resplendent chaos

I Thought Games Were Supposed to Be Fun

She sat among others of her species inside a darkened casino hall. It was Keno day, and the church bus had dropped them off that morning.  They were a lively and sociable group, their white hair shining splendidly in the darkness and flashing lights reflecting off their giant eyeballs glaring behind thick coke bottle glasses.  All the fun stopped however, once the Keno numbers were being shown on screen. The twitter and gossip came to a halt and all headlight eyes stared grim-faced at the screen as they waited for their numbers to come up. I watched for about 15 minutes and became puzzled over their behavior. These people were supposedly playing a game... and yet, they looked as though they were watching a funeral. Observing their transformation from happy laughter among friends to grim-faced seriousness once the game started was, quite frankly, hilarious.  Sometimes I think I'm too easily amused. Medium: ink in moleskine, some digital color.

Las Vegas Chronicles: Mesmerized To Stupor By The Shiny Spinning Sparkles

This is the last Las Vegas Chronicles drawing until I get back to Sin City again later this year. All I have to say about this one is that it's representative of the majority of people I've seen sitting in front of slot machines and video poker. I walk through the casino floors and am always struck by how bored and uninterested everyone looks as they sit expressionless in front of the glow of the spinning numbers for hours on end. They'll be slumped in their seats and practically drooling, moving their body only to insert more money, order another drink from the disgruntled waitress, or to fire up another cigarette. It's as though they've been absorbed by the Borg.  I can't stay in there too long or else I get the fear. Medium: ink and graphite in moleskine.

 

Las Vegas Chronicles: Cigarette & Booze Infused Leopard Print

She wandered her way down the strip eagerly searching for a place to sit. Although 80 degrees in the blinding Las Vegas sun, she wore an oversized plush leopard print coat that had seen better days. As she hustled past and sat across from me, my nostrils were filled with the dusty aroma of cheap hairspray, stale booze, and even staler cigarette smoke. Clouds of dust swirled around her like Pigpen as she let out a sigh of relief to rest her weary feet.  She sensed I was watching her, looked directly at me and said, "I wish they'd do something about this damn weather."  Not missing a beat, I replied, "yeah, I wish they'd turn it down a notch or two."  She nodded in agreement and began frantically looking for matches.  I told her I liked her coat and she straightened up, ran her hand across her hair to smooth the strays, smiled broadly and said thank you.  I could tell she loved that coat more than anything and it probably made her feel elegant - even in the desert heat.  After a few second, she slumped again and after finding her matches, she struck several before finally lighting up and inhaling deeply.  Medium: graphite on paper, digital color.

Las Vegas Chronicles: Big Elvis is a Sin City Classic

Sin City is known for its dazzling array of shows and entertainers, but nothing comes closer to a true Las Vegas experience than watching the spectacle known as Big Elvis.  Sure, you could buy pricey tickets to a best-selling show consisting of a bunch of mute blue freaks who frenetically conjure discord while throwing rubber balls at each other in a fancy arena, but why not just save the money and head over to good ole Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Casino to catch a free Big Elvis show?  The "Gamblin Hall" is worn and grizzled, yet still retains an appealing 70's era faded glory...much like its patrons. Grab a seat at one of the tables at the front of the stage and order a few cheap cocktails from the harried waitress while you wait for Big Elvis to make his grand entrance.  Once he bursts out onto stage and waddles over to his goliath-sized throne in his bedazzled jumpsuit, you'll be speechless.  The night I was there, an older lady got up on stage and started dancing alone as Big Elvis played guitar and crooned.  She moved in slow motion twirls and jerky maneuvers during his entire performance. I'm not sure if she was part of his act, but she ought to be. Big Elvis is not only big horizontally, he goes way up high vertically too.  They aren't kidding when they say BIG! Medium: ink and graphite in moleskine.

Las Vegas Chronicles: Smoke Clouds Form Over Video Poker

One thing you'll notice as you walk through the acres of slot machines in every casino is the swirling bits of cigarette smoke hanging ghostlike over the heads of most the players.  They stare expressionless like zombies at the strobing bright lights, ringing bells and rotating cartoon icons flashing before their glazed eyes as they bleed money and wait patiently for the elusive win. I saw this lady (above) sucking butts for HOURS in front of the video poker machine. She didn't win anything, but she sure filled the casino ashtrays to capacity. She never once looked up to notice me sketching her just a few seats away even though I was coughing and gagging under her swirling cloud of death smoke. Medium: Ink in moleskine.

Las Vegas Chronicles: The Strange Tribe of the Toddler Gigantus

One of the more amusing human tribes found along the Las Vegas strip (and the entire US for that matter) are the male species of the lumbering Toddler Gigantus.   Easily spotted, they appear not as grown adults, but as oversized toddlers who adorn themselves in outfits one would normally see on a 18-month old.  Borrowing from the mix-n-match concept established by children's clothing maker Garanimals, the Toddler Gigantus can easily dress themselves simply by pulling on a pair of roomy elastic-waist bottoms and pairing them with an adorable tent-like t-shirt embellished with charming sport logos or Ed Hardy knockoff images of skulls and knives (which the Toddler Gigantus perceives as making him look edgier).   To complete the look, the Toddler Gigantus will choose to lumber around in puffy and often unlaced clodhoppers that resemble soft little baby booties. More extreme tribal members of the Toddler Gigantus will often match his baby booties to go with the rest of the outfit, thus creating a colorful ensemble of coo-worthy attention. Medium: Ink on paper (original sketch here), digital color (detail shown here).

Here are some members of Toddler Gigantus spotted in SF's Fisherman's Wharf this summer.  A little smaller and edgier than the puffy pale species overrunning Las Vegas, these man toddlers demonstrate skill in mix-n-match dressing:

1. Awww, look at him nibble his teething biscuit while keeping cozy in his little hoodie.
2. A perfect example of how easy it is to pair plaids with stripes for ice cream colored insta-fashion!
3. Knives, guns, grenades and brass knuckles never looked more adorable than when paired with matching embellished trousers and a jaunty red bonnet.

Las Vegas Chronicles: Elvis Plays The Slots

I just returned from a thoroughly entertaining 48-hour stay in the greatest people-watching Mecca of all time: Las Vegas.  While others visit Sin City for the gambling, I spend my time walking up and down the strip gazing in awe at the variety of humanity passing before my eyes.  I'll stay out there all day, sketching and snapping photos of interesting faces while occasionally bursting out in laughter and embarrassing myself.  While all faces interest me, it's those who've become grand caricatures of themselves who cause me the most delight.  Such is the case in the sketch above. 

Leaving the hotel at 7:00 am, I walked through the casino and spotted an Elvis Presley look-alike sitting alone in front of a dazzling slot machine. The glow from the screen lit his grizzled face as he stared empty-eyed into the vortex of spinning 7's while clinging a cocktail and smoking a butt.  My heart literally pounded in my chest as I beheld this Gift From The Universe appearing before me.  It wasn't enough to sketch him. I knew I needed proof that I saw the ultimate Las Vegas caricature, so I deftