Michael Jackson vocal warmup

Okay folks, I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW this is not what I normally do on this blog, but singing is one of my passions as well as art and dance, and this evening while doing a search for vocal exercises I came across this very rare vocal footage of the Late Michael Jackson doing a vocal warmup over the phone with his vocal coach. Since I'm seriously developing my voice now ( I'm a tenor, by the way) I'm doing a LOT of vocal warm ups and seeing great results. Being the obsessive person I am once I get into something I like I ALWAYS do EXTRA CREDIT WORK.... anyways, I found MJ and it blew my mind. When we look at ... or used to ... Look at an artist of his talent and stature, it's hard for us to remember that he had to WORK on his craft to perfect it, and to KEEP IT. Like so many of us in the visual arts, we may be "BORN" with "natural talent" or an aptititude to draw, but unless we work to develope it , and stretch it, the "gift" stagnates and dies.. or at least, only reaches a certain level.
The same with singing.
Hearing Michael go through the same vocal exercises that any singer goes through made him seem more human. It's a shame he never got opportunity to show more of that human side of himself.

Again. I know this deviates from what I do here on the Subwaysurfer bloggg but I thought it was worth sharing.

Michael even "cracks" on some notes!

Al Sharpton on Lyrics in music

Im currently drawing an assignment where I have to draw Al Sharpton and was on Youtube looking for video references in order to get those subtle facial expressions, mannerisms and nuances that you just cant get with a photograph that is posed. I came across this film clip where Sharpton is contrasting musical lyrics used today by some of or leading black entertainers compared to the past and even going back to slavery. Sharpton makes some very good points worth considering.

Think what you want about the man but when he speaks truth, and he often does, he should be commended.

"Theres never been a generation that didnt use our music, and our culture to lift us up." Great quote that. And theres a lot more.

Subway HERO

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.




In a town where everyone is looking out for himself, where there is strife and racial predjudce and polarization, it's inspiring, heartwarming and humbling to find a story like THIS.

THIS IS WHAT SUPERMAN LOOKS LIKE

welcome to my studio... The Subway of NYC

I thought it was about time that I shared with you viewers where I get the majority of my work done... ON THE SUBWAYS OF NYC! Welcome to my studio Where all the magic happens! On the NYC Subway The world LITERALLY COMES TO ME! LOL! and sometimes I get entertained! Those breakdancers are doing handstands, and all manner of physical derringdo on a MOVING TRAIN!!! And the odd thing is that incidents like this is so common place in NYC as to be "boring" to us natives here! I swear why isnt ANYONE making breakdancing an Olympic sport? These urban acrobats are able to do the most complex physical manuvers with no "professional training" whatsoever. I hope Im alive to see the day when they get their "due". We've seen it with Snowboarding, Extreme Bire riding and skateboarding, why NOT breakdancing?

Leroy Neiman the DEFINITIVE MUHAMMAD ALI ARTIST

Neiman's bold color style captured all the emotion, vitality, and excitement of boxing, and he was the only artist I felt whose style truly captured the essence of Ali. If I was a painter I'd want to paint like Neiman.

See more of Neimans work here
http://www.alicenter.org/visit/ExhibitsGalleries/Pages/LeRoyNeimanGallery.aspx

http://www.alicenter.org/visit/ExhibitsGalleries/Pages/LeRoyNeimanGallery.aspx


http://www.leroyneiman.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=143&lastcatid=14&step=4

Ali Vs Frazier MARCH 8th 1971... looking back

For those of us who lucky enough to be alive back then to see this we got an opportunity to see something you dont see too much of today.CHAMPIONS who fought with heart, who fought with dignity, and who inspired us to be better than we were. Joe handed Ali his first lost in this closely fought fight, hitting him with a crushing left hook in the 15th round, that Ali claims in his autobiography, "The Greatest" was "timed to perfection". That punch dropped Ali to the canvis and swelled his jaw/cheek area to the size of a grapefruit.

This fight was about styles, and on THIS night, Joes unrelentingly , aggressive forward pressure cooker style caught up with Ali in that historic 15th round.

I recall seeing a sports commentary show where the video editor cleverly synched Elton John's song, "DONT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME" with film footage of Ali being struck by Joes Left Hook. Whenever I hear that particular Elton John Song I always think of this fight.

The "REAL" SUBWAYSURFER!!! Caution DO NOT DO THIS!!!

