find some books that he wrote, but there isn't much out there, sadly. I did find a small book and it's on its way and there is a children's book at my local library, so I'll check that out the next time I go. I will have to do a deeper dive into his published research papers. That stuff sounds fascinating.

And, of course, since he was a black man living in the times that he lived in, it was hard for him to overcome the usual obstacles. 

I'd like to add that if you are familiar with Peter Kuper's work (Mad magazine, The New Yorker, etc), check out Insectology. It's a large graphic novel that is wonderfully drawn and written. My reading list has grown from just what I've read so far.  

Rainy Day Sketch Night Feb 2026

 This past Saturday the Rainy Day Art Supply and Framing Store had its sketch night at the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, with our model Darian Wolfe dressed as Elsa from the movie Frozen. The models always do a great job and Darian was no exception. 

I broke out an old pad of Kraft paper to give that a go after some time.

A blind contour sketch.

... and another.

A couple of quick sketches of some fellow artists.

And a colored pencil sketch.

There was a very good turnout for Saturday night, with a lot of familiar faces and some new ones, as well. It was a good night.

Belleville Drink N Draw January 2026

 Last night was the freezing offing cold version of the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub. The temps were cold, but it was a fun night out with like-minded people. I worked on some cartoon ideas and also sketch some bar patrons. 

Almost no one was facing my way... 

A Christmas Card Design Idea...

 So, there is a bit of a discussion going on around these parts as to what next years Christmas card could look like. Now, over the past 18 years of doing these, I've focused on Santa, elves, reindeer, a mouse, Christmas trees and even a North Pole. What else is there? Well, I've never done one involving a candy cane. A candy cane just isn't funny on its own, so I added an elf. Elves like candy canes right?

This made me laugh. This made my wife laugh. She, however, said that this will not in any way, shape, or form, be our Christmas card next year. I think that the discussion should continue. 

Belleville Drink N Draw December 2025

 This past Wednesday was the first of two Drink N Draw sketch night's for this month at Egan's Pub. I worked on this sketch of Todd, who is always fun to sketch.

                                                          5x8 colored pencil in sketchbook

And then I worked on some sketches for a couple of books that I have in development. This one is for a story called The May Pole, which has one of the first appearances of the Nain Rouge. In those early stories, he first showed up as a red faced dwarf, or imp, as he was called by Cadillac.

5x8 pencil in sketchbook

                I'm trying to channel an illustration from Arthur Rackham, without copying directly. 

Todd brought a Lego-ish advent Christmas tree and we all took a stab at putting together a piece. I had Santa Claus. It's now hanging on our tree. 

Con Sketches 2025

This past Saturday, I was set up at the Bluewater International Comic-Con and it was a rather slow day, so I did some sketches of a couple the con attendees and one of fellow artist, Jason Nuttall, as he was doing a caricature for a customer. 

 

Belleville Drink N Draw October 2025

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colored pencil in sketchbook

Last night, we picked up again with the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub. I worked on a couple of cartoons that still need to be finished up, but here is a sketch that I did of a bar patron. I was going to also sketch her friend, but his ass was hanging out bigly, so passed on that one.

 

Go Figure! Sketch Night August 2025

 This past Saturday evening was the Go Figure! sketch night at the Grosse Pointe Farms Congregational church in Grosse Pointe Farms. Our model this time was Loki Gregory dressed as a fair renaissance maiden and she did a great job. Here are some of the sketches that I did during the evening.

Above are a couple of blind contour sketches

I tried to experiment a little, using colored pencils, ink, ballpoint pen and pencil (not shown). It was a fun night drawing at the church. And we didn't burst into flames. 

Ripley

10x10

colored pencil on tinted paper

For a while now I have been tinkering with the idea of doing pet portraits. but I needed to find a way to make them unique to my way doing things. I wanted something to add than just a somewhat stylized version of someone's pet. One of my friends has a cool little dog named Ripley, named after Sigourney Weaver's character in Alien. This was a no brainer. But, I do fear that I may have started way high and everything that comes after will be somewhat of a let down. I mean, c'mon, Alien! What are the chances that someone will name their dog Deckard or some such thing. They are out there, I know...

