NYC Subsketch

Return to Kyushu

2012-01-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

This post finishes yet another sketchbook of mine. The following sketches begin from my return to Japan and bring me around Kyushu with a short break in Tokyo for Design Festa.

もう一つのスケッチブックはこれで終わりです。下のスケッチは日本に帰る時に描き始め、九州に戻ったあととデザインフェスタを見に東京へ小旅行に行った時のものです。

Fukuoka 福岡

Tokyo 東京

Fukuoka 福岡

Fukuoka (Hakata Station) 福岡（博多駅）

Fukuoka 福岡

Somewhere along the way to Tosu　鳥栖へ行く途中

Cafe in Fukuoka 福岡のカフェ

Summer's End

2012-01-17T22:48:00.000-08:00

The end of my summer in New York. Next, is my return to Japan.

NYCへの夏休み旅行の終わりです。

続いて、日本に戻ってからです。

Taipei 台北

More odds and ends

2012-01-13T00:30:00.000-08:00

Continuing from the last post, here are some more things that I had scanned but neglected to post.

The first sketch is from my NYC sketchbook in 2009, and the rest are postcards that I sent to some of my art buddies. The postcards were drawn on the train between Nakamozu and Izumigaoka on the Senboku-line while on the way to work.

続きまして、ちょっと前に載せれなかったスキャンした絵を載せます。

一枚目は夏休み旅行の続きです。

二枚目以降は泉北高速鉄道で中百舌鳥駅から泉ヶ丘駅まで通勤中に描いてアートの友達に送ったはがきです。

Odds and ends

2012-01-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

So, I'm back after a VERY long absence.
すごく久しぶりです。

I don't want to spend a lot of time on why I haven't been posting, but I will say that one big reason was that I was battling cancer for most of 2010. ...I guess that's probably a bit shocking, but I've been in remission for the better part of a year.
なんで更新しなかったかは長くなるので今は語らないけど、一つだけ言うならば２０１０年のほとんどはガンと闘っていました。かなりショッキングなことだけど幸いなことに一年以上たって今も寛解しています。

Also, I moved back to the United States in 2011 and I think now I'm just starting to get back into my normal groove.

そのあと、２０１１年にアメリカに帰りました。長い時間がたってやっと元の生活のペースを取り戻した。

Despite all that, I haven't stopped drawing (though my output has definitely slowed down here and there).

それでもその間も絵を描くことは諦めなかった　（描くペースはのろくなったけど）

Anyway, I won't bore you with my life story...On to the sketches!

僕の話だけでうんざりさせたくないからスケッチを載せます。

I have a lot of catching up to do, so I'll be posting sketches starting from the last time I posted...which was 2009. At the time, I had gone to visit NYC from Japan for the summer. So here are a few more sketches from that sketchbook.

たくさん載せるべき絵があるけれどもとりあえず中断した時 (2009) からの続きです。下の絵は日本からNYCに夏休み旅行に行った時のスケッチです。

More sleeping people on the subway.

Boy standing while on the subway.

Trying to draw with water+ink.　（水＋インク）

Guy on his cell phone...I think.

This guy probably noticed me...

More ink + water　（水＋インク）

My Tools, Let Me Show You Them

2009-11-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

Edit: I had no idea that this didn't post...*face palm
この記事がきちんと更新されていなかったのにまったくに気付かなかった。ごめんごめん。Orz

More sketches from my trip back to New York this summer, but first I wanted to talk about my tools.
夏のニューヨーク旅行の写真を見せたいがまず僕の現在利用しているスケッチの道具について話したいと思います。
I've often been asked what it is that I'm using to do these sketches, so I thought I would go ahead and show those who are reading the blog.
スケッチのためにどんな道具を使っていますかとよく聞かれていますのでこのブログでみんなに見せたいと思います。

First of all, I change my tools and materials often in an effort to experiment. In particular, I try to use different formats and sizes for every new sketchbook that I use. As it stands, I've pretty much found what kind of things I like to use, but I'm still open to experimentation.
まず、僕はいろいろな道具を試すためにしょっちゅう道具を変えています。とくに、使用するスケッチブックのサイズとフォーマットを毎回変えているので、自分がどういったものを好んで使うかはよくわかっています。これからもいろいろな道具にトライしていきたいと思っています。

So, what I'm presenting to you is what I'm currently using to draw. It's my current "sketching kit."
なので、下に載せているのは現在使っている道具、つまり今のスケッチキット。

If you aren't aware, I live in Japan at the moment, so I've been able to take advantage of an array of different types of pens that are hard to come by in the states. Some of these pens I was able to get in the states, but they were ridiculously expensive, so I'm glad that I'm here for that reason and will definitely stock up on a bunch of these before I eventually return to the states.
みんなもう知ってると思いますが、今、僕は日本にすんでいます。そのおかげで、アメリカではなかなか手に入らないようなペンや鉛筆を入手することができます。アメリカにいたときもそういうペンを買う事はできなくないけど、とても珍しいものなので、泣きたくなるほど高価なので、日本にきてよかった。アメリカに帰る前にたくさん買っておきます。
1. Kuretake Mannnennmouhitsu- This was a brush pen that I picked up while looking for the pen at the bottom. I thought it might be a suitable replacement for my favorite pen but it has a totally different feel from what I was used to. It is a lot more fluid, a bit messy, and the ink is different. What I like about it though is that the ink is non water-proof, so when mixed with the water pen, I can try to get different tones and effects.
この筆ペンは、一番下のペンの代わりに買ったものです。大好きなペンのかわりに使えると思ったが触感が違った。このぺんはよりすらすらに書けるし、インクの質が違うし、書き終えてから指先が黒に染込んだりする。それでもこのペンの好きなところは防水インクを使っていないので、水ペンの水とよく混ざります。それでいろんな質感を出せます。
2. Zeebra Sarasa Clip 0.5mm- Just a pen I picked up from a convenience store. It has a nice flow and "sharp" feel that I like.　At about $1, it's also cheap.
ただのコンビニで買ったペンです。すらすらと書けて鋭い感じが出るから好きだ。しかも１００円の値段でやすくていいです。
3. Uni-ball Protech 0.5mm- This is a pen that I've loved for a long time. This pen is fairly easy to find in the states I think. It has much of the same feeling as the pen above except that the quality is a little more better. It says that the ink is water-based, but I don't really use it along with a water brush like the 1st pen.