Im always up for some subwaysurfin' but THIS is extreme! I think I'll just stick to drawing on the INSIDE of the trains! LOL!! Fascinating story behind this guy, Alexander here. I DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS!!! Truth be told, this guy has his "ART" down to just as much as a science as I do!! Pretty ingenious device he created that enabled him to subwaysurf without injury..... so far.

A lot can be said about this on the side of safety and kids trying to imitate him, but instead of focusing on that, I want to applaud him for taking precausions before doing this. In the interview video he explains how he built up to surfing on the faster trains by starting out on slower ones first, this building experience and courage. He also commented on how he wwould research his route before attempting his surf so that he wouldnt encounter any unexpected obstacles. That's a very intelligent way of going about attempting a stupid thing! LOL!! Finally, as said earlier, he developed a device that would enable him to hang onto the train, which is remarkable considering that this device can support his weight while the train is in motion. Im sure that somewhere down the line I'd be curious to know how he came up with THIS idea , and can bet that he'd make a bundle if he sold it(maybe he already has)
Even with all this, the sheer nerves of steel this guy must have to even attempt this. At one point, he was hanging on by one hand not unlike a water skier! LOL! This guy's an adrenalin junkie for sure! maybe someday they'll be some type of sporting event involving this. Crazier things have happened after all...I bet they laughed at snowbaorders and extreme bike riders.....

Madd at Verizon

Like most Americans these days, my cell phone has become my primary phone and I pay my lan line bill so I can access the internet. Once upon a time if you paid your BASIC service agreement it included internet as well... NOW Verizon had gotten smart and requires you MUST PAY THE FULLLLLLLLL BILL or they will not turn on your internet... As I was on the phone playing "LETS MAKE A DEAL" I was getting angrier, and angrier and all the while drawing aimlessly.
I looked down and these were the hilarious results.

Old dude on the Q22 bus

Yeah, yeah, I KNOW this blog is about SUBWAYSURFING, but some faces are too good to pass up!!!
Take this old man for instance I saw riding the Q22 Bus here, I mean, he looks like the stereotypical "Cranky old man" out of central casting! Dont know what he was mad at, but his eyes were narrowed to literal slits! LOL. He had a brilliant "old man" profile, complete with the stereotypical "hook nose" and a chin that jutted out so far he could jab you with it, and leave a mark! LOL!! No "stereotypical old dude" would be complete unless he had a cane too, and you betcha, he had one! LOL!!

I felt so inspired by his face, I did another memory sketch of him later that captured his essence even better than the first.

I love the MTA!!

DADDY DUM DUM on the A Train

Ah Fatherhood!!! In an age when so many men are irresponsible ib "manning up" and taking care and responsibility for their children, it's always refreshing , inspiring , and sometimes even frightening to see a new proud dad with his kid....

Take THIS guy for instance in this picture. I caught him riding the Manhattan bound A train one afternoon, eyepod headphones in ears, wearing one of those familiar devices that I call a reversable backpack, which seems to be specifically designed... probably by a WOMAN... to give men a taste of what it feels like to carry a 12 bound baby on their stomach. This dad had his child wrapped up so tightly in a blanket as well that the kid was barely visible beneath the blanket, pressed up tightly against his dads chest in that ridiculous backpack thingee, while the dad was staring aimlessly into space grooving on Hall and oates or whatever he was listening to on his ipod.

IS THAT KID GETTING AIR????? I wondered to myself.... WAKE UP DUM DUM, YOU MAY BE SUFFOCATING YA KIDD!

New fathers.
They're cute....
but DUM.



I know I was!

R and B Train recent subway sketches by Subwaysurfer

I found this great cheapie 99cents spiral notebook that has this fantastic recylcled paper that has the consistantcy and feel of newsprint, but just a tad stronger. I LOVE it! Its has 100's of pages, it fits neatly into a knapsack, or under in my heand, it's big enough to get a good sketch with, it takes to pen and pencil fabulously, and it makes me feel like Im back in Junior Hish school "drawing on the sneak" while in class... PERFECT for subwaysketching!

Ive been riding the "R" and "B" Trains lately, and have noticed that folks are a littttttle more suspicious and agitated on this line than others. Most Manhattan commuters almost expect to see something out of the ordinary when they ride, but commuters on these trains, especially when going back to Brooklyn seem genuinely surprised to see the stange man staring at them while moving his pencil furiously in his notebook......

