INSIDE THE DRINK & DRAW SOCIAL CLUB

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Drink and Draw. It says it all.

Founded by Dave Johnson, Jeff Johnson and Dan Panosian, the Drink & Draw Social Club was founded out of a mutual love of socializing, drinking and drawing. Drawing on napkins, menus, walls and sometimes even a sketchbook or two, this informal group huddles around the tables and booths of pubs and taverns across the country for the unusual camradarie that it promises to bring.

Keeping with the times, the Drink & Draw Social Club has it's own myspace account and later this month, a book from Image. Featuring both the founders and members such as Josh Middleton and LeSean Thomas. The upcoming Drink & Draw Social Club hardcover promises to be an excellent coffee table – or bartop – book.

We spoke with the founding trio and how it all started, and how it keeps going.

Newsarama: How and when did the Drink & Draw Social Club begin?

Jeff Johnson: I believe the first incarnation of the Drink & Draw Social Club was started by Leonardo DaVinci. What most people don't know is that the Philosopher's Stone was actually a special concoction of three parts sacramental wine and one part paint thinner. Leo and his assistants would get hammered and draw hilarious pictures of the Pope. That whole turning lead into gold thing was just a clever ruse to impress the chicks.

NRAMA: Ahhh… Dan? Dave? Can you give us something more … believable?

Dan Panosian: I'll be honest, I think it began because Dave is a bit socially inept. Without a 'bottle of courage" he really can't string two words together. Now he slurs a bit, but for over a year and a half now the endeavor has been a tremendous success.

NRAMA: Not that we don't trust you Dan, but let's let Dave get a word in.

Dave Johnson: It all started about a year ago when I decided that social interaction is a good thing for solitary artist like myself. So thinking that I then came to the conclusion that Dan Panosian and Jeff Johnson would be good people to have a drink or two with from time to time. The only problem was that Dan was married and Jeff was in a serious relationship, so that made hanging out in dive bars trying to get rejected by lovely girls wasn't very practical for them. So I devised a devious plan to draw attention away from that side of things in a bar and suggested an artistic activity that would satisfy all parties. So far all their relationships are still going strong, and I'm free to be rejected by women that come in all shapes and sizes.

NRAMA: How often do you meet?

JEFF: Often...very often. In fact my sponsor believes we meet too often but he's not the boss of me, no matter what the judge says. Stupid judge with his gavel and his laws.

DAVE: We try to meet every Sunday night, but with work deadlines and such, it's hard to do. But we try.

DAN: Somehow Dave implanted tiny devices right behind the ears of several of us. At first there's a strange stinging and then a compulsion to gather up a pencil, pen and some Whiteout and head to the tavern. It's very effective.

NRAMA: In the credits of the book, you mention Sonny McLean's Irish Pub, where one could assume the Drink & Draw Social Club has happened on more than one occasion. What kind of places do you meet up in, and is Sonny McLean's now ruined since all your fans will show up looking for you guys?

DAN: Ruined is perhaps too harsh a word. The graffiti has certainly expanded... They're kind enough to give us ample light but lately I've been catching the barkeep glaring at us when he thinks we're not looking. Something bad is going to happen soon. I just know it

DAVE: Sonny's has proven to be a fantastic spot for DDSC.
They love us over there.

JEFF: Sonny McLean's is quite simply the best pub in California.

DAVE: It's really hard to find a place that has light good enough to draw by, and with enough tables for everyone that shows up. Sonny McLeans offers us all that plus Karaoke. As far as fans showing up when we're not there, well, Drink & Draw Social Club assumes no responsibility.

JEFF: Unfortunately, since it's an Irish bar, you have to be very drunk before they even let you in the door. Which is never a problem for me and Dan does a fantastic imitation of a drunk sorority girl. It never fails.

NRAMA: Besides the three founders, who are some other regular members of the club?

DAN: Too many really. All of them very talented. That's the part I hate the most. When Josh Middleton shows up I just feel like going home. He really is just a show off. Then there's Felipe Smith and Jim Mahfood... Those two. Talk about crash landing an evening. They're show offs too. Man, I hate Lesean Thomas... I liked it when Brian Ewing used to come. He never drew much, which I appreciated. That was kind of him...

JEFF: There are several great guys that consistently show up and as much as they each bring something special to the group, I always hold out hope that one person in particular will eventually join us. You know who you are, Steve.

NRAMA: Although we primarily know you as comics guys, each of you has full careers outside of funny books. Can you tell us what each of you do in your "dayjobs"?

DAVE: Well, currently I'm in between animation jobs. But there's something brewing that if it goes through, I'll be the main designer and art director.

NRAMA: You'll have to keep us informed on that front, Dave. Loved your work on Ben 10 animated series. How about you, Jeff?

JEFF: Technically, I am one of the character designers for the Boondocks, a very sensitive and charming little cartoon currently playing on Adult Swim. But I prefer to think of myself as "Shane," the misunderstood cowboy with a dangerous mission and a mysterious past. Yeah, that's the stuff.

NRAMA: Thanks, Shane/Jeff – Sheff? Jane?

Dan, what are you up to in the daylight hours?

