I hope your holidays are full of love and joy (and some sketching too!) The picture above is from Brennan’s Hoffbrau and Sports Bar, one of my favorite indoor places to sketch (and to eat—they have roasted turkey legs all year long!). Although our Tuesday night drawing group spread out to sketch at different tables in the cavernous space (a former train station) we all ended up drawing these same guys at the bar. Micaela did an amazing panorama of the whole joint including me sketching (seen here on our Urban Sketchers blog).
The “decor” at Brennan’s includes many old framed photos on the walls of men in suits showing off their prize-winning steers. This guy was as big as a steer and when he got up and left before I could finish drawing him at the table I added the steer photo to complete the picture.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
14 replies on “Sketchy Holiday Wishes”
I like these, especially the simple pen drawing because it so effectively shows how big the fellow is…and the picture on the wall is the perfect touch. 🙂
Your work makes me realize how much there is around me that I should be sketching. Merry Christmas.
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Thank you. You’re right–it is amazing how much there is around us to sketch. I find that I can get amused sketching pretty much anything. It just requires that little jump over one’s initial resistance (it’s not interesting, why bother, too hard, I’m tired, etc.) and we’re off and sketching and having fun. Jana
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I agree with JSD….that’s my goal for the new year, to sketch more around me. I always love getting a look at your corner of the world…
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Thanks Carol, That’s my goal for the new year too! It will be fun to get a look at your corner of the world (and dogs) in sketches too. Jana
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has nobody ever complained about your sketchings or do you ask permission first?
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Hi Victor, I almost never ask permission unless someone is standing or sitting right next to me. Nobody has ever complained but many people have smiled or come over to see the sketches. Once a couple in a cafe saw me looking at them repeatedly but didn’t see the sketchbook and so came over to ask if they knew me, trying to figure out why I was looking at them so intently. A man in a turban on the subway gave me a dirty look when I was drawing him so I stopped. But that’s about it. Most people seem to either not notice, not mind, or think it’s cool. Jana
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As JSD and Carol say…we always love the trips that we take with you around yourcorner. It’s an inspiration to do more sketches of our own corners. Thanks as always for taking us along. And have great holiday celebrations!
annie
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Thanks Annie for your kind and generous comments and for coming along on the ride! jana
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Happy Holidays, Jana!
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Thanks Ed, Happy New Years to you too! I have enjoyed seeing your exploration with watercolor. You’re doing great! jana
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Great sketch.
Happy New Year.
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Thanks Sue! Jana
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I absolutely love that simple line drawing of the big fella and the framed picture. It’s so fresh and casual-looking and yet beautifully composed; a real “less is more” lesson. The contrast between the man’s size and the neatness of the little framed picture is lovely, nothing more needed to show the scale; and the interplay between the “prize steer”-like man and the steer in the image in the picture is witty but not unkind. Gorgeous!
Happy New Year, by the way!
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Thank you so much. I often have trouble with design and composition so it’s quite rewarding to read your lovely words and see that I got it right (and for once stopped before I mucked it up!) Jana
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