Drawing is becoming a bit of a lost practice. When was the last time you sat down and drew Pamela Anderson receiving a coffee from a bull snake. For me it’s been so long that I’ve forgotten how. If you’ve forgotten too don’t stress, Alyana Udesen and her drawing books to the rescue. Featuring such tutorials as Nelly & the Empire Penguin, Pamela & a Rat Snake, Mariah & a House Rat and Worf & a Wolf. These tutorials fit right along with her amazing collection of drawings that remind me of the things I wanted to draw on my book covers in high school. Check out here online profolio and the full tutorial books for free on her website. Print versions of the books and full size prints of her works are available in selected stores (I found some in Domy).

I ran into a DJ here in Sao Paulo yesterday named Hisato who handed me a new EP from his rock-electro outfit, Hello, Kate!!, called Girls. Even before listening to the songs, I was struck by the incredible hand-done illustration in the liner notes (only an itsy-bitsy part of the actually long, horizontal painting is shown above). It was done by a local artist named Catarina Gushiken, who has her hands deep in illustration and has a direct link to fashion through six years of work as a designer for Brazil’s super-famous Cavalera brand. Richly detailed and painstakingly done in watercolor and ink, each picture shows a clear influence from Japan and is organic in thought and execution. I’ve been complaining that I can’t even draw chicken scratch and it turns out she gives private drawing classes — a great service that I’d love to see more artists offer out of the kindness of their hearts.