Day 9 of 20 Dayz of Drawings

Drawing On Public Transit 6 -Coming Soon

Drawing On Public Transit 5

My lates release

My first self-published book...

My first published book of drawings is here!!!
I'm so thrilled to have this finally completed.
Purchase a copy!

Dawood Marion Drawings of Random People Vol. 1 by Dawood Marion 

Train drawings to Sketchbook paintings: Building a rhythm

So I've been vigorously improving my drawing ability for about 4-6 years now. My Master (mentor) said I should focus on drawing and gain strength there before moving on to painting, I also read this advice from John Singer Sargent. I've dibbled in paints a little over these years but nothing consistent. I've been more into line aesthetics than anything else, though in the back of my mind I really wanted to paint, I kept telling myself,"Not yet - in due time." The child artist inside didn't want to hear that.

 I'd noticed some of my favorite painters did it every day, they'd warm up and paint away for hours, just as I did with drawing. I tried this from time to time but just hadn't built of a rhythm. I would get on a painting kick and it would be great for a week or two and then CRASH!! Back to the drawing book. Where drawing spontaneously weaves in and out of my daily schedule due to that nature of my primary style (fast/ quick captures from life), painting is something I have to find and make blocks of time for.  Well looks like that train has finally pulled in because I am painting regularly now and it feels good, not forced. I figured I'd start with these sketchbook studies and build up to full size paintings. This is the fun stage!! Where I get to see myself go through many styles until one fits, sticks and I evolve with it just as I did with drawing. I like to see the marriage between the line and paint, I don't burying my beloved pen strokes under the paint completely, the painting has outlets here and there where the drawing can breathe:)

I crafted my own sketchbook!!!!!

There comes a point along the road to mastery when an artist develops a deeper relationship with his work and therefore compelled to create his own materials. Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, dudes and dudettes, brothers and sisters... I present to you... my very first handmade sketchbook!

Yes, it sports the genuine top quality raw unstained leather encasing, and inside is 90 lb ph neutral archival paper (hand torn). This paper is so think that I will have no problem painting as well as drawing in it. I think I'm gonna stain it thought because it may not look so good when it gets dirty.

It took some time to get the hang of it but I must say the journey was therapeutic. Especially sewing in all of the paper by hand. I've been up all night working on this beauty and now I gotta get some sleep, but I wake up I'm hitting the trains station to give it a test drive. Feels so GOOOOD in my hands - I can hardly wait!!!!

Email me if you'd like a sketchbook made just for you.
info@dawoodmarion.com

This is the first drawing to grace the pages of my new self-crafted sketchbook. Done on the transit bus going to the art store to purchase paper to create more books. The 100 lb, 100% rag paper felt like butter underneath the pen. I could feel the ballpoint sink into the paper.

I'm painting people in public places now

Hung out at the coffee shop today in Berkeley painting people. Can't wait until I get as good with painting as I am at drawing. One thing is for sure and thats "Ain't gonna get there unless I get out and do it... "REGULARLY"

THere is no quick fix like the absurd weight loss pills or silly exercise machines claiming miracle result with little to no effort. Plain old fashion practice will do the job every time.

ballpoint pen and gouache in sketchbook
11x14

My Second Sketchbook Film Short... Check it out

Sketchbook Flip - Book II (Part 1)

Oil painting of transit scene

This is a reportage painting from a drawing I did yesterday on subway (Bart) train in San Francisco. 

Here is the initial sketch done on the train.

Transbay Tube

16x12
Oil on Canvas

Young people on transit

I wonder what it's like to be a female riding on transit staring out the window in deep thought when suddenly a guy approaches you with a sketchbook and on the page is a drawing of you... as he begins to smile.

Queen on transit using smart phone
11x14
Ballpoint Pen in sketchbook

Young people on transit

11x14
Ballpoint Pen in sketchbook

Young people on transit2

11x14
Ballpoint Pen in sketchbook

Man reading on transit

11x14 

Ballpoint Pen in sketchbook

Drawing Teens

Young Sistah' on her way to school plugged into her smart phone.

 11x14 

Ballpoint pen on paper

Drawing on the train commute...

Drawing people and bikes on the afternoon train ride home today.

end of the day
Ballpoint pen and gouache
8.5x11

Drawing in San Francisco again....

Taught a Drawing class at The University of San Francisco today. These are the drawings I cranked out on the commute to and fro.

Man on train using smart phone
Ballpoint pen
11x14

Asian woman on Muni Bus (route 31) in San Francisco holding plastic grocery bag
Ballpoint pen in sketchbook
11x14

Passenger on subway train
Ballpoint pen in sketchbook
11x14

Drawing in transit again

Today I drew people on the end of the day commute. It was very relaxing sitting there listening to my ipod staring at people in they're "Thank God The Day Is Over" state. This is one of the drawings that developed nicely from the session.

Evening ride home
Graphite and gouache
11x14

Deeper Though...

More drawing people on the transit.

Drawing people from Oakland to San Francisco

Been running through sketchbooks like water lately. Getting lots of practice in on public transit. Frequent practice is essential if you want to be good at this. I'd say drawing on public transit is far better practice for me than nude figure drawing... all of the challenges and discomforts create excellent platforms for making good decisions fast, critical thinking and problem solving.

Reportage Drawing at Oakland City Hall

 Inside Oakland City Hall reportage (on-site reporting through sketches) the meeting around the Oakland Gang Injunction.

New in the sketchbook..."Teen Power!"

This was the scene at a bus stop in Oakland last week. One minute it was quiet and peaceful as I checked emails on my phone, then a swarm of teens invaded the atmosphere. You know me, I couldn't whip out my sketchbook and pen fast enough to document they're social gang-up.


Teen Spirit
Ballpoint pen and Gouache
11 x 14

"I am" - The Griot

Today I went over to my good friend Terika Lewis's Violin class. I had a good time drawing the youngsters learning to play Michael Jackson tunes in string.

Today I realized I am a visual Griot. Telling the story of my experiences.

Inauguration of Mayor Jean Quan at Oakland's Fox Theater

Inside the Fox Theater in Oakland at the Inauguration of Mayor Jean Quan. Jean is sitting at the center of the table directly behind the speaker.

The inside of the Fox Theater in Oakland. Love the Aztec / Mayan feel of the interior design.