Sketchgroup Sunday: Bernal Heights Park

Sunday Sketchgroup: Golden Gate Park & Richmond District

Godfather: Greenwich Village & Capitol

Things have been pretty quiet around here as I've been moving and settling into a new apartment. I'd forgotten how much of a time-suck moving can be. The last couple weekends I've been going out sketching with friends on Sundays and have quite a bit to show from that but for now, here are some older pieces I did for Godfather: Five Families. I'll also share some work from our Brooklyn and Park Avenue expansions in the next few weeks.

Above: This is a racket building from the first neighborhood, which we've been calling "The Capitol". Tony's Auto Body is named after our old producer, Anthony. The sign spins in the game.

Below: This is Jefferson Market Courthouse from our Greenwich Village expansion. It's also a real building in New York City. I think this is my favorite racket building I've designed and painted for Godfather.

Below: This is the train station from the first neighborhood. It's not designed after any particular station. Below it are a couple thumbnail sketches I did for it.

Below: This is the train station from out Greenwich Village expansion as well as some quick thumbnails for it.

Globworld

These are some designs that never got used for a children's game project in 2009. I figure they may be of interest to someone and I still don't hate them yet.

Home Base

Alamo Squared

We've been fortunate enough (or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it) this year to have more warm, sunny weekends in the winter and spring than I can remember ever having this time of year in my lifetime of living in the Bay Area. How this plays out on our environment and water supply remains to be determined but it's been a godsend for my sketchbook. I've been spending a lot more time outside in my neighborhood, which always translates to more sketching.

Top: Sketches done from Alamo Square Park and sitting in the window of Cafe Abir. I'll probably paint the lower sketch next time I'm able to get a window seat again.

Bottom: An old sketch from a camping trip last summer. Oddly enough, I still like it. It was originally meant to be painted but it was just too damned hot outside to put in the effort and I wound up falling asleep with sketchbook in hand instead.

New Yorkers & Co.

In January, I went on a five-day trip to New York City to gather reference with the Godfather team. Yes, this is three months after the fact but here are the sketchbook pages I drew while either in New York or going to/from. I unfortunately never had time to sit down and draw a cityscape there... most of these drawings were done while waiting for coworkers to arrive for a meetup. Or at a bar. Or a bar meetup.

Above: This was done at a bar in West Village called Marie's Crisis Cafe. A lot of professional and aspiring singers go there to belt out showtunes all night. Karla Ortiz and I got to sit right next to the pianist because the performers enjoyed our drawings. Karla wound up giving her sketchbook pages to the musicians.