長い間気に入って使っていたペンです。アメリカでも手に入れやすいと思う。上のペンと質感はほぼ同じだけどこのペンのほうがより良質だと思う。水性インクを使っていると書いたけど、ぼかしなどをするときにはこのペンを使っていません。
4. Kuretake Mizufude Pen Medium Size- I believe this is also available in America, but it may be a bit difficult to find. I'm not terribly satisfied with this pen because it seems to clog and becomes useless pretty easily. However, it still is pretty convenient compared to bringing a water container and a real brush on the train. At first I started trying to do watercolor on trains, but for the sake of speed and efficiency I use it to get grey tones along with the brush pen at the top.
アメリカで買う事はできるだろうけど、取り扱っている店は珍しいと思います。正直、このペンの使い心地はあまり満足していません。インクがつまる時が多いのでちょっと不便だと思うけど、電車の中に水に入った器を運ぶより便利だからよい。最初は水彩で色を塗るときにつかってきたけど、仕上がりが早いので、今は白黒のぼかしだけに使っています。
5. Pentel Pocket Brush Pen- I believe there is a small following for this pen in America. Deservedly so, because it is an awesome pen. It won't replace a a nice brush and good ink, but it's the next best thing especially on a rocky train. I'm so glad that I can get this pen here for about $7 US, as opposed to the around $14 I would pay at NY Central Art Supply...

最初は水彩で色を塗るときにつかってきたけど、仕上がりが早いので、今は白黒のぼかしだけに使っています。良質の筆とインクの代わりにはならないけど、このペンはそれに近い価値があると思う。特にゆらゆら揺れる電車では。日本では７００円で買えるからうれしい。それに対して、アメリカでの値段は1400円くらい．．．

Pentel TUFF 0.9mm mechanical pencil- I like a thick led so I can get more variation with my line, and I usually use 2B or B led.
線質の変化の多いほうが好きなので厚くて２BかBの芯を使います。

The book I'm currently using is Fabriano Classic Artists Journal. I had to order this from America because unfortunately there is not a very good selection of sketchbooks in Japan. Most of the are ring bound which I just hate. They do have some good quality sketchbooks here, like moleskines, but they are incredibly expensive. It's slightly cheaper to just import the books from Blick Art Supplies in the U.S.A.
Anyway, I had gotten a multi-colored version of this before and I really liked how this worked with pencil. It really takes the led well, but unfortunately the pages are pretty thin so I can't go crazy with a lot of paint or water. But it serves my purposes well enough. Before I tried the 7X9in, now I have the 5X7in, and I prefer the larger size.
今の使っているスケッチブックはこれ。日本ではの選択は限られて僕の好みに合わないのでアメリカから注文しなからばならなかった。詳しくいうと、文房具屋とかアートの店の揃えはほとんど私が大嫌いのらせん綴じだから買いたくない。もちろん、他に質が良くてモルスキンみたいなスケッチブックが揃えてるけど高すぎるからそれも買いたくない。アメリカから輸入する方が少しだけ安かった。
とにかく、前は色紙で作られたやつ買った。鉛筆での描きごこちはいいけど、紙が薄いから水を使うときはやめたほうがいい。それでも、僕にとってはいいスケッチブックだと思います。前のサイズは約18X23センチ。今は約13X18センチ。大きいほうがよかった。
By the way, while searching for links for these pens/pencils, I found that I could find most of them from Jetpens. I don't know much of anything about them, but they seem to be a good source for those who are not in Japan.

Okay, sketches...
では、スケッチを...

Lock and Loll

2009-11-03T05:16:00.000-08:00

A long overdue update.

I've been back in Japan for a little while now, working and getting a drawing or two in.
For some reason or another I've gotten busier than before, but not too busy that I'm not drawing anymore.

While I was in America, I filled my book with TONS of sketches, which was great.
For the most part I get most of my sketching done on the train, and since moving to a small town in the middle of Kyushu I hardly ride anymore. When I do ride the train, it's not one where I can see more than the back of someone's chair, much to my dismay.

So, I took every opportunity I could to fill the pages of my sketchbook while back in NYC. When I left I had just started a new sketchbook, and filled most of its 192pgs within three weeks. Ah, how I miss being able to sketch everyday on the train...

But I digress...

Here I am, to present you with new sketches from this book and more.

I've been thinking and racking my brain on what to do with this blog since coming back. My first step beyond what I've normally have been doing was to self-publish that book. Now, what's next?

Well, I would like to, and I believe that I should do more with this blog than just post my pictures with a thought or two.

When I first started this blog, I had thought I would be able to get some attention for my work and also connect with other subway sketchers like myself. I made a connection or two...but for the most part my plans fell apart in a big way and now I am here, posting by myself, and pretty distanced from the small group of sketchers that I was in contact with in the beginning. It is what it is, but I can't just let it be like that, can I?

So, here's what I would like to do. Make some promises, if not for anyone by my own self.

1. Update once a week no matter what. At least one sketch.
2. Write in Japanese in addition to English.
3. Respond to what few readers I have through these posts (FAQs, tutorials, etc.) In other words, give back to the community and people that support me more.

So, with that said, let's get started with this new, better direction for the blog.

