Shirley U. Jest, modeling, and John Jennison taking her picture at Drink-N-Draw @ Macri Park, Brooklyn, February 25, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Galindez)
by GABRIEL GALINDEZ
On a Thursday night at Macri Park, a Williamsburg gay bar, drag queen performer Shirley U. Jest takes the tiny one-step stage. Dressed in a hot pink wig, white blouse, and rose skirt, she strikes a pose. Host John Jennison announces over the mic, dulling the 90’s music playing in the background, “This is pose one of our first 20-minute pose.”
A group of about 20 amateur and professional artists of varying degrees of skill begin to sketch with their pencils, pens, markers, or charcoal. This isn’t a typical drag performance usually mired in lip syncing or shady stand up jokes. This is Drink-N-Draw.
Drink-N-Draw isn’t a new concept in New York City. There are varying kinds that pop up intermittently in different bars, clubs, lounges, and centers. At these events artists put pencil (or their preferred medium) to pads and sketch a live model.
William Rootpeter modeling at Drink-N-Draw @ Phoenix Bar, Manhattan, February 16, 2016 (Photo By Gabriel Galindez)
For the last three and a half years, however, none have been weekly and LGBTQA like the one hosted by Jennison.
Jennison, 37, of Willamsburg, an Illustrator by trade, recalls how it started, three and a half years, ago as a one off idea with then partner Leslie Van Stilton, who was bartending at a place called TNT in Brooklyn. “We were looking for something to do for happy hour. I said why don’t we do a Drink-N-Draw.” A week later they had two drag queens come in and it continued from there.
Since then models also consist of go-go boys, drag kings, cosplayers, avant garde performers, boylesque and burlesque artists. The night has since moved around to different places where Jennison hosts solo.
Drink-N-Draw, which is used to run twice weekly (Tuesdays were at Phoenix Bar in Manhattan) is attended by many kinds of artists. Full time illustrators, painters, graphic designers, and animators, have become regulars.
There are also non-artists who come for fun or to relax. Jennison said, “We have a clientele of business people that it’s just a release for them, they liked drawing in their youth.”
Model Kitty Moore posing @ Drink-N-Draw at Macri Park, Brooklyn. April 14th, 2016. Photo by Gabriel Galindez
Sketch of model Kitty Moore by Ken Wong @Drink-N-Draw, Macri Park in Brooklyn. April 14th, 2016. Photo by Gabriel Galindez
Since it’s also happy hour, patrons coming to the bar for a $4 whiskey-soda will join in. Jennison provides paper, usually booklets with a sketch cover drawn by himself, and other kinds of mediums for anyone to join in. He said, “Usually anyone that comes once, comes back weekly if not monthly.”
Lilith LaFae and Princess Bitch posing as Wonder Woman and Cheetah @ Drink-N-Draw’s 75th Anniversary Wonder Woman Event at Barracuda Lounge, Manhattan. April 26th, 2016 Photo by Michael Galvan
On occasion, Drink-N-Draw, teams up with local LGBT group, Geeks Out, to put on special superhero themed events. These nights find two or more models dressing up in cosplay as well known comic book characters. Past themes have included the Justice League and the X-Men. Recently, in honor of her 75th Anniversary, Wonder Woman was highlighted.
Shirley U. Jest picking the winner of the free drink tickets with John Jennison at Drink-N-Draw @ Macri Park, Brooklyn, February 25, 2016. (Photo by Gabriel Galindez)
Back at Macri Park after about 20 different poses which vary in length of time, Jennison announces that Shirley U. Jest will choose her two favorite sketches. Only five of those sketching go up to win a free drink ticket.
One of the winners James Barry, 37, of Willamsburg, a storyboard artist, sums up Drink-N-Draw, “I come for the practice, the comradery, and the free drink ticket.”