Did any of you watch the Oscars this year? I very much enjoyed them, from my persepctive, on-site and constantly drawing. As I draw, I listen, and my senses can pick up on mood. I felt a joy in the air-pehaps the joy of celebrating movies, yes, but also a joy of being back together.
What brings everyone together, of course, is a love of visual storytelling. The energy is really electric, and, over the course of the week one can feel it building. The Academy has a new CEO, Bill Kramer, and I can sense a subtle shift in tone. Personally, this year was a little different for me because I know two people who were nominated! It was a thrill to see them both on the red carpet (one won, another lost, sadly).
I am glad to be back after two years away during the pandemic! Returning for my sixth on-site drawing week, I’m grateful to be given access to behind the scenes and on the carpet. Some of my work was shared on The New Yorker’s social media, and some on Vanity Fair’s Oscar Blog, as well as my own outlets.
Oh, and prints of my drawings will soon be sold in the Academy store!
Enjoy!
Director of Navalny is a constant drawer like me. We had become friends online and planned to meet on the Red Carpet!
When I got on the subway today, I saw a woman I wanted to draw. I studied her quickly because something about her countenance made me think she would get off soon. I started to draw her, and sure enough, she got off at the next stop. But I had retained enough in my head to finish the drawing.
Here is the finished sketch.
And here is a video grab of the drawing as it happened.
Last night we witnessed a fairly civilized debate between the two remaining viable Democratic candidates in the race for president (Rep Tulsi Gabbard has not ended her candidacy, but only has two delegates and was not on the stage). Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are seasoned politicians , and so the debate was heavy on policy, although it did get heated several times. Because of the corona virus pandemic currently sweeping the globe, the organizers decided that there would be no audience. No applause, and no one to pander to. There were few soundbites and the conversation at times seemed substantive — but mostly it was attack and defend.
I drew some highlights and picked up on comments that to me seemed to be indicative of the debate. Visually, it was rather boring and static. The two men were further apart from each other than usual — again, because of the corona virus — but that didn’t stop Bernie from grandly gesticulating as he is want to. Biden, a man who stands fairly still during debates (I’ve been watching him through every single debate), quietly used his body in expressing himself this time. While Bernie often took up space using both arms, Joe shifted back and forth, bending his elbows and sometimes demonstrably leaning back as he listened to and looked at Bernie’s statements. Cameras were held on both men most of the time, so when one was talking, I could watch the other’s facial expressions. Both men would smile (or grimace) from time to time at the (to them) outrageous statments coming from the other man. Bernie’s face betrayed more responsive reaction than Joe’s, in the end.
Bernie is down in the delegate count, so he entered this debate the underdog. Joe offered a few olive branches that Bernie really did not accept. Perhaps because he is the underdog, I heard attacks from Sanders, and very few from Biden who attacked mostly when on the defensive. In essence, they both want the same things: health care for all, equality for Americans, help for the poor, accountability for the rich. Biden showed that he knows how to work with others — and has done so for his entire career — to make it happen. Bernie is known as someone who does not work particularly well with others, and his “revolutionary” ideas are just that, ideas. They sound great, but they cannot be accomplished on his scale in our democracy.
In my twenties, although I did not actually call myself one (no one asked ), I was a socialist democrat. When I was in college, I traveled with other classmates and professors to the Soviet Union (and of course drew my trip). I was curious. I had read Marx and wondered about how his ideals did or did not work. During my travels to the USSR and Eastern Europe, my eyes were opened bigtime, as I saw how ideals had been perverted by the dictatorship of the Soviet regime. Even after college, although I was not a fan of the USSR, I drew cartoons for the Guardian and The Nation, left wing newspapers in the US. I knew a few lefties, but generally did not like to hang out with them because of the dogma and self righteousness I would sometimes encounter. It felt too much like a religion, and I was not a joiner.
The first time I voted was for President, I registered as an Independent because I did not want to be a part of any party. Ever since then, I have voted Democratically in every election, but never joined the Democratic Party…until 2016 because I wanted to vote in the NY Primary vote for Hillary Clinton.
In 2017, I was invited to travel to Cuba as a member of a jury for a cartoon competition (and of course, drew it). It was fascinating, and the Cubans are incredibly welcoming people. But I saw for myself the decay and poverty that Castro’s failed “socialist” system had caused.