よろしく！

ごぶさたです。やっと更新しました。

もう日本に帰ってきてからしばらくたっているけど、その間普通に働いたり、たまにスケッチしたりした。
しかしなんとなく日本に帰ってから普段より忙しくなってきた。
まったくスケッチをしなかったというほどではないけど、とにかく忙しい、最近は。

アメリカを旅行したときにスケッチブックでドンドン描くことができてよかった。
たいてい僕のスケッチはほとんど電車の中で描くのだけど九州のよく知られていないところに引っ越してからあまり乗ることがない。乗る機会があっても、座席の配置で席の裏側しか見えないので残念だ。

というか、NYに旅行した時にできる限りスケッチブックを描き終わるように頑張った。
日本を出発する時、新しく買ったスケッチブックを描き始めたばっかりで、帰ってきた時には１９２ページのスケッチブックがあと少しになるくらい頑張りました。ああ、毎日電車で描けるのはいいなぁ。

さて．．．
今回はその本から最新のスケッチと他のお知らせがあります。

最近、そのブログでどうしたらいいかと考えたんだけど、
まず僕のアートの活動を広げるためには、前回に描いた自分で出版した本が第一歩だった。
次はどうしよう〜？

毎回更新の時、スケッチをはって一言書くだけでは足りないと思う。
それ以外もっとやりたいと思う。むしろ、やらなきゃ！

最初，僕の絵に見てほしいと思ったし、他に電車で描くことが好きなアーティストの友達を作りたいと思った。そのためにこのブログを作り始めた。でもなんとなくその目的は大きくずれてきた。その結果，少し連絡を取っていた電車のアーティスト達と疎遠になってきたので、一人でブログを更新している。まあ，それはそれだけどこの調子で続けてはだめだと思います。

これから下記の事を約束します。誰のためでもなく自分のためにやっていきたいと思います。

1. せめて毎週１つのスケッチをはります。
2. 英語と日本語でも書きます。
3. 読者やファンの方に対してもっとこのブログから情報やサポートしていきたい。（よくある質問、チュートリアル）

じゃ、これで、このいい方向に進み始めよう！

今読んでるみんな、よろしくお願いします。

Fukuoka-Kuko-line/福岡地下鉄、空港線

Tosu bound-Kagoshima-line/鳥栖行き、鹿児島線

Taipei Airport/台北空港

Taipei Airport/台北空港　(Up until this point I forgot how fat Americans can be.日本人に慣れてきたので、アメリカ人はそんなに太っているのかとびっくりした。)

NYC- A-train

Left overs from Fukuoka-July '09

2009-08-24T03:29:00.001-07:00

I'm back from the United States, and I'm still recovering from my second dose of jet-lag.
The trip all in all was pretty good, although a bit busy. The best part was that I successfully printed my first book, a collection of my skectches from NYC (mostly from the subway, but a few just from my time in NYC too.)

I've sold and given away, all together, about 50 books, and have 50 more here that I will be selling/trading, mostly in Japan. However, I will sell/trade to anyone outside of Japan if they're willing to pay for shipping.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that all these books that I have on person have been/will be signed so to the lucky few that got one directly from me, if I happen to one day become famous/infamous you have yourself a collector's item.

Otherwise, if you're in the US/Canada it would be cheaper to have it printed and shipped directly from lulu.com

...and here is the link. Just click on the button below and you can get it shipped directly to you.

If you would like to buy directly from me, please contact me at one of the following e-mail addresses:
ajanioloye@gmail.com
samurabi@gmail.com

Anyway, I'm quite content with this book and am glad that I finally got around to doing it. Though, I know it isn't perfect and I've already learned what I could improve on.

I also wish that this could've been the group book that I originally wanted to do, but my plans to keep this blog as a group showcase of sketches fell through a very long time ago (not any one person's fault by the way...).

With that said, the next one will be much better and I'll be studying more about self-publishing to improve on the quality and presentation of it all. So, look forward to the next edition, which I plan to finish towards the beginning of 2010.

Alright, on to the sketches. These are just some leftover sketches that I did before I left Fukuoka for NYC at the end of July. While in NYC I did a TON of sketches (over 100 or so) so I have plenty to post from now on, and I'll continue to draw when I can in Fukuoka.

Oh, and one more thing, I can never say thank you enough to everyone who views this blog and especially those who bought/ will buy book.

THANK YOU!

NYC Subsketch #1

2009-08-12T08:12:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, great news!

I finally self-published a little book of my sketches stretching from 2005-2008.
I really should have done this a long time ago, and I'm not sure while I waited until now, ...but here it is.

I published through lulu.com and have 100 copies that I ordered, here with me in NYC.
So, if you order through me, you will get a signed copy.
However, signed books are limited to the 100 I have here and shipping is only $1.90 until Monday, as I have to go back to Japan on Tuesday, obviously upping the shipping price to the United States.

So, here's the link!

$12+$1.90 S&H

Edit: I removed the link because I've returned to Japan. So, no more signed copies unless you want to pay for shipping from Japan.

Return to city

2009-07-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

These are a few more of the last bit of sketches from the current sketchbook I got May/June. I've started a new one, going back to a variety of the Fabriano Artist's Journals which I love.

Other than that I have two announcements...

* As the title states I will bill returning to New York City. Unfortunately, it will be temporary, as I'm still working in Japan until next year. I will have a decent stay though...about 3 weeks. So, from July 31st-August 18, I expect to get a lot of sketches done.

*A BIG thing (for me, at least) is that I actually got around to making a small collection of my sketches and I'm in the process of publishing it through Lulu. I just ordered the proof and should be receiving it in New York sometime next week. If it looks alright, I'll be selling a 90pg book with a selection of sketches that I drew in New York from 2005-2008. This will be a series that will continue for as long as I'm drawing, and I already have enough for the next volume, which will be all sketches from Japan (all of 2009). So, look out for that soon.

On to the sketches...

