The Bus Drawings Project

This is a blog for Thomas Haddad. I am a World Trade Center survivor from the 89th floor of WTC1. My job as Creative Director has never lent itself to incorporating illustrations, so my main creative focus for years was strictly on design. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say, for years I had lost touch with drawing completely. As a visual person, the events of 9/11 were overwhelming and I began to shut down. Thankfully my wife had the insight to recognize that I needed to refocus myself - she thought that a reconnection with drawing could help me through my emotions. So she bought me a sketchbook and suggested that I use it as a diary in pictures. From this was born The Bus Drawings project. Simply put, all of the enclosed drawings were produced while riding commuter buses.

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F is for Flamingo (among other things). I decided to, not only to revisit some of the past visual language I developed on the road of the Bus Drawings Project, but to combine them. I'm really happy with the result in this one. #drawing #illustration #childrensbooks #birdalphabet #bird #markers #permapaque #ink #pentelbrushpen #zigmarkers #flamingo #busdrawings #F #watercolor

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This could either be B is for Brown Pelican or be P is for Pelican... Not sure which letter, but here is the latest. I like to think of these two as best friends, with the pelican taking the fish to all kinds of places he can't go.

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Inktober Day 21 - Katrina Pierson Weighs In What an ignoranimus. What a maroon. Drawn on the bus with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen and my trusty Prismacolor Markers.

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Inktober Day 14 - Trump (Rigged Mic) Enjoy the debate tonight, should at the very least be rigged. A quick one on the drawing board. All caught up on missed days. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen and the my trusty Prismacolor Markers.

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Inktober Day 15 - Chris Christie (Distancing himself from the Donald) Yeah but I think he has a bridge he's like to sell. Catching up on missed days. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen and the my trusty Prismacolor Markers.

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Inktober Day 19 - Rudy Giuliani Forgets 9/11 (Never Forgot) Noun + Verb + Cough, cough, cough. I guess it got caught in the back of his throat. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen and the my trusty Prismacolor Markers.

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Inktober Day 18 - Hillary A perturbed Trump supporter friend requested that I be bipartisan. This was more difficult than I thought. The big orange dude is easier. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen and the my trusty Prismacolor Markers.

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Inktober Day 16 - Pussy Grab I haven't done any political cartoons since college. Grab it. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen and the Permapaques.

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Inktober Day 13 - Rooster Yeah, they come to snuff the rooster. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen.

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Inktober Day 12 - The Siren This is as done as it’s ever going to be.   Drawn with a Pentel Fude Brush Pen and Zig Writer.

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Inktober Day 11 - Them Bones This was another quick one. Spooky all Halloween like. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen.

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Inktober Day 10 - Blue Jay OK, I caught up. This was pretty fast! Please don't be long For I may be asleep. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen.

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Inktober Day 9 - Armadillo This was started on the bus and finished in the studio. Thus the beat edges of the paper. I know, I'm a day behind. I'm supposed to do 2 today to make up for it. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen.

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Inktober Day 8 - Lemur And how does lemur skin reflect the sea? Black Francis doesn't know, ask Bob Johnson. The lemur is nature’s Black Metal fan. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen with help from the Permapaques.

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Inktober Day 7 - Ram Don't tell him but this Ram stole Rich Galvin's beard. The bus was rough on this one. I don't think I'll try the brush on a moving vehicle again. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen.

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Inktober Day 6 - Tortoise I enjoyed drawing the shell, each segment is one continuous line. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen again.

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Inktober Day 5 - Crocodile and the Plover Bird OK, ok this took a lot longer than the 30 minutes I've allotted for the inktober thing. Not sure I can keep this up. Drawn with the Pentel Fude Brush Pen again.