Ink in small Moleskine sketchbook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)
I was debating whether to draw something, go to bed, or watch TV. I drew something AND watched TV: last night’s America’s Next Top Model that I’d TiVo’d (a bit of mental junk food is an important part of a healthy diet).
This messy coat rack was hanging in my living room by the front door when I bought my house and it’s always been handy, so it’s still there, five years later. It’s not something I would have intentionally bought or hung in my living room though. It always looks messy, whether it’s summer and hanging with hoodies, (when did sweatshirts become “hoodies”?) hats and visors, or in the winter, laden with raincoat, fleece jacket, down vest, umbrella and knit scarves. These things belong in the closet, not by the front door, the first thing visitors see.
Of course the people who come to my house are not “visitors.” They’re people who know me and won’t judge me for my housekeeping or home decor. They know I care more for function than appearances. It’s very functional to have my jacket by the door and makes it easy to grab or put away.
And most importantly, a messy coat rack is fun to draw. If it wasn’t there, the blank wall wouldn’t have inspired me to draw, and then I wouldn’t have had something to post today.

9 replies on “My messy coat rack”
Love this in pen and ink! I don’t remember seeing a coat rack, messy or otherwise, so it must not be too obtrusive!
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CONGRATS on sketching even when you didn’t want to! And mercy, we have the same coatrack, in the same place, and yep, with overflowing coats!! are you sure we’re not related!!! WONDERFULLY done, Jana! My rack is such a muddle I wouldn’t attempt sketching it yet alone cleaning it!! BRAVA!
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Great drawing!
At least here in Austria it’s a common sight when you enter a house. But we all have halls (big word for little rooms) first. When watching sistcoms I always wonder because the people always come right into the living room 🙂
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Renate,
Entry halls and foyers are found in most nice houses here, too, but in modest houses where every inch counts, especially back when mine was built in the years of WWII, builders saved space and money by omitting them. I hadn’t noticed that about TV sitcoms. I wonder if it’s because they’re trying to imply that the characters aren’t rich or because it’s hard to create a set with a small entry room.
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Isn’t it nice to know that messy is good for an artist! Such a lot of detail. Just great.
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Love love love this Jana. I wish it was one of mine!
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AMEN to that! Great drawing! We have a rack inside the loo by the front door and I swear the jackets are breeding!
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Wow Jana! You’ve really got so much texture in there its incredible … glad you stuck it out and didn’t go to bed 😉
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Great drawing, Jana. I like the urgency in your pen strokes in this one. Beautiful mess.
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