Ok, I'll post the last few when I get into the city after my 24hrs (X_X) of jetsetting.

Coming to America

2009-07-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

Been busy finishing up school recently, but now I am free...well sorta.
I'm actually on "standby" until the end of the month, then I'll have three weeks off.
So, at the end of this month I will leaving on a jet to New York City via Taiwan.
It'll be good to get back on the subway and fill my sketchbook with a load of drawings.

Anyway, here are some more sketches that I've done recently. I just about finished one of the new sketchbooks that I got from America a little over a month ago (2pgs left). So, when I'm in America I'll start a new one.

I think there will be one more post with a special announcement before I leave in less than two weeks, stay tuned.

Update 6.14.09

2009-06-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Just some more updates. Now we're finally moving into my newest sketchbook, which I had to order from the US (Thank you Blick Art Supplies). It's surprisingly hard to find nice sketchbooks that don't cost an arm and a leg here. Most sketchbooks in Japan seem to be spiral bound...which I hate.

Update 5.29.09

2009-05-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some sketches from my watercolor moleskine that I never got around to scanning until now. They are also from Osaka, the first two from when I was living there and the last one from when I had to go back to take care of some issues with my previous apartment.

End of Osaka Blackbook

2009-05-05T03:59:00.000-07:00

New updates. This is the end of another sketch book, and is approaching the end of my time in Osaka. Enjoy!

I have some 'splainin to do

2009-04-28T03:46:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted in a while...
Well, what happened was I had to finish up my last job in Osaka, and move to newer digs in Kyushu, Japan.

Needless to say it was very hectic and stressful, and I didn't have much of a chance to scan and post stuff.

But I'm doing it now, so better late than never.

Before I go on to the pictures, I will have to say one thing though.
Although I didn't update as frequently as I would have liked to before, from now on my postings will probably be less so.

The reason is that I've moved to a smaller city in Japan, and there is only one train which I only take to go to the big city every once in a while. In addition to this, even when I do take that train, it's impossible to get drawings done because everything is facing forward...

However, this isn't the end of my subway/train sketching adventures, because whenever I do go into the city, I make sure to take the available subway and get as many drawings in as I can.
So, if I'm lucky, I'll still be able to get one or two drawings a week, but it's a far cry from sketching just about everyday.

It saddens me, but the upside concerning my new surroundings is that I have a lot more time on my hands and a lot less stress. So, hopefully I'll be able to turn that into something creative that I can post on this or one of my other blogs.

Ok, on to the sketches...

These are from some of my last days in Osaka. Osaka subway system, you will be missed...

More to come, I'm posting 4 sketches at a time, and I still have quite a few pics left.

Osokunatte...

2009-03-07T23:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm late again. There's not too much I can say about it.
Being in Japan, it's been made aware to me just how hard life is.
I feel silly thinking about how much time I used to have, because my free time here is so little.

As a clue to just how things are for me in Japan, I went to the hospital the other day and got diagnosed with my first official stress related illness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome...lovely.

Ah, I miss the days in America where I could get 8hrs of sleep, and had vacation days and sick days.

Alright, enough ranting/reminiscing. Time for the sketches.

I have some other plans in store for these sketches that I will *hopefully* present soon. I'll also be getting a little break from my day to day responsibilities soon, so I can draw and post more.

Oops...

2009-02-22T07:19:00.000-08:00

Ahh, I slipped up, at couldn't update, but it was because I got swamped with real world stuff...

Anyway, on to the sketches, first few are from when I went to Tokyo around Christmas.

New Osaka Sketchbook

2009-02-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

I got a new sketchbook, and have been working in this one since the end of December.
It's back to a regular white paged sketchbook. When I get a little more comfortable with y finances I would-make. Someday, someday...

Anyway, a big thanks to those who are still checking out this blog. I do check the comments, and every single one is encouragement to keep e going amidst the often tough times that I have experienced as of late in the land of the rising sun.

Once again...Thank You.

More scans this weekend.

End of 2008 Moleskin

2009-01-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

Just posting the rest of the sketches from my moleskine before I go on to my current sketchbook.
The two at the bottom are from a watercolor moleskine that I rarely work from, but should work in more.

Brain Drain

2009-01-18T02:58:00.000-08:00

My Brain feels like sludge...
I've come into my own financial crisis because of school loan repayments and it's just taken a lot out of me, so right now I'm not feeling too hot.

Anyway, more sketches.

Playing around with my fude pen and a watercolor pen.

Started to write notes about what's happening so I don't forget interesting things that happen.

I saw a fellow foreigner on the train...yes, it's that rare.

They sprinkle fairy dust as you board the train

2009-01-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Having one of the few holidays that I will have this semester (1 of 2 I think). I'm probably the poorest I've been in my entire life, but I'm in the highest paying job that I've had in my life. It's a weird mix... There's no reason to get into it, but I'll just say that school loans are terrible.

Anyway, my financial status has forced me to stay inside for the holiday, and work on things that I should've been working on anyway, so it's not so bad.

So, here's a new update. Nice to have a steady pace of updates for the new year, I must say.

A one stop drawing. Probably about 30 seconds or so while standing.

I had nothing but a felt-tip marker at the time, so this was the result.

Sleep.

Zzz.

I'm a pretty bold guy, because I don't see other people doing this in Japan, and I'm sure everyone is looking at me draw other people. This time I was standing over this sleeping guy and drawing him. ...Luckily I have yet to be yelled at or scolded by the elderly for disturbing the "Wa."

In other news, I finished scanning from the moleskin, and I have about two more updates worth of stuff until I get to my next sketchbook.

Until next time.

