Who is this guy?

I drew since I was a boy - boats, ships, cars, creatures, cartoons of kids in my class and stuff like that.  I had weekly art lessons as a teenager in Monmouth County, New Jersey from a local woman who did incredibly tight pencil work.  My dad, an engineer, stressed perspective and what he believed to be the “science” - and therefore the truly legit - part of drawing. Favorite draftmen include Dumier, Rembrandt, and Andrew Wyeth.

I studied Illustration at Pratt in Brooklyn, in the 1980s and did freelance illustration afterwards while running Pratt’s Graphic Arts Lab and making money as a carpenter and cabinetmaker. During these years, I produced many drawings of Brooklyn’s iconic architecture including the brownstones and mansions of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, You can buy some of these in my shop or commission a drawing of your own house. I’ve drawn architectural renderings for developers and “home portraits” for owners.

Overtime I put aside artwork to “make a living.” I managed store construction programs for leading retailers opening hundreds of boutique style outlets in malls and on main streets in most cities across the United States.  I raised a family in Warren County, New Jersey where I live today. I found raising a family while working toward deadlines to be at times intensely stressful. Fortunately I discovered that drawing releases the pressure and focuses my mind like a form of meditation. Today I draw a bit every day as a routine of mental tuning, personal pleasure, and we bit of extra income.

On my site you will see a lifetime’s worth of drawing and art. Find something you like and order it, or contact me below for illustration assignments and commissioned work.

What’s he drawing?

The buildings, houses, and landscapes I draw are most often from photos. It’s a fairly tight, representational style and is completed as commissioned work for developers, architects, and home owners.  I draw editorial illustrations based on the news and popular culture, and abstract illustrations based on emotions and ideas. Here the inspiration comes from my head rather than photos. I draw the people, places and things I see during my travels, beaches, airports, train stations, travelers, pedestrians, my family and friends.

I draw in those black artist notebooks with black felt tip and rollerball markers, pencils, China markers, and “Whiteout” correction fluid pens.  When I get a drawing with promise I often scan it then work on it digitally in Microsoft Paint or other simple editing programs then output them onto quality paper at a larger size and finesse the details. Nothing is sacred. I find this creative method removes that classic artist’s dilemma: “Oh My God, this is coming out great, I better be really careful or I’ll ruin my masterpiece!”  Nonsense!  Once digitized, I am free to create knowing I can always return to the original. But it all starts with a hand drawing and I have never had to return to the original.  

In my shop, reprints of original digitized drawings are labeled “monoprints” and are offered at easily affordable prices. Original, drawings and commissioned work are more expensive.

Connect

Follow me on Instagram where I share my favorite drawings and new work for sale. To get in touch, use the contact form or just email me at bmcnulty080@gmail.com.