Today I thought I’d share my top three live sketching events because it’s a question I get asked pretty often when explaining my job to people. Some events are memorable because of the incredible guests I'm sketching or the iconic brand I’m working with, and others because the event beginning to end was a night to remember. So without further ado and in no particular order, here are the top events of my career thus far…
Ralph Lauren
I’ve live sketched custom fashion illustrations for Polo at their SoHo New York flagship and done semi-custom illustrations for events with Polo & Esquire Magazine. I’ve flown to states like Florida, Texas and South Carolina for Lauren by Ralph Lauren, and I’ve live sketched the Ralph Lauren flagship mansion store numerous times. But hands down my favorite live sketching event for the Ralph Lauren corporation was my first time live sketching at the mansion for their annual Miracle on Madison event. It was at the tail end of Covid and Ralph's cafe was still closed so they set me up at the foot of the main staircase, which has an opening to Ralph coffee shop, up a few stairs and it was kind of like a small stage. I was seated at a beautiful carved wooden table that was flanked by grandiose velvet curtains and styled with antler candelabras, fresh roses and large steel orbs. (Shown above) This was so ideal, not because of ego and wanting to be on display but it gave what I was doing a sense of importance and grandeur, as opposed to be crammed into a corner at two side tables or a card table with a tablecloth. This was without a doubt the most beautiful set up for an event I’ve ever had. The guests I was sketching were all dressed to the nines, very chic and “sketch worthy.” From actor/model Eric Rutherford to former Miss America Savvy Shields, to local friends of mine popping by and even the President of Ralph Lauren. It was truly one of my best events to date!
Anthropologie
It’s always great to live sketch influencer events but the first Rockefeller Center Tree lighting dinner party for Anthropologie that I live sketched holds a special place in my memory. As a lifelong New Yorker I don’t typically do touristy activities but it was exciting to have a front row seat sort of speak to the tree lighting. The only other time I got close to that was when I was an intern at SNL in college and I watched Vanessa Carlton rehearse for the tree lighting telecast. It was fun to see and sketch influencers that I follow.
It’s also so fun to draw at events when the guests are dressed up and not just in standard head-to-toe “New Yorker black” ensembles. For this event the guests were wearing looks from the new Anthropologie holiday collection, and styled to perfection. —Which makes for fantastic sketch looks! They also give you epic reactions to seeing their sketches complete! They are content creators after-all and they truly created some amazing content for me this night. Like this this video, and this video, this one and even this one!
Vogue
Ahh Vogue. So many Vogue live sketching events it’s truly impossible to pick just one. Throughout my career I believe I’ve live sketched a whopping 56 Vogue events! Forty of which were when they sent me on 10-city US tours for 4 consecutive years. Sketching for thee one and only Vogue and having them as a client has always been surreal to me. It’s the dream and honestly at every one of those 56 events I had a “pinch me is this real?” moment. All my Vogue events with the exception of one (live sketching for the Vogue staff in their office) has been Vogue in collaboration with another brand, specifically their advertisers. From Clinique, Joie and Piperlime to luxury brands like Dior, Viktor & Rolf and Brian Atwood and beauty brands including Nexxus, Bobbi Brown and La Mer! It’s how my live sketching career began and I’m honored to have them as such a longtime repeat client for over a decade.
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