Back to work

2009-01-07T01:03:00.000-08:00

Today was my first official day of work for the new year, hence the title.
Also, it signifies my first full post for the new year. As I mentioned before, I would really like to make better efforts with this blog and my art career this year. A post as simple is this is important to me as it represents the first step in a hopefully productive and rewarding year.

elderly lady relaxing/sleeping with her bags

Sleeping guy, and a lady who had probably just come from a temple visit. It seems to be a past time of elderly people to visit/go on pilgrimages to various temples around the area.

More sleepers.

At the moment I'm going through a different sketch book than the moleskine that I've usually been posting from. But I still will be posting from the moleskine for a few more posts, so stay tuned for more.

consolation prize

2009-01-05T07:12:00.000-08:00

Alright, due to a lot of things, including getting about 2hrs of sleep and helping my friends out by staying with them in the hospital most of the day, i couldn't get things done the way that I wanted.

But I'm serious about this, so I will post as I said I would.

I don't have much to say, and I am dead tired, but here are two new sketches.

Enjoy.

Hopefully I will have a normal post tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

So, as the title exclaims, "Happy New Year!"
I have a lot of plans for the blog this year, and I feel bad that I wasn't able to take things where I wanted to go with this blog in 2008.
But, it's a new year, and it's going to be my mission to post more and get more exposure through this blog and other venues, so starting from tomorrow there will be much to look forward too.

I know I'll be busy a lot, especially for the next three months...but I have a lot of things to post so don't despair, it's coming.

Actually, I was going to post tonight, but I'm in a net cafe, and the scans I was going to post didn't copy to my flash drive properly. Which means it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Until then, I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Late Updaters Anonymous

2008-11-25T05:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Ajani...
*Deep breath*

...and I'm a late updater.

I can tell you that I've been really busy, and it's hard to manage things while getting adjusted to a foreign country, along with a million other excuses.
But the fact is that It's been more than a month since I've updated, and I'm behind on so many things.

I hope I can really be on the ball with things from now on, but I can't make that promise really. I am having a lot of issues here, and my environs are not as suited as I would like them to be for updating this blog.

In any case, it's not all for naught, and I do and will continue to update. I just don't want to disappoint people and say that I'll update every week to have some crazy event happen that prevents me from doing so.

The bottom line is, that I am here, I am updating. Don't give up hope, there is a bright future for this blog, I just have to work out a lot of kinks in my own life and get myself back into things the way they were before.

Alright, so enough of that...without further ado, I present the sketches.

If you weren't aware, part of the reason I'm so busy is because I teach middle school English here in Japan. The above picture was a sketch of the "Sports Day" practice session that they had in september.

One of my favorite sketches thus far. Guy is definitely getting his 40 winks.

I briefly (and I stress briefly) was going to a studio here and had an opportunity to make a few dozen prints of one of my sketches. It's not the best in my opinion, but it was a good experience. I like printmaking, but I just don't have time to do anything with it now.

Pittsburgh Bus

2008-11-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

I went back to visit NYC last weekend and was somewhat shocked to realize how truly smooth the subway ride is. Here at home in Pittsburgh, the weather has dropped below freezing and I have begun getting around full time via bus. It is a bumpy, curvy ride not conducive to sketching but I have taken up bus photography so I can sketch people at home while looking at their photos on my computer. Here is the first of these sketches, a self portrait on an empty bus. 10"x12" pencil on cardboard from an ikea curtain.

Worn Out

2008-10-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Some more sketches from the subways of Osaka.

Living in Japan I've seen a whole new side of "tired."
I'm some how able to survive and get things done, but I'm just tired all the time.
Mentally fatigued, muscles worn, eyes droopy, every last inch of me is worn out.

And more than I, the people I see everyday often look exhausted...
All around me I hear words like "Tsukare" and "Shindoi" both words to express "tired," and both often heard and important vocabulary here.

So, witness my tired sketches.

Tough Beginning

2008-10-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

More sketches!
So, in the beginning I had somewhat of a hard time being here in Japan. I guess it's a big jump as far as getting adjusted goes...everything looks like it won't be different, but it only appears that way.

Despite that, I still was able to get my sketches done. So here they are.

People on the train and the rest are scenes from a park in Nishiohashi I was in while waiting to get some business done with my apartment situation. Getting an apartment, by far, was the biggest hassle/hurdle to overcome in Japan. It's just ridiculous...

Old man sleeping. On the way to Morinomiya.

Older lady sleeping and a middle aged (maybe?) lady with her bag. En route to Nara to pick up a futon.

First scans from Osaka

2008-10-07T15:06:00.001-07:00

Finally, the first of many scans from Osaka, Japan. I don't have a lot of time to write today, but please enjoy the pictures.

Comments are appreciated.

A Quick Note

2008-10-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

日本から見ている方、ようこそ！

今はちょっと日本語にできる方にささやかなメッセージを書こうとします。

もし私の日本語が正しくなければ許してください。

とにかく、HPは長い間に更新しませんでしたのでこのブログにリダイレクトされました。
今はHPの再開のためにいろいろ準備をしておきます。

なるべく早い目に再開したいから出来たまでお待ちください。

ついでにこのブログを是非見てください。

このブログのテーマは地下鉄のスケッチ・クロッキなどの絵です。
そのためにNYの色んなアーティストとイラストレータさんが集めて各自の作品を展示できます。

私はもちろん自分のNYと今にいる日本のスケッチを載ってますけどほかNYの特別で変わった味とスタイルを表す人がいますので良ければ楽しんでください。

見ていただいてありがとうございます。

Farewell NYC

2008-09-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Finishing up the sketches from my last sketchbook, before I came to Japan.
So from this point on, all my sketches will be from Osaka, where I currently am living.

Waiting in the the Philly airport for my trip to back to New York. I got to speak to an interesting guy who builds/engineers plane engines and things like that. He was pretty knowledgeable on all things Celtic, and wants to retire in Ireland. I really appreciate conversations like that.

My former roomate on the subway.

Some guys hanging out on the A.

