Category Archives: Sketch

The Frugal Review • The Pen+Gear Sketch Diary

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Joe_Williams

When my wife and co-host of this fabulous site, Tina, calls about a cheap sketchbook she’s found at a big box store, I’ve learned not to question her. I just say, “Buy it!” She’s got a knack for spotting art … Continue reading →

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The Cheapskate Strikes Back!

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Joe_Williams

I was in an art supply store recently to pick up some gift items for a friend, and I thought I would pick up a smallish, mixed media, sketchbook for myself. I was thinking a 7-inch by 10-inch sketchbook would … Continue reading →

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Larry Hughes, Born to Lose

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Joe_Williams

Before my monster became a monster in Teenage Beast he was a human being. I have a name for him — Larry Hughes — but I wasn’t sure what he was going to look like.

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Punk Rock Girl

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Joe

Although it’s been a while since I have posted drawings on this site, I have still been plugging away in my sketchbooks continuing to make my dirty little marks within them as one of my teachers in art school used … Continue reading →

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Keeping Good Habits

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Joe_Williams

This is the thin 3-ring binder I bought from a dollar store near work and filled it with 97¢ worth of looseleaf paper in order to work out the story of The Teenage Beast. I am writing an outline for … Continue reading →

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Teenage Beast • Coming Through!

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Joe_Williams

I continue to carve out the Teenage Beast story in my sketchbooks. In this case, I am finishing up a 7-inch by 10-inch Canson XL Mixed Media pad. I pencil in my characters and then ink them in with my … Continue reading →

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Rock! Rock! Rock! Rock! – Rock and Roll Hell Hole!

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Joe

As I said last week I was a little under the weather which slowed my sketching momentum, but I’ve been trying to catch up by drawing some drawings and cooking up some situations that happen in my Teenage Beast story. … Continue reading →

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I Want a New Toy!

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Joe

…and I got some new toys! First up is the Sailor Fude de Mannen which is a fabulous fountain pen made in Japan. I think it was meant to be a calligraphy pen, but it works great for drawing. You … Continue reading →

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Turning the Page on 2023

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Joe

Happy New Year! I finished 2023 sitting on the couch with a cat and a spouse scribbling away in small, cheap sketchbooks, and I have resolved to do the same thing in 2024!

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