I understand Bernie’s ideas, and if I were twenty again, I would probably have been his supporter. But his ideas — on his scale — are not viable; after having watched politics for over 40 years, I know that now. What I saw on stage last night was a clear representation of that. We need a leader right now who will help us right now to defeat Donald Trump and set the country right again. Sanders is not that man, Biden is. Sanders has shown himself to be a devisive figure and does not work well with others; Biden is calm and collected, has been on the world stage, and he is a collaborator.
This difference was most clear to me when Sanders spoke in response to Biden’s claim that he would rejoin the US in the Paris Climate Accord on day one. Sanders replied, , “ Okay, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. Fine. Who cares?” He went on to explain the gravity of climate change, all of which is true. It is beyond serious. But by dismissing the PCA in such a flippant way, I believe Sanders showed his true colors: don’t need to collaborate, I know what’s best, and no one else does. I believe this attitude does not get anything done.
Biden made news by promising to have a woman on his ticket as Vice President and to nominate the first black woman to the Supreme Court. Sanders appeared to be taken off guard and said he would “most likely” have a woman Vice President on his ticket, and then said there are some progressive women out there (paraphrased).
Both men tried to play gotcha on past voting records, and we know they both made unpopular decisions in the past due to either their constituents or their religious upbringing. But because of the current crisis around a pandemic, this debate in the end was about the NOW.
The last two drawings below to me show the essence of the debate. The first one shows a snippet from each man’s long answer to the last question of the night about the corona virus.
What I heard from each final speech sums it up: The pragmatist vs. the dreamer. Two men who seek to help, have the same beliefs, but who see the methodology differently.
This drawing below is my own interpretation of the entire debate. That’s not to say that Biden doesn’t have dreams for America, I know he does. And that’s not to say Sanders doesn’t seek to work on the now, I am sure he does.
But for me, what we need is help: leadership, collaboration, hope. Right now.
News is being tossed at us every second, on every phone, tablet, monitor and paper.
What is news?
It’s weather, traffic, politics, culture, accidents, murders, tragedies, new things, old things that have gone away, celebrities, movie news, technology, things to worry about. News outlets try to get at what they think you need, what they think is the most important, that is useful… what their advertisers will like. They try to think what you will want.
News is a scramble for your attention.
I love the news. I love politics. I love knowing what people are doing, what new things are being discovered, what our politicians are trying to do, or what they are not doing. I love hearing about people who inspire. I want to hear about people in trouble across the globe.
I love to draw the news.
I draw not only the obvious, I draw what isn’t seen. What’s on the side, what’s behind the scene, to the left of center, or right of center.
Who is setting up the coffee, who is operating the cameras, what does the bank of tech experts look like, who is taking out the trash? People on the subway, in a store.
These things are news, but they are also not news in the sense we have come to think. Seeing on the edges of things rounds out an understanding of what is going on. It tells us a story that is deeper than just the main event, a narrative that enriches the loudness of what we are being told to focus on.
Pretend that you’re watching the Impeachment hearings and wonder: who brings the speakers their water? Was there a line to get in to the room? Were there pastries? Those are the things I draw, along with Senators, Congressmen and experts.
What I am doing is like a moment of silence. It gives the viewer/reader a moment to pause. Reflect if they like. Think a little bit more about something – perhaps something not related to what I drew and what they saw.
My digital drawings of my observations of the world are like a breath. Stop and look. Take it in. Take a moment and reflect. Pause. No yoga involved, no meditation, no higher power, no machine to help with endorphins. Just a moment, sparked by a visual. Our eyes tell us so much, but we often only listen to a small bit of what they are saying. We don’t take to time to see, really see.
My lens is that of a silent observer, walking quietly around with my tablet, going unnoticed as I draw what I see. It is the eyes of someone with 40 plus years as a professional observer – i.e. cartoonist – of people, culture and news.
News is what is around us. All of it.
Samples of my visual journalism in drawing and videos:
It’s always an enormous treat to go to Los Angeles and draw the Academy Awards red carpet and show. This year was no different; my fifth time in attendance drawing. I never take my luck for granted.
I arrived two days in advance of the Sunday broadcast so that I could draw behind the scenes and walk around the neighborhood.
