Sketchy Adventures with Cartoon People at the Natural History Museum NYC

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Natty Mu, I use to sketch there pretty often but somehow my inner child got lost in the Big Apple and I’ve been doing other things, I guess. Happily, an artist friend from Cali came back to NYC for a visit and it was the perfect opportunity to get back in touch with my animal drawing instincts. I had such a great time, with a handful of old friends running around the museum like kids. I just love that place, Thank you Theodore Roosevelt!

Here are my doodles from that day.

While I was sketching an African Elephant a fella tapped my shoulder and said I look as though I study about elephants. He asked how I know the difference between an African Elephant and and Asian Elephant. I told him everything I know. I told him I draw and African Elephant with circles and ovals and I draw an Asian Elephant with triangles and squares. That is all I know, and it is all that matters here.

My animator friends then passed me a Blackwing 602 pencil and told me the legend of this famous mark maker. I tried it out and did the elephant line drawing above. It’s an amazing piece of smooth lead with a whole range of light to dark potentialities. I think I will get me some. Thanks guys!

I love owls, and I loved the animated movie “Gardians of GA’HOOLE” So I sat on the bench and studied the characters of each odd representation of the species to come up with this little freaky guy in the spitting rain.

It was an awesome day, now that I found my way back, I do believe I shall go a little more often.