Gov David A Paterson Caricature

Stick him with a fork! He's DONE!!! This Governor's Goose is Cooked! Latest Editorial Cartoon for THE WAVE Newspaper Far Rockaway NYC
Paterson's face..... MAN! What can I say??? He was MADE for CARICATURE!!! for the purposes of the paper, I stick a little more closely to a more realistic rendering, but you can really have fun with his face which, I plan on having later...heh...

Gov Paterson.... looking back.... before caricaturing him

After hearing the recent news of Gov Paterson's political woes this week, I, like many artists literally ran to to my drawing board anxious to get in on the cartooning/caricature feeding frenzy surrounding his recent political decisions, and you folks here can look forward to an Editorial cartoon that will soon be appearing in THE WAVE Nwspaper.



But before I lampoon him, I think it's important to highlight his accomplishments. He is truely a remarkable man for achieving a high level of success in spire of an visual disability combined with the Glass ceiling effect so many people of color bump into when reaching for the stars.

This Youtube serves as a reminder that what we see about a person at present doesnt represent all who they ARE.



But Im still gonna "get him!" heh, heh!

New Subway Caricatures for March

While sketching the Latino dude, he caught me drawing him and tried his BEST to "look tough " and intimidating. All he really did was stickk his lip out to the point of looking more like a spoiled child who was told he couldnt have candy! LOL!! The Asian Dude just reminded me of a squid or some sea creature who somehow miraculously morphed into a myopic human. Faces on da train are STILLL FUNNNNNNYYYYY!!!!!

Comic: The Chase AKA "Why must Eye Chase Da Katt? By subwaysurfer

Why must Eye Chase da Katt?? to give him back his wallet, of course!!! Dogs seem to get such a "bad rap" against felines when they're sometimes they're only tryin' to HELP!!! Even if it means HELPING themselves to a few Feline Dollars! Heh, heh! I see my Looney tunes Tex Avery Influence coming out in this toon. On one did it better than Tex!

"WHY MUST EYE CHASE DA KATT?"

Pharlament Funkadelic asked this eternal question decades ago in their mega hit, "Atomic Dog" and the question to this day remains unanswered... It really must be the dogg in me....

This is a sneak peek of a panel from a comic project that I am working on... stay tuned for the unvailing....

ATOMIC DOG
GEORGE CLINTON

Yeah, this is a story of a famous dog
For the dog that chases its tail will be dizzy
These are clapping dogs, rhythmic dogs
Harmonic dogs, house dogs, street dogs
Dog of the world unite
Dancin' dogs
Yeah
Countin' dogs, funky dogs
Nasty dogs (Dog)

Atomic dog
Atomic dog

Like the boys
When they're out there walkin' the streets
May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya

Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

Like the boys
When they're out there walkin' the streets
May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya

Why must I feel like that
Oh, why must I chase the cat

Like the boys
When they're out there walkin' the streets
May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya

Ruff
Ruff
Ruff

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothin' but the dog in me

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothin' but the dog in me

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothin' but the dog in me

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothin' but the dog in me

Do the dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher

Do the dogcatcher, baby, do the dogcatcher
Ooh

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothin' but the dog in me

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothin' but the dog in me

Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

Just walkin' the dog
Oh, atomic dog

Futuristic bow-wow

Ruff

Leader of the pack
Wild dog

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Just the dog in me
Nothin' but the dog in me

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Just the dog in me
Nothin' but the dog in me

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
The dog in me (Dog in me)
The dog is in me (Dog in me)

Do the dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher
Do you wanna do the dogcatcher
Well, baby, why don't you do it again for me

Dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher

House-trained dogs
Wild dogs
Say it again

Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat


LOVE THAT SONG!!! NOW THAT'S 100 PROOF FUNK!!! UNCUT!!!

Aussie style Black Cartooning/Caricature back in the good old days...

Just when I thought Id seen everything on the subject of racism/coonism in comics I ran into these old Australian Adverts,and comic You dont get any more explicit than this, and what makes it WORSE is that its in a book aimed at KIDS, thus setting the stage for more advanced racial studies when they got older.

This cartoon, and other like it show the power of images.

Caricature and Racism? Or Cartooning in the"good od days"

February is Black History Month, and so for this entire month I find myself investigating and featuring on this blog African American Artists of color who have influenced my cartooning caricature style that I use gleefully on the un suspectly subway commuters of NYC.
A major source of influence in my style has always been cartooning particularly of the zanier sort associated with Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, which seemed more than any other studio to embrace caricature as a whole and incorporate it into their artwork.