After arriving on site, I get my credentials and head down to the red carpet area to see what’s going on. There were the usual suspects: journalists dressed up and practicing on camera, and men in dark suits seeming to be guarding things. The carpet was still covered in plastic.
These two men were rocking their mustaches.
This woman is one of the many wonderful Press Guides who are assigned areas, to help, and to correct behavior. These Oscar letters and little statue were a favorite for selfies and photos, but it was forbdded from sitting on the red riser.
The next day, I went directly to where all the action usualy is, and the carpet was red in all it’s glory, sans plastic covering. I tried to capture the red that they chose for the carpet (its the same every year), but I never sure I get it right. It’s a bit more crimson than what I could create. But you get the idea.
Saturday you can really feel the buzz. People are arriving and artistis are touching up things and fixing lights. Jourrnalists are sharing what they see with their audiences; I heard many foreign languages.
I loved watching these two set designers below work on different spots of the red carpet over the course of the days leading up to the event day.
Again this year, I was given access to the theater during dress rehearsal, something I love to draw since I am not allowed in the theater during the broadcast on Sunday.
I am escorted to these behind-the-scenes places by a trusty “Press Guide.” The Academy has many wonderful, helpful people working as Press Guides each year, and I have gotten to know many of them. They are great.
Some celebrities showed up to deliver their presenter lines. I was fortunate to see Tom Hanks, Signorney Weaver, Gal Gado, Bri Larson, Mindy Kaling and Spike Lee!
In the balcony, I get full view of the beautiful set.
Also a really fun tradition for me is to visit the kitchen and draw the chefs and cooks, prepping for the weekend’s parties.
Wolfgang Puck
So many chefs, so much detail for a dinner for 600 on Saturday night. Below right is the scene I saw of waiters , dressed in black, waiting to pick up food from the chefs, in white, to take out for the cocktail party. They are reading the menus.
This guy had yet to be uncovered.
On Sunday at noon, with my black dress and red shoes on, I grabbed a tripple shot coffee and went to the carpet for the big day. Media were instructed to be on the carpet, “locked in,” by 1:00pm. Otherwise we would not be allowed in.
Academy Awards Show production directors Matt Spill and Lauren Selman
The expandable cart was brought in!
About an hour into the red carpet — while it was still relatively quiet and no nominees had shown up yet— it started to pour. The area is covered by a plastic roof , and pockets of rain began to gather in spots near where I was standing. Getting heavier and fuller by the minute, the Oscar red carpet team quickly began to push up the plastic and allow the water to find its exit off the plastic. It was kind of exciting!
I saw dresses galore. This year, they seemed big and bold and very often red.
And then nominees and stars began to slowly show up.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were among the last minute arrivals.
Then just before the show was to begin, we quickly walked up to the Media Interview room, where all the international media had designated spots to watch the show on monitors. And then when the winners were announced, the came into the room to be asked questions.
No photos are allowed, but I grabbed imagery — drawings — of some of the winners.
Creators of Hair Love, winner of best animated short
Best actor, Joaquin Phoenix, best supporting actor, Brad Pitt, best supporting actess Laura Dern and best actress Renee Zellweger.
The show’s script and choice of presenters was clearly an effort to be open, and acknowlege the gender and diversity issues that have plagued the Academy Awards nominations. What I witnessed was a more diverse and cohesive day. And an historic one at that, with Parasite winning Best Picture, the first non-American film to do so.
I love visually chronicalling the Oscars, and sharing what I see in real time on social media. Through my drawings, I hope to express our shared joy of film. I hope to convey what I believe it’s about: telling others’ stories — which so often are also our own — and realizing our common humanity.
I never expected to run a marathon, but I did, and in my favorite city in the world, New York City. It was not a decision that came easily; I have been a runner on and off for years, and it was only this year that I began to increase my distance. What motivated me was that I wanted to raise money for cancer research; our daughter just recently successfully battled thyroid cancer and I wanted to help. I discovered a group that assists athletes in both fundraising and training. The coach at Team in Training, a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, convinced me that I could do it. I signed on
Soon, I decided that I would draw the marathon as I ran it. In one of my half marathons earlier in the year, I had drawn a few images of runners and scenes on my iPhone with my finger. I thought this would be great to do during the marathon as well. For this, however, I chose to use a mini iPad so that I could draw more complete images?—?the size of my iPhone was limiting and was the use of my finger instead of a stylus. For the run, I bought a protective case and strap, and it ended up being perfect.