A stocky man sleeping on the A.

Some West African men (I'm assuming that because the shirts they were wearing had West African pattern work on it) heading uptown on the A.

Omatase

2008-09-23T01:53:00.000-07:00

Hello all.

I apologize for being so behind on things.

Here's what happened...I moved to Japan.

Right now, I'm living in Osaka, Japan, and I'm teaching English as a new experience.

I've been here since mid-August, but it wasn't an easy thing to get through, and I kept neglecting to update. On top of that I didn't have internet until about a week ago. That was a nightmare...

So here I am, a little more adjusted to things in Japan, and ready to catchup with all the sketches I've made in the almost 2 months that I haven't been on this site.

But now that I'm in Japan, can this still be nycsubsketch?

Don't fret, because I will still update. Luckily, Japan has a great transportation system and I have to take the subway about everyday to get around.

So, I have a backlog of drawing, maybe 40-50 pages of stuff to post.

So first I'll start out with my drawings from Miami.
Unfortunately, Miami, does not have a very advanced or useful (Unless you live in Downtown Miami) transportation system.

In addition to this, Miami just had a whole different sense, so for the most part my sketches were at my friend's house. It was hard to draw on the train (Metrorail) because of the arrangement of the seats and people took notice to quickly because they probably haven't seen people do what I'm doing much and because people in Miami have a different attitude in relation to this stuff.

The firt two sketches were how I spent most my nights in Miami. I hung out with some of my highschool friends and watched them play videogames. I'm not very skilled at videogames but I still enjoy them, and I got some nice sketches from this.

It was a little hard to get sketches done on the Metrorail, bug I got something done. Besides not really being able to see, or there not being much choice of subjects...people seemed noticeably offended or bothered that I was drawing them.
That older lady in the top right was giving me a face like "what the hell are you staring at?" Maybe she was just in a bad mood.

Three middle aged ladies on their way back home.

A guy and his son who was looking out the window with his sister(I didn't finish the sister).

Also, I want to give a BIG BIG thanks to Cara and Ami for still updating when they can.
I understand that this is an extra thing for them, but this website is an important thing for me and I hope that it can give you guys something in the future.

I had some difficulty getting my self in order in Japan, but I have a lot of things to upload from here. That you guys still updated was a big push for me, and motivated me to get things back in shape as soon as possible.

I will upload more later. So stay tuned.

Pittsburgh Bus #3

2008-09-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

My third bus trip in Pittsburgh. This was on a morning commuter bus that drives on a special road called a busway - a highway that cuts across the city that only buses can drive on. It got me downtown in twenty minutes. Way faster then riding my bike.

Pittsburgh Bus

2008-09-16T02:51:00.000-07:00

Another 5 minute bus sketch.

Pittsburgh

2008-09-13T05:09:00.001-07:00

I've said goodbye (for now) to MTA and have moved to Pittsburgh, PA. I've been here for four weeks and have biked everywhere until yesterday when a serious rain storm hit. This is a 5 minute drawing from the 61C inbound. I was on my way to the Andy Warhol Museum to go see Robert Forester (of the Go-Betweens) play songs of the Velvet Underground. It was a sweet show.

Back in the city

2008-08-02T22:07:00.002-07:00

So I was in Miami for a little while and now I'm back.

Every time I go to Miami, it only takes a few days for me to know that I want to be back in New York City. I could go on about the various reasons why Miami isn't my cup of tea, but I'll let you know that the transportation system is a big reason why...if anyone has ridden the metro rail, or taken buses in Miami, you should know what I mean.

Anyway, enjoy some more sketches. The following are still from the good 'ol subway here in NYC.

2 Ladies and a Picker on the F, Wednesday Evening (7-16-08)

2008-07-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

From West 4th woman on the F...
...and very Auburney woman to her left rocking some serious cleavage.

In fairness i think it was just a scratch.

A little behind

2008-07-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the tardiness...right now I'm in Miami visiting my mom until next week. I was able to find a scanner to get some things scanned, but my setup is a little limited down here.

I have something to announce, and I hope to get that done soon...I just have to run some errands down here first.

Anyway, I'll continue to update with some more scans from previous sketches but I won't have anything "new" until I return to New York on the 29th.

This guy kept moving between two positions so I decided to just draw both while I can.

I actually didn't get as much time on this drawing as I could of because some guy saw me drawing and chatted me up. Anyway, nice guy...sometimes I do mind that people talk to me when I'm drawing, but I think I need to loosen up sometimes. I can always draw, I won't always meet the same people twice.

Small Book

2008-07-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

A page from a tiny one page book I made at the open studio night at Booklyn.

Uptown A Train.....again

2008-07-10T09:54:00.001-07:00

Bookmaking!

2008-07-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

I went to a great open studio night yesterday at Booklyn. We were focusing on hand folded books done without stitching. I met some wonderful artists, made five little books and started sketching in one on the way home. If you're interested in book making I highly recommend a trip here.

Hard Times

2008-07-08T20:56:00.001-07:00

This week has not been a good one for me, a lot of stuff going on...

Some girl in a dotted dress on the L-train, I wanted to draw the big guy next to her but he was big and I was a little afraid that he would rip my book apart...it turns out he knew I was trying to draw him and I guess was looking forward to seeing the drawing. Alas, I didn't have enough time and it never came to be.

A couple on the A-train, I'm certain they knew I was drawing them.

This isn't a particularly great page but if I really like the drawing of the boy laying his head in his sister who was wrapped in the towel. It was suck a cool image that I just went straight ahead in drew him even though he was staring directly at me. He got off one or two stops after i started though, but ran to the window behind me as he got off to scope my drawing of him.

This guy towards the bottom was looking pretty stoic and awesome, but it was kinda hard to draw him so I didn't complete his drawing. Oh well.

