Monday, March 1, 2010


like riding a bike...

drawering class

oh pen and pencil, how i have missed and neglected you! i am taking a fashion illustration class with the mind-boggling-ly talented neil gilks. it is too much fun! he plays ridiculously good music while we drink beer and slap paint on cheap newsprint. half-hearted, playful insults are hurled across the room in his thick, charming british accent. he is both cheeky and naughty and i love him so. every line he draws tells a story. with one stroke on the page he has all the girls swooning over their easels. for realz.

tonight a few of us drew a half-naked, zeffirelli-esque man wearing a red loincloth in the dark basement of a restaurant. sheets of newsprint flying, smudged sharpies, thick slabs of oil crayon, and powdery, crumbly chalk. various partygoers stopping to ask why we were there, drawing in the middle of the club floor. it felt both awkward and thrilling. which is kind of what drawing feels like in general to me. i don't typically erase once i've committed a line to paper. if it is awful or horrible, which it generally is, i try and make a joke of it.


it feels real good to draw. and it feels real good to be in a class with neil. he taught for a hot minute at savannah college of art and design. i've been a fan of his since 2007. so all you new yorkers who like to draw, i highly recommend taking a class with him. but i warn you, his classes are extremely addictive... be prepared to fall in love and never look back. for this interested, inquire within...

****p.s my husband had an idea. he suggested i ask you lovely ladies(and boys, if you're there) in blogland to email me a photo of yourself in a cute outfit and i can draw you a picture of yourself and mail it to you. it would be excellent practice for me, and then you could get a present in the mail! and who doesn't like receiving treats in the mail? if this sounds like something you would like, leave a comment/ email me at ginnybranch(at)gmail(dot)com.

6 comments:

*L said...

ohh that sounds awesome. i would love to do this! i adore your drawing...

Erin said...

I've been stalking your blog for some time now, just waiting for you to start selling those sketches. Etsy shop anyone? I'd be the first in line.

Faux Naif said...

oh this is beautiful! you're so lucky to be able to take an illustration class - i've been looking for one desperately, but all i ever seem to be able to find is 'drawing,' not 'illustration.' there is a subtle but significant difference between the two, don't you think?

and i think that your idea to draw pictures of people is just too lovely for words. i'd love to get involved, but it feels so vain to ask you to draw me! i think i might just be too shy for that. oh but it's such a wonderful idea.

Laura said...

i love your illustrations, and have been looking forward to seeing more for a while..these lovely ladies didnt disappoint <3
is ireland too far for you to post..?

Kash said...

oh I'd love to be part of your drawing practice!!

Clare said...

I love post and I love your drawings... Is your offer still on?

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