Training was tough, but I enjoyed the challenge, and I am grateful to my body for cooperating. Even still, I knew the marathon would be really hard and a big stress on my system. I went into this with eyes wide open: I might not complete it, but that’s okay.
November 3, 2019, my day began at 4:15 am, rising for coffee and a bagel?—?and a bit of terror that I managed to quiet?—?before heading out to meet the bus to Staten Island where the New York City Marathon begins.
All of us on the bus were aware that even though the ride was long, it was better to be on the warm bus than in the cold air outside.
The scene at the starting point when we arrived was quite an odd mixture of people – all ages, races, sizes – full of energy and anticipation. I grabbed some free coffee and found a place to sit on the ground – -which was not easy, there were tons of people milling about, many wearing an bizarre assortment of running clothes and used clothing to keep warm. Around 8:30, there was a very shocking booming sound of the canon going off, and many of us jumped. It was the sound that the first wave of runners had taken off. We saw them happily jogging en masse upwards on the Verrazano Bridge.
My wave wasn’t set to depart until 11:00 am, so I had a good bit of people watching to do. I sat next to this woman who had an hysterical laugh; she was clearly having a good time. I thanked her for her upbeat attitude, it kept my nerves down.
All announcements were made in several languages?— French, Italian and German I think I heard. At one point, I was surrounded by Italian runners. As I waited 25 minutes for my turn at the Porta-Potty, I passed the time chatting with two women from Holland. At the start of the race, I was happily surrounded by very spunky Italians, and I heard French nearby.
Before my wave took off, we were all should-to-shoulder waiting with nervous energy?— it was an amazing feeling. Suddenly, the canned music stopped, and we (most of us) stood at attention for the national anthem; THEN they blasted Frank Sinatra singing “New York, New York,” and I got chills. Chills from pride towards my city and that I was actually doing this.
The first view you are treated to is of Manhattan from the Verrazano Bridge?—?it was stunning and many were pausing to take selfies with the Big Apple. Who cares if it increases your finish time!
After Staten Island, the first borough we ran in was Brooklyn, and we stayed in Brooklyn for a very long time, around 11 miles! But it was absolutely wonderful, with so many characters and people holding “welcome to Brooklyn” signs. Within that one borough, we ran through many different neighborhoods, and the diverse crowds cheered us on. People seemed to be having parties in our honor, and stood by the street to cheer us on. Strangers shouting encouragement and telling us how great we are. I was advised before the race to put my name on my shirt so that observers could shout out my name, and they did! One of my favorite parts was slapping the outstretched hands of onlookers, cheering me on. Young people, old people, of every color and ethnicity: These people did not know me, but they were telling me they were proud of me, that I was the best, that I was inspiring, that I looked great. Their hands were outstretched for mine. I must have slapped a thousand hands that day.
We then went through Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and back to Manhattan. Each borough had its own feel, its own music. DJ’s chanted to us as they played songs, bands serenaded us. After mile 15, when your brain starts to malfunction, I danced to some of the songs as I ran, which only increased the delight of onlookers.
My plan for drawing was that I would draw during my walk breaks. Sometimes I drew what I saw if it was right in front of me for a while?— one of my fellow runners, or a view. Or, I would see something that I wanted to capture, I committed it to memory and drew it soon thereafter because it passed me by fairly quickly. There was so much to draw?—?mostly it was the onlookers I wanted to sketch. They touched my heart.
New Yorkers are a tough bunch, to put it mildly, but they are not afraid to show how they feel. The day of the marathon felt like one big huge block party, a day where New Yorkers show how proud they are of their city and of each other. For that one day, marathoners and street-side supporters together joined to celebrate life.
I crossed the finish line with more faith in people than ever before.
Below and above are my drawings done during the day.
To donate to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and learn more about why I did this, you can visit my fundraising page here. With a donation of $50 or more, you will be entered into a lottery to win a signed print(s) of my drawings.
It’s always an enormous treat to go to Los Angeles and draw the Academy Awards red carpet and show. This year was no different; my fifth time in attendance drawing. I never take my luck for granted.
