Other Stuff | Sketch Book
Here's some stuff I've done over the years.
 Miquon Grass Cover - 1966
this is apparently where my art career began , in 1966, at the age of 5 i suppose, having meticulously constructed this contour work of a cowboy mid-draw, used by my elementary school for the annual publishing of their year book. i don't remember doing it, nor do i remember being consulted for permission to publish or receiving any remuneration for said work.
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 Dog Eat Dog
drawing i did for a t-shirt for Levis' Hot Dogs in Philly. The original drawing, done first in pencil on bristol, then india ink on an overlay of vellum, i gifted to my Dad, who took me there as a little kid to have a chocolate egg cream from the world's very first soda fountain. allegedly.
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 Chinna
Earl 'Chinna' Smith (guitartist for Ziggy Marley and Jimmy Cliff) portrait. India ink stipple on vellum. He once told me of his disappointment in not being allowed to have three wives. "Joseph in de bible have tree wives, mon. why me not have tree wives?'"
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 Garcia in '88
This t-shirt design was done at the behest of an enterprising friend who travelled to Dead shows to sell his wares. My sister tells me stories of seeing the shirt on tour and accosting the wearers with wild claims of the artist being her brother.
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 Auntie Aircraft Gun
This drawing is just a pun i thought was funny. bristol, india ink with my beloved rapidograph, and a bunch of white out. the crops were good that day, apparently.
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 Portrait of my Mother, Marion
This I just did, after years of gnawing at my consciousness that i had never done a drawing of my mother. Just pencil on bristol, but this one makes me feel like i did good. that'll do, pig.
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 Portrait of my Father, Lee
I don't remember when i drew this one, but it was one of the few times i have felt like i did something artisitically that mattered in honoring my Dad, who was a wonderful, delightful, kind, loving man. i miss him very much.
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 IRIE
this is a t-shirt design i was commisioned to do for The Wailers. This was after Bob Marley died, and the group was being headed by Junior Marvin. This job ultimately led to me being backstage at Howard University hanging out with The Wailers and Third World, doing rasta stuff with legends. I feel like i touched a bit o'awesome that evening.
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 Meet Me On South Street
This was the cover of the premiere issue of a free magazine, birthed by an individual nicknamed 'The Snake,' who was somewhat of a legend on South Street for his artful enterprises. Taught me a lot about street survival and printing. He had a cool dog too, named Fred, whom i cared for from time to time. He was good doggie.
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 Penn Football
In the mid 80s, i did a whole lot of t-shirt designs for many different people, but all through the same printer, who became a friend of mine. This friend, named Chris, was connected to a retailer that sold University of Pennsylvania wares. I produced a lot of Penn stuff, including this shirt, the design concept coming from another friend, Paul, whom i prop in the drawing itself.
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High Times Records
Did this one for the ownder of the record store in Jamaica, Chinna, whose portrait is shown above. I enjoyed our conversations. He is a fascinating individual of great talent with an unmatched love of music.
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 Reggae Jamaica
This commission was done for the popular reggae band Inner Circle, widely known for the song Bad Boys (theme from Cops). two of the band members wore the shirt on-stage when i was made a guest of the band. I forget the venue. The design itself is not very large, in contrast to the band members, and the thing looked tiny on them. they some big boys, now. The guitarist was playing a Les Paul, and it looked like a ukelele. Good Rasta times.
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Daisy for Dave F
A close friend i grew up with, Brucie, was saddled with a serious disese called Disautonomia, i think. His father was the most dedicated, loving man i have ever witnessed. I was honored he let me draw this for his company. Budget only allowed for three colors, one of which had to be white (to print on colored ts) and he wanted a daisy so yellow had to be the third choice, no green. i tried to darken the leaves with a light black tone, to minor affect. He was happy with the job, so, so was i. RIP David Fainblatt. I will never forget your giant heart.
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