After the fireworks

2008-07-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

A sleepy ride home on the A train on the fourth of July. I couldn't tell if she knew I was drawing her. She would wake up for a few seconds and I would keep my eyes on my paper until she dozed off again. I'm endlessly thankful the A train is running this weekend.

Independance Rain

2008-07-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

It rained all day in New York...what a holiday.

Anyway, more sketches to enjoy. Just to let you know from now on I'll be backlogging sketches and posting only a limited amount so I can update more often.

So, I'll be posting more frequently from now on...though there may be a little break sometime next month, but I'll explain about that as I get more details.

This guy was awesome. New York has a lot of interesting people to draw, but I often see the same type of people. Rarely am I blessed by such a visage of awesome.

...Most read book of all time on the subway, The Bible.

Summer Time and the Living is Easy

2008-07-01T21:26:00.000-07:00

Alright, so I started a new sketchbook. I'm already about a quarter way into it, but I haven't been posting as much, because I have a few things going on that have been keeping me busy.

This time I'm back to plain white pages...the paper is a little thin for my tastes but it's about double the size of the previous one so I get to move my arm a little when I'm sketching.

More to come, with more regular updates soon...

A Formal Introduction

2008-06-25T07:40:00.001-07:00

It's been a little while since I've posted, and I apologize for that. Things have been a little hectic for me as of late. Anyway, I haven't stopped sketching, so I'll be updating with some stuff soon.

But I would like to take this occaision to introduce this blog and the people that are a part of it.

Being in New York City...and not being a rich, since day one the subway has been an integral part of my lifestyle. I, myself, really have a love/hate realtionship with it as I'm sure many others do. But there's something special about it that, despite it's MANY MANY misgivings, separates it from every other subway/transportation system that I've been on.

I think that the nyc subway system is alive; a living breathing thing. Actually, not even that, more than other cities New York itself is a living being and the subway are it's veins transporting the people, its lifeblood throughout its body to keep things running the way they are.

Anyway, I'm fascinated with this specimin and it's inhabitants. There's always something interesting happening on the train, always a story to be told.

And as artists we have the ability to capture the moments, the stories, the personalities that we witness everyday. We, can capture the gritty beauty that is the nyc subway.

So, with this thought I made this blog and wanted to share this sentiment with others.

On this blog, we have other artists who are equally taken by the subway and use it for inspiration/practice/artistic material.

One of the first people I asked to contribute was Ami Plasse. He's an Illustrator/Artist who resides in Brooklyn. He draws in many a moleskin with a loose cartoon/graffiti style in what I can assume is mostly marker.

He has a real gift for capturing personality, and the man is a drawing machine. He seems to never miss a day of sketching. I'm in awe of his prowess.

He provides us with a sample of his work every now and then, but mostly posts to his main subway sketching blog located here.

Next, we have Cully Long. A graduate of SVA in New York City, he has a more realistic style in the vein of american style comic books, but it appears that he also dabbles in a manga style at times.

He actually has yet to contribute anything, but you can take a look at some of his sketches on his blog, located here.

Also, we have Cara Lynn Kleid a fine artist in New York who I met on the subway sketching. Her artwork is teaming with personality, and she really knows how to work a line. I really admire her work and I hope you do too. Her blog can be seen here.

Finally, we have Gerri Davis, I saw some of her work on her Flickr account and was quite impressed. I actually don't know too much about her, but I'm glad to have her aboard and hope that she'll be posting more work soon.

So, this is what this blog is about. I hope that in time we may be able to collect and publish something but that may take a little time...

Anyway, hope this blog has been enjoyable for those who have given us a look. Comments, suggestions or even a quick "hey" are always appreciated.

Also, I'm always looking for more people to contribute, your sketches/art don't have to be limited to the new york, but it is preffered. Please contact me through ajanioloye at gmail.com if you would like to join.

The End Draws Near

2008-06-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

Almost finished with my current sketchbook...which is probably the slowest one yet. During my beak I was going through sketchbooks at an average of 1 per month, but I've had this one for about 8 months...not good.

Anyway, more sketches...

This guy was checking out a gaggle of teens towards the right of me who were being very loud and annoying...I hate riding the train when school gets out.

Back in Action

2008-06-02T20:54:00.001-07:00

So, I was away for a while...a lot of things going on.
Interviews, birthday, freelance work, etc. I was stressed to hell so although I kept up with my sketching I didn't get around to scanning much.

Anyway, what matters is I'm back with sketches to show.

I forgot my brush pen a few times all except one were done with a ballpoint/gelpen.

A very nice pair, lately I've been a little more braver and just kept drawing even though they spotted me. I'm sure at this point I'm well known on the A-train and people just let me draw them without getting weirded out.

She was fidgeting with her phone...I'm not big on these super functional cell phones, but I'll probably be singing a different tune in a year or two.

From the 2 train. I went to the Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum last weekend and this was on the way back.

Also from the 2 train. That guy near the top had such a great face, he probably would've been pissed if he caught me drawing him, but I'm so glad I had a decent view of him.

This was yesterday on the way home on the A-train.

Berlin Subway

2008-05-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

A quick sketch of a sleeping man on the U2 train in Berlin. Ink on paint chip. The subways were much cleaner and quieter in Berlin. They were a pleasure to ride.

Slender Woman and Red Faced Man on the 6 (5-14-08)

2008-05-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Not really an exaggeration, he must have been having a good morning.

Rough Strokes

2008-05-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been trying to be a little quicker, and consciously rougher with my strokes just to add a little more personality.

Personally, I'm very happy with my sketches (especially compared to my Illustration portfolio) but I'm still aware that it could be better...it's still not perfect. Sometimes when I'm sketching on the train I get glimpses...the potential for perfection kind of glimmers like a piece of metal off in the distance. The sun catches it and all though it's pretty far away, that reflection grabs your attention, but as soon as you notice it, it's gone.

