A new old friend
May 18, 2004
Sunday afternoon, I was walking through Astor Place when I saw a man in a familiar position, hunched over a big old moleskine, a pen twitching between his fingers. I knew, from across the road, that he was drawing in a journal.
As I approached, I suddenly realized it was my old partner, Tom Kane. We'd worked together in the mid-80s, dreaming up advertising campaigns for Life magazine, for cigarettes, for Barnes & Noble— we even did a very early rap song about IBM ("We were the mothers who invented high tech, now everybody wants to play Star Trek, but there just ain''t room for all that crew, all the wildest ideas come out of Big Blue, etc...).
Although I never saw him actually draw, I had seen a few pieces in his apartment, near-photorealistic paintings of pop icons, horses, and women. He obviously had a lot of talent but he expressed it on the sly. We'd lost touch over the next decade, but hooked up for a long, candid noodle lunch three years ago. Then I, in my executive haze, lost touch with him again. And now here was Tom drawing in a moleskine. What a weird coincidence.
Tom looked up from his page and, seemingly unsurprised to see me, immediately told me that he had been bought multiple copies of my last book and been lurking around this blog for a while, my book, all of which had inspired him to start keeping his first ever journal. I was floored. It was so strange to find someone who I knew and admired as a very creative and talented person hooking up with the Everyday Matters crew.
Well, as you can see from the drawing Tom was doing at the time, he sees very well. Look at how specific each window is, not just a row of squares but the very particular windows, one by one. His crosshatching is rhythmic without being monotonous, reminding of my all time favorite, r.crumb. I also love the way he fills the page, how he uses the negative space of the sky and integrates his text right into the scene. It's a great drawing and a beautiful exercise in mediation.
Tom is a very imaginative art director. If you've ever seen those wild, bubble headed girls in the ads for Steve Madden shoes, you've seen what Tom does in his day job. We dropped over at his place and he showed me dozens of fantastic paintings, photo collages, drawings and rows of tomato cans. I could sense that he is being called more and more to devote his energy to making things that express his passions rather than peddling ladies' shoes. I hope he follows that call.
In the meantime, I have a new journaling buddy to roam the streets with. What a happy accident it was, running into him.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
Danny, I Love this little entry. I Love when You get so excited with admiration for another creative- You always seem most innocent to me then...in your state of awe for others. I'm happy that You've re-connected with Tom. I know you've always liked Tom and I think it would be really nice if you two can draw together sometimes. It's such a good thing to be doing and always different. Whether you're drawing with me, or Jack, or D.Price, or someone. And I do Love Tom's drawing and how You point out special things about his technique. I like the whole thing. and I like You too! (I also like U2, but that's not really what i'm talking about here). Love, YW
Posted by: patti Gregory | May 18, 2004 08:44 AM
i am always freaked out by those Steve Madden ads because i don't understand them!! i like to know WHY things are... that is a great drawing. i wish i could find some journalling buddies.
Posted by: soren | May 18, 2004 10:14 AM
Danny,
What a great story to share. I think it's interesting that you're amazed at your influence and in a recent entry you hinted at feeling a little intimidated or put off by taking on the role of teacher for a course you taught. And, yet, isn't that what you do here every day? Aren't you teaching us? I don't think teaching needs to imply mastery of a subject, or even necessarily instruction. Mostly it's a sharing - of passion, of vision,of skill. Making the world a little wider, a little bigger by opening windows. That's what you provide every day. Your influence is powerful, and I thank you for it. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for giving. That's what good teachers do.
Posted by: Lisa | May 18, 2004 02:05 PM
I just think that is so great! I've led a lot of friendships slide when I moved from different places and I've regretted that. So it's fabulous that you met up with a good friend of yours and it's great that he obviously didn't forget you either! And! I love those ads for Steve Madden! And! He is a great artist too! Sigh...I envy both of you your talents. It's going to take me a little while to get there. Well, more than a little while, lol.
Posted by: finelyspungirl | May 18, 2004 02:48 PM
That's a great happenchance! I am very pleased for both of you that your arcs intersected again. Life is funny like that. When you least expect it, magical things can happen, but you usually have to be in the right frame of mind, that state of child-like wonder and acceptance that magic is all around us, to actually be able to recognise it (The magical moment) when it happens. Thankfully looking at life through an artists eyes (and we are all artists of some sort or another) helps our perception, helps us acheive that kind of karmic receptiveness. Sorry if I seem a bit too philisophical here...I just find the world and what happens in it (like your story here) quite wonderful sometimes!
Posted by: Cameron | May 19, 2004 02:27 AM
That's a neat story.
Posted by: Denny | May 20, 2004 03:14 PM
Those ads have always creeped me out a bit. The remind me of these self portraits of women with eating disorders that I saw somewhere or other. And why a pet chick I wonder. Recently saw the animated versions, on tv, they're even creepier.
Posted by: Inane | May 20, 2004 07:25 PM