Seth Myers Trio at the Analogue

Left to right: Will Terell, Seth Myers, Joe Cohn

Last evening, Veronica and I went out to draw Seth Myers Trio in Greenwich Village's newly opened bar/jazz lounge Analogue.  We were invited by bassist Seth Myers, whom we met while drawing the Vintage Train Ride 2013.  Seth Myers Trio played Analogue's inaugural concert last night, with Joe Cohn on guitar and Will Terell on drums. We sat directly across from the band, and I completely dissolved in live jazz and drawing, while sipping wine. It was fantastic. The musicians asked if there were any requests, and agreed to play "In A Sentimental Mood", my favorite melody. I loved it!
After the show, we talked about similarities and differences of playing music and drawing on location. Both place us in the moment like nothing else, and drawing is as much of a performance, except that I, personally, prefer not to have an audience when I'm in the middle of a drawing...but musicians need the feedback from their listeners, the immediate energy exchange. Below is the energy of last evening, captured in drawings. It was a beautiful and memorable evening. Veronica made some incredible drawings and portraits of these musicians, look for those on her blog!

Seth Myers and Joe Cohn

Will Terell, Seth Myers, Joe Cohn

Will Terell, Seth Myers, Joe Cohn

Will Terell, Seth Myers, Joe Cohn

Will Terell, Seth Myers, Joe Cohn

Stars of the Lid at the Basilica

Drawn on my iPad.

A few iPad drawings from tonight's Stars of the Lid concert at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, presented by LPR and Wordless Music, with The Wordless Music Orchestra. Despite the freezing cold inside the Brooklyn church, the show was very beautiful and otherwordly.

Drawn on my iPad. Violinist.

Drawn on my iPad. "Stars of the Lid" with Wordless Music Orchestra.

Drawn on my iPad. Violinist.

Drawn on my iPad. The opening act.

Life Drawing After The Snowfall

 Tonight's model Polina at my friends' life drawing session had a very Art Deco feel. I played with design, and forgot all about today's epic snowfall in New York, about work and everything else...the world outside just melted away. Thanks for another beautiful evening of drawing.

NYC Vintage Train Ride 2013

Collecting tips for the band

Today was the annual Vintage Train Ride 2013. New York City's train from the Jazz Age era does 4 round trips between 2nd Avenue in Manhattan and Queens Plaza. But the best part is that it's a musical and dance flash mob! Bands come out to play Swing, Balboa, Charleston and Blues, right there on the platform and on the vintage train. And, of course, there's dancing! Dapper crowd, wearing Jazz Age attire, is dazzling! It's fun to see confused faces of commuters who are not aware of what's happening. 

I'm grateful to a wonderful singer Svetlana Shmulyian for the invitation to come and draw the event. She performed today with her Svetlana and The Delancey Five band. Great show! I went with my friend and teacher Veronica Lawlor. We had a blast! And, oh man, you have to see Veronica's masterful drawings on her blog and read her account of the day-it will completely transport you!
p.s. All the bands we heard were REALLY really good.  And they played for tips only. Thank you!

Dancers on the platform

Dancers on the platform

Dancers on the platform

Dapper commuters on the vintage train

Svetlana and The Delancey Five band playing inside vintage train

Dancers on the platform

Commuters

Band playing on the platform

Commuters on the vintage train

Life Drawing

From tonight's life drawing session at a friends' loft. New model means new feel, new graphics, new reference. It was a great drawing night.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

It's amazing that for the past 19+ years of living in New York, this is the first time I went to see Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a New York tradition that started in 1924! This balloon parade is really sweet: huge floating toys, stilt-walkers, marching bands... I just wish it wasn't below freezing today-I couldn't feel my fingers...the drawings below kinda show that! Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, everyone! Enjoy family time and the food! I'm running out now to do just that...

Here's my last year's post dedicated to the Thanksgiving celebration. http://juliaidrawings.blogspot.com/2012/11/giving-thanks.html

Life Drawing

My friends with loft space in Brooklyn started to host weekly model drawing sessions, and I'm so grateful to them for this opportunity to draw! Great model, great people, great music and home-made mulled wine with berries...not bad for a rainy cold Tuesday after work.