Caricature, by it's very nature seeks to amplify a subjects facial features for startling comic effect. The art form can also be used to make a statement about the artists' attitude toward the subject. Caricature artist, Dion Socia, of the ISCA lectured on this very subject numerous times at various ISCA Conventions that I attended, and pointed out one should instantly know the artist's point of view by looking at their caricature. With this view in mind, I find myself asking, "what were the cartoonists/caricature artists "back in the good old days" circa, 1940- 50 saying about Negroes (we werent "African Americans " then) as a whole?Ive heard the argument that the art reflected the attitude of the country at the time, that it wasnt meant to hurt or downgrade a group of people, etc. etc. But you tend to wonder what went on in the mind of the artists as they created these images shown in these films Ive have here.

To be objective for a moment, the cartooning is brilliant and so is the animation. Imaginative, well drawn, and very entertaining, even with the racial charged undertones. You can even say that the artists are depicting jazz musicians and the cultural attitude, as they saw it, of black people at the time.
I know Im raising more questions than making a point here, but as I said earlier, Im wondering about all this....
After all, I AM a caricature artist, I DO lampoon people and JUMP UP distinctive facial characteristics as a matter of policy. Is it RACIST to draw Jay Z, WITH GIANTIC LIPS? is it RACIST to draw so called "nappy hair" on a black person if they have it? Is it RACIST to draw a black person as dark as the midnight sky if they LOOK that way? I personally know and have seen in my community numerous people who REALLY resemble these "racist cartoon/caricatures" depicted in these and several other youtube clips.

IS it RACIST to depict black people like this or not? If not, WHY? If so, WHY?
when does "innocent caricature" cross the line into "divisive racism?"
Let's talk more about this, or at least think about it this month.




Here's a link that talks about The use of the "N" word and how it is used in caricature in art and comedy
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/caricature/

Emmet Wigglesworth

I will always remember the day that I got off the train at Union Street on the R line en route to an appointment, and knowing me, in a rush to get to my destination. I remember stopping dead in my tracks , in front ot the Union Street sign, where I came face to face with Emmet WIgglesworth's subwaymural. I was familiar with his work and recognized the style instantly. Wigglesworth;s famaliar theme of figures juxtaposed together in a maze of afrocentric faces invoked images of ancient African tribal masks and woocarvings, elongated fingers and arms covered with mesmerizing black and white patterns.... It was classic Wigglesworth, and I could only stand there reminiscing our meeting years ago. Back in the day, I lived for a time in the Bushwich section of Brooklyn, and although I cant for the life of me remember how I found this out, but I discovered that Wmmet Wigglesworth lived within walking distance of my house, so with the impeturousness that only a young person could have, I called his home, and within minutes was seated there in his living room discussing his career, and my art. I was very inexperienced back then, was newly married, and had a passion for art, but didnt know where or how to channel it. I will always be grateful for Mr. Wigglesworth opening up his HOME to a young artist who was a total stranger, and sharing his time with me. For a while I even imitated his bold black and white afrocentric abstract stylings, until I discovered my "own voice" . I guess you can say in a sense, Wigglesworth was instrumental in teaching me how to walk.

I look forward to the day that I can be just as gratious to a young artist.

Go to UNION STREET on the R Line in Brooklyn to see his work. You wont be dissapointed.


Check out this youtube clip of Wigglesworth "droppin' some serious science" on The Advertising Industry and how it affects self esteem.

Jacob Lawrence UNSUNG HERO OF SEQUENTIAL ART STORYTELLING.

Jacob Lawrence, is an unsung hero of the sequential art form we've come to know as Comics. Before I continue, let's look at the dictionary's definition of the word...

AComics (from the Greek κωμικός, kōmikos "of or pertaining to comedy" from κῶμος - kōmos "revel, komos",[1] via the Latin cōmicus) is a graphic medium in which images are utilized in order to convey a sequential narrative;

Lawrences' epic work, THE MIGRATION, consists of 60 paintings combined with words that tell the story of the American Negro's migration from the south to the North. I am currently doing more reading on this fascinating subject, but dont let me stop you from checking out the video.

Oh By the way, Jacob Lawrence was the first African-American to be represented by a New York City gallery.