DAN: Why did you have to bring that up? This is the only escape I have from advertising work... Occasionally I'll illustrate a cover or pin up for a comic book. I do a lot of cards for Upper Deck's Marvel series... I'm starting to cry now. This interview started out so good. I forgot all about the day to day grind. I need a drink...

NRAMA: Well, it is the Drink & Draw Social Club. So keep it up!

The Drink & Draw Social Club, Vol. 1 hardcover is due in stores soon. The 112 page hardcover book will sell for $24.99.

[olly-mac]

What a great idea! When will the sequel, "Drink, Drugs and Drawing" be made availale? Now that would be some book!

[TVerBeek]

I agree entirely with the idea that solitary people like comics creators need to get out and interact with other people, even if it's with their own kind, and even if they end up drawing anyway. I'm a not-quite-founding member (came to the second meeting) of the Michigan Comics Network, which is based on the same basic idea. We meet at a Panera Bread instead of a bar, which takes some of the fun out of it, but greatly improves the chances of everyone making it home alive, so it's worth it. We get a mix of people, everything from industry vets to wannabes, and it's a great way to spend one evening a month.

[Billy Tucci]

Being married with two kids, this is the perfect excuse for me to get out of the house and one that my wife would accept. I just wish other artists liked me as a person, but alas that's not the case.

Seriously, I'm going to check out the myspace page and see when there's one in NY.

Happy New Year everyone!

[MattBrady]

and for the reality tv fans, yes, that is Chris (Garver) and Kat (Von D) from Miami Ink in one of the shots...

MattB

[andy smith]

Those guys all rock! Wish I were out there to partake in the festivities! Congrat's on the book, can't wait to pick it up!

Andy

[saiyanspider]

Can anyone join? I like to draw, and I love going to dive bars. My fav being The girl from Ipanema on 14th and 8th in manhattan!


anyone going let me know!

[saiyanspider]

I can't wait for the book btw! looka great!

Can anyone give me a list of sketch books that other artists have put out?

[SBuccellato]

That's so awesome. I wanna do that when I grow up!

[RedRonin]

Seems like a really good idea. The perfect mix.

[Paul Sizer]

"Drink and Draw", along with the weekly meetings of the Hamtramk, Michigan version of Molly Crabapple's "Dr. Sketchy", inspired me and my wife Jane to start S.A.C.K., the Sequential Artists Collective of Kalamazoo. We (about 6 members so far) meet every Wednesday night, and it's a blast!

It serves the same purpose of uniting and motivating the comic artists in our area to get our butts out and have new work each week to show and share. It's also a good excuse to have critiques from other members, share info, and also support a local coffee house (the awesome Rocket Star Cafe). I've benefitted a lot from it, getting good feedback on my new comic project, B.P.M. (Beats per Minute) while it's still in the writing stage.

The Motor City "Mr. Sketchy" group is so cool, they have held their drawing nights at a local old school burlesque club, and the art that's come out of it is amazing!

Build your own local club, it's pretty simple and will yield results!

[Paul Sizer]

Here's the blog for the "Dr. Sketchy" group in Detroit:
http://drsketchydetroit.blogspot.com/

Good Stuff!

[saiyanspider]

Is there a New York group?

[Meltdown]

YOU CAN DRINK!

YOU CAN DRAW!

YOU CAN DRINK AND DRAW!

Well, perhaps not you specifically, but you get the general idea, yes?

On Saturday, February 10 Meltdown will be hosting the book launch extravaganza for the Drink & Draw Social Club, a glorious conclave of inebriated illustrators, pickled pencillers, digital dipsomaniacs, the sloshed and the stewed and the stoned; in short – art, alcohol, and amusements aplenty!

This is a time for you to shed your worries and perhaps put pen to page powered by pilsner. Fueling the festivities we find founders Dave Johnson, Dan Panosian and Jeff Johnson joined by LeSean Thomas, Josh Middleton, Felipe Smith, Jim Mahfood, Tragnark, Michael Avon Oeming, Kat Von D and Manny Moore!

I’m sorry, I mean many more. Many, many more. Hey, look! A book!

DRINK & DRAW SOCIAL CLUB, Vol. 1 is a 112 page hardcover priced at $24.00 and encompasses the work created at many previous parties and celebrates the environment in which the work was created through artist commentary and candid photography. Fans, art students and coffee table book collectors will all find much to enjoy in this handsome volume from Image.

Please join us from 6:00 p.m. until closing for food and drink and fun and drunks. Don’t be angry if you pull some Los Angeles ________ and show up late and we already drank everything. You knew we were a scorpion when you sat down on us. There’s a store around the corner, we’ll take care of you. Here’s some butcher paper, draw me the Creature from the Black Lagoon at a Parliament show. Fine. Draw me a horsie.

Whaddya mean horses are hard to draw? You aren’t getting into the spirit of this at all. OK, draw me going to get more beer. Yes, you can draw me in an ice cream truck going to get more beer. That’s going to be hard to explain, but so are a lot of things this evening.

THE DRINK AND DRAW SOCIAL CLUB AT MELTDOWN
Saturday, February 10 6:00 p.m. until closing
7522 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-7223 www.meltcomics.com
www.myspace.com/meltdowncomics
www.myspace.com/drinkanddraw