New Video!!! Drawing Self Portraits

This is the first in what will be a series "Brick Wall Studio Sessions" where you get a glance at how I work.

Drawing Drawing Draaaaaaaawing :)

This is a cool looking human I saw during my commute. I cranked the drawing out in about 10-15 mins. 

Its hard to finish my first published book of drawings when everyday I give birth to new gem. I love this creative surge happening lately.

Guy wearing hunting hat
14 x 17
Ballpoint Pen on Archival Paper

Inspiring the people...

Today I taught a drawing class at McClymonds High School in West Oakland were this student insisted that I prove to him that I could draw his likeness within 5-10mins… I did :) My little brother was happy and inspired to witness my performance.

"It's days like today that are why I really love teaching."

My Brother being inspired
14 x 17
Ballpoint pen on paper

The episodes begin in a week...

Rat tat tat tat

I boarded the bus and grabbed a seat directly across from this man. It was extremely hot and I sat on the side of the bus where the sun was beaming through the glass. I really wasn't in the mood to draw but a couple minutes into the ride i realized I didn't have any drawings of tatted people, so I pulled my sketchbook and trusty pen (trying to be discreet because I didn't want him to see that I was about to start drawing - then he'd stare at me) and started to draw. It was hard to get into the zone because I was sweating like a Tour de' France rider, the sun was beating down on me and where I was sitting was really cramped so I didn't feel like getting my headphones out of my bag (I was drawing with no music - Unawesome!!!).

 I began to explain that I was drawing him (showed him the drawing at this time) and how I draw people everyday during my commute. The conversation was great, we exchanged info and I got off at my stop.

This was a special drawing session because normal don't show people what I'm working on (especially while I'm working). I also don't hold conversations while working (at lease I do my best to steer clear of them because it distracts me. At the end of the day I made a new friend :)

Man with tats
11 x 14
Ballpoint Pen on Archival Paper

The Books Are Coming!!!!

Putting together my first book in InDesign. Exciting!!! Can't wait to get it in my hands :)

Beautiful Elder Human Female

This beautiful human caught my eye during my commute from teaching about 10 minutes before she got off the bus. I saw the age, wisdom and expression on her face and had to capture it with a rather fast shutter speed (quick drawing). I wanted to add more shadows to her face but there just wasn't enough time to get "honest" ones... other wise I would have been making them up from imagination which would have taken away for the truth of the moment. She glanced at me a couple times while I drew her but I wasn't sure that she was on to me - Ha Ha.

I was listening to a new, relaxing, meditation music selection in my new noise canceling headphones which helped achieve getting into the zone quite immediately. Between the music and a calming breathing pattern I was able to leave this world for ten minutes and create a human on my paper. I really like the lines in this drawing. I actually surprised myself when I applied the first set of wrinkles at the jawline to the left of the chin. It was a treat to watch this drawing unfold. My favorite part was creating the illusion of the eyes being recessed between the heavy brow muscles and pudgy cheeks.

Beautiful Elder Human Female
11 x 14
Ballpoint Pen on Archival Paper

TORNADO OF ENERGY - "Dawood never sleeps"

I quick sketch I did of the Fox Theater in Oakland.

Fox Theater
24 x 18
Oil

Painting around...

Gettin' my paint on

Man Profile Drawing...

I really liked the lines in this drawing. The man exited the bus before I could grace the drawing with shading but life happens perfectly because when I looked at it the day after, I realized it was beautiful how it was. Knowing "when to say when" is the subject here huh lol. 

I started this drawing at the nose which has been the starting point for many of my latest works. Especially the nose between the lens of glasses. I also really got into the wrinkles in his neck and at the corner of the mouth. The belt buckle seemed to have made it's own statement in this drawing as well Ha Ha. 

One more thing I'd like to point out in this drawing is the stitching on the ball cap and coat - stitching, moles, pores and patterns of hair growth have been emerging quite strongly in my recent works. It's a good challenge for me to see how delicate and careful I can be when creating these detail while on a bumpy transit bus. I find myself slowing my breath and sometimes holding it as I process the subject matter and communicate it through marks on the page, it's almost as if I'm trapped in time during those moments.

Man right profile

11 x 14

Ballpoint pen on paper

Drawing students...

This is a drawing I did of a student at Oakland School For The Arts today. I liked the gesture so much I decided to leave the table out of the drawing.

Im finally starting to edit and compile tons of drawings in preparation for my first drawing book, not sure if this one will make the cut but I like it not the less. Actually I have been getting lots of good feedback on this image on Facebook so it just might make it Ha Ha.



Student writing
11 x 14
Ballpoint Pen on Paper

The best model is right next to you (full)

Another drawing done in transit on the transit bus. This guy was an unknowingly great model, he played his part and didn't recognize that I was starring at him. Thanks man!!!

Man with cap backwards 
11 x 14 
Ballpoint on Archival Paper

The best model is right next to you

Another drawing done in transit on the transit bus. This guy was an unknowingly great model, he played his part and didn't recognize that I was starring at him. Thanks man!!!

Man with cap backwards (close-up)
11 x 14 
Ballpoint on Archival Paper

The best model is right next to you :)

Another drawing done in transit on the transit bus. This guy was an unknowingly great model, he played his part and didn't recognize that I was starring at him. Thanks man!!!

Man with cap backwards 
11 x 14 
Ballpoint on Archival Paper

Drawing on the bus as usual :)

I did this drawing during my commute returning from teaching today on the transit bus. This was a very difficult drawing to complete because she kept looking up at me every few minutes as she was busy on her smart phone. Not sure if she liked what she saw or just checking to see if I was looking at her. I had to really connect with her energy to be able to know when she was going to look at me. Don't know if she knew what I was doing. We did eventually make eye contact once or twice, after the second time she changed her position drastically so I started another drawing of someone else to give her a break so when she would look up I wouldn't be looking at her. After about 6-8mins she turned back in position and I turned the page back to complete the drawing of her.

She had a beautiful spirit as she smile apparently because of what someone was texting her. Her smile would linger on her face as she would stop reading texts momentarily to glance out the window of the transit bus.

Beautiful girl on transit
11 x 14
Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Finally painting again...

This was a quick warm-up piece to get me back in to painting. I haven't been painting in seems like almost a year. 2012 I will be making my work available to the public so I will be doing more paintings and other work. This is another painting in an ongoing series that I call "The Black Woman Collection." A tribute to our mother. 

I found this box at a thrift store. I sanded it, textured the surface, gave some yellowish glazes and finally painted the woman on it. I am also going to paint a different woman on the remaining 3 sides. Once Im done painting all of the sides I'm going to replace the wooden knob at the top with a jewel knob.

Untitled
acrylic on wood

Here is a similar project I did in the past where I painted on an object. This one was protein powder jar:
http://dawoodsketchs.blogspot.com/2011/02/painting-on-stuff.html

Making the cover of American Artist

I would love to grace the cover of Artist Daily "Drawing" magazine some day and have people around the globe checking out my work :) Here is a vision of what that cover might look like. Heres to putting the good energy into the universe.

Those 2 dudes...

Interesting how this composition came together as these guys were not sitting together. I drew the guy in the front and when he exited I drew the other who was sitting in a different area... I actually had to move around to get the proper point of view that would make it look as if the were side by side. I really like the lighting effect in this drawing also. Thanks for viewing - Enjoy!

"Two dudes riding the bus"

11 x 14
Ballpoint Pen on Archival Paper