So, spread the word.

 

Drop Dead Sketchy July 2025

 

This past Wednesday was the July meet-up for the sketch group, Drop Dead Sketchy at the Detroit Shipping Company. Nothing special from me, I tell ya. I ended up doing some doodles of people milling about the tent area. I think that the guy with the baseball hat saw me sketching him and moved behind one of his friends. Oddly enough, that was one of the better sketches that I did. Oh well, fun was had!

Go Figure! Sketch Night July 2025

 This past Saturday was the re-emergence of the Go Figure! sketch night that was usually held at Rainy Day Art Supplies. They have been in the process of moving to a new location, so this time we were at the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church. And, this time we had a mermaid model! Amanda, who is one of the aquarists at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit is also a cosplayer and did a most awesome job. 

It was good to see some old friends that I haven't seen in a while. I've been doing a few different sketch events these past few months and it is interesting that there is some crossover between us artists, but they also have their own uniqueness. I'll see different people at different events and it's all good. I like that. here are some of the sketches that I did on Saturday.

Drop Dead Sketchy June 2025

 

4x5

colored pencil in

sketchbook

This past Wednesday was the June meet-up for the Drop Dead Sketchy sketch group at the Detroit Shipping Company. I worked a little on a book illustration and did this quick sketch of my buddies kid, Charlie. It doesn't really look like her... I was kind of focused on the hair. A fellow artist who I haven't in about twenty years showed up, so that was a pleasant surprise. 

We meet up once a month and if interested, you can follow Drop Dead Sketchy here and here. 

Belleville Drink N Draw June 2025

 So, last night was the June edition of the Belleville Drink N Draw. Half of the city had lost power, so everyone was at the pub! It was quite packed. Sketching, gabbing, grubbing and the Tigers were on, so a good night.

I was the only one there from our group for about a half an hour, so I did a sketch of the only empty seat in the place. 

Then I worked on some ideas. This one is for a book that is in the works. Trying to come up with what the East West wind would look like. I was going for what one would see on an old map or something.

Then, I focused on an idea for a sketch card involving some cryptids and I like the idea of the frogman of New Jersey (?). So, some frog guys.

Tonight is the another sketch club meet-up. This time in Detroit! More on that tomorrow.

Belleville Drink N Draw May 2025

 

Joy

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colored pencil in sketchbook

sketches for a Zombuggeez commission

8x5

colored pencil in sketchbook

This past Tuesday was the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub in, as always, Belleville. It was a small group this time, but always fun. Sketching, gabbing, eating and some drinking. 

Drop Dead Sketchy April 2025

 Last night was the first sketch night for the Drop Dead Sketchy group held at the Detroit Shipping Company. There was a good turnout and all had a good time.

My first attempt at the sketching stuff was working out some designs for some book illustrations involving children and bugs. Then, an attempt at capturing some fellow arteests, Jay Fosgitt and Jim Anderson.

And an awful attempt some guy named Steve. 

Above, a pic from after we moved to a different area with better lighting. With Steve, jay and Jim, who is judging my sketchbook...

This was a good venue for our event to be held... A variety of food, a bar, plenty of seating and art all over.

Belleville Drink N Draw March 2025

 

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colored pencil n sketchbook

So, last night was our 2nd meet-up for the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub, which is, in fact, in Belleville. A slightly smaller crowd this time, but entertaining, nonetheless. I worked on a few things, including this here sketch of fellow arteest, Nate. Sketchin', good conversation, grub, a few drinks, made for a good night.

Belleville Drink N Draw

 

5x8

colored pencil in sketchbook

Last night I was invited to a Drink N Draw night at Egan's Pub in Belleville. A fun time was had by all and up above is the one and only sketch that I did (gabbing, eating, drinking, gabbing, etc). Todd made for a good subject, so I did my best to be quick about it.

David Lynch

 

7x7

colored pencil on black paper

Here's a little sketch of the dear departed David Lynch. He looks a bit ghastly here with the dark eyes, but somehow, I don't think he'd mind, in that he was a quirky kind of guy.