But still you are aware of it's existence...so it's not a total loss, I guess.

Anyway, I'll get on with the posting.

Last Page of Book, First Day of May (Thursday, 5-1-08)

2008-05-02T03:58:00.000-07:00

So had all the numbers and notes from the week to add a nice texture....

The colors, the colors, Duke!

2008-04-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

I should be more regular with these posts, but to tell you the truth my scanner is a bit clumsy and I've been busy with a lot of random things lately.

Anyway, more sketches for all to enjoy. You've probably noticed the changes in color throughout my posts. Well, I've been working with a Fabriano Artist's Journal, which goes through about 12 color changes within its span. It's a very nice sketchbook and I highly recommend it, but I think I'm about ready to go back to a moleskine or plain bound sketchbook with the run of the mill white pages.

Anyway, just letting you know, in case you were wondering. Enjoy.

As a newbie here I'm dropping in some sketches from my archive

2008-04-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

(from the Q train)

Low Ink

2008-04-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Some more sketches... if you don't know already, most if not all my sketches are on the A train. To me it's one of the most convenient trains to draw on in Manhattan, especially with the arrangement of the chairs (F,V, and D are similar). It allows me to draw with the least amount of interruption/attention, and I don't have to move too much if I want to get an interesting angle.

I actually would like to travel on some of the other trains more often, but it's usually out my way, and I don't have a lot of free time these days to do so. At least it would be nice for me, because I would get a new variety of people, shapes, etc.

Anyway, I'm good for now.

That said, I present more A-train drawings.

My ink started to run, out so things got a little rough, from this point on

2008-04-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

I was sick on Friday due to food poisoning...luckily it lasted for about half the day.
Anyway, I didn't get as many sketches as I would like to lately, but it's something.

From the A Train and the 1 Train

2008-04-08T11:52:00.001-07:00

She was sleeping this morning on the way to school. Her head resting on her mom's shoulder.

This fellow was really scary looking. He was HUGE. White track suit, military buzz cut and a strange and quiet demeanor. Drawing him was a little thrilling as I was concerned if he would get mad if he woke up and noticed.

Women on the Train (4-1-08)

2008-04-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

An interesting juxtaposition - 2 sequential sketches of pairs of women from diverse backgrounds riding the train. Wasn't a concious theme, just noticed it when I was posting...
Orthodox women on south bound M train from Court to Union Streets

African American women with lots of braids from Atlantic Ave to GC40Deuce on the 4 train.

Ride the Wave

2008-04-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting much. I was actually kinda bummed out that I was rejected from SVA for the grad program. (Still kinda hurts to type that out)
Anyway, I'm back in action (wounded but mobile) and posting some sketches from the subway and bus since my last post.

Some Selects from the Last Few Weeks

2008-03-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

Haven't contributed as I would have like lately as I've been crazy, so here's some highlights from recent rides....

Last Tuesday at Grand Central.
This past Saturday night on the 4 train.
On the V, 3/12/08
4 train 3/12/08
5 train 3/6/08

Reading is Fundamental

2008-03-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

My life is easier when people are taken by a good book/interesting article.

Reading on the Uptown A Train

2008-03-11T10:20:00.001-07:00

Pencil on water color paper, 5" x 8" by Cara Lynn Kleid. This is the drawing I was working on when I met Ajani.

Subway Artists Unite!

2008-03-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

So on the way home yesterday, I sat next to a fellow subway sketcher.

Actually, I wasn't sure what the protocol was in that situation, I didn't want to draw attention and mess up her drawing, but I did want to draw. Anyway, I ended up drawing too and we exchanged website info.

Her art is pretty cool. Very expressive and raw, I really like her portraits.
So check out her website...be sure to check out her blog too.

Cara Lynn Kleid

Also, I have links to two other subway sketchers Ami, who contributed a drawing to this website and Cully.

Ami Plasse
Cully Long

I have and will put up more links to subway sketchers as I come across them.

Enjoy!

Orange

2008-03-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Three more subway drawing from the past day or two. I should probably get back to using my brush pen, but I've been in a lot of uncofortable positions on the train lately, and things get messy...

Sugarplum Fairies

2008-02-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay, had to do some catching up with life so I didn't have many opportunities to scan or get much done in the last week. But here are two of the better sketches that I've done in the last week.

The Living Sea

2008-02-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

A young Jacques Cousteau was on my train last night

2008-02-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

A little later than I expected, but I was tuckered out yesterday.
Now I'm caught up to my newest sketches...sorry for the red pages, they don't work as well as I thought. I probably should try white on top of it.

The last one I think is appropriate for valentine's day, I did it yesterday...but better late than never...those two were all over each other.

Thursday Afternoon, Woman on the 6 Train (2-14-08)

2008-02-14T19:41:00.000-08:00

Ran out to doc this afternoon down on Spring. Shared relative mellow ride with this lady who was good enough to be engrossed in her magazine from 28th Street to Bleecker.

A few backed up sketches

2008-02-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

A few sketches that I haven't posted on my other blogs/websites...

Numero Uno

2008-02-14T09:07:00.001-08:00

Well, this is the first post of something that I've been wanting to do for a little while.

Since coming to New York about 2.5 years ago one of my favorite past times has been sketching the various characters that make up the New York city subway lines. I have over 10 sketchbooks filled with drawings, mostly made up of train sketches.

Recently I had come upon articles and blurbs in a few of the blogs that I reguarly read about other people who do the same thing as me. I was surprised, because although it seems like there were other people doing this I've only seen someone do this kind of thing once in a blue moon.

So, I set this collabrative blog up for people like me, who draw on NYC's subway. So far it's just me and Ami Plasse, but if you've come across this blog somehow and do this too, then by all means contact me through this blog or my portfolio website. I would really like to see as many people as possible contributing to this blog.

Well, with that said, on with the posting...