San Diego Drink & Draw is the newest night-time event to hit the beach bars of North Pacific Beach (NPB), near Bird Rock. While most adult extracurricular activities involve shot-pounding dance parties, San Diego’s first Drink & Draw, created by fashionably yours truly and presented by Brigitte Taylor Events, offers an expressive alternative to getting your artistic culture groove on. On April 11, San Diego’s first Drink & Draw brought in a crowd of jazz-diggin’ sketchers, drawers and drinkers who came to listen to local musicians Calvin Showley and James Behrens of the James Behrens Combo and sketch with me while studying the lovely live fashion model, Alexandra Hopp, at The Turquoise, located at 873 Turquoise St. Drink & Draw artistic gatherings may be new to NPB but are commonly found in cities where creative types work and live. I’ve become hooked on D&D’s since my first “Drink & Draw NYC” at a bar named Local, in the Lower East Side of NYC. The event was introduced to me by an illustrator/cartoon artist friend, Bryan Green. Green is a School of Visual Arts, NYC graduate and known for his “Paper Foldables” paper craft toys available at www.paperfoldables.com. I remember being hesitant about going, afraid I might not fit in, knowing I’d be surrounded by a different “type” of artist, rather than the fellow fashionistas I was used to working in the fashion industry. However, the idea of a cold beverage mysteriously led me to Local. The place was packed with the best illustrators and cartoon artists I had ever seen, from self-taught doodlers to grads of NYC’s top art schools. The artist’s doodles were so inspiring I found myself sketching diptychs and networking through painterly rendered jesters of ink and lead. Immediately, I made friends and learned new drawing skills I could apply to my work. This turned out to be the best anti-social social event ever invented. Living in San Diego as an artist, fashion designer and instructor at the Fashion Careers College of San Diego, I know combining a creative atmosphere with creative people produces good art and was sure in thinking up this event that the artistic community would enjoy a local Drink & Draw. Event planner Brigitte Taylor suggested The Turquoise to be the perfect venue for this artsy event because it’s got an eclectic vibe that complements her monthly “Sweet Indulgence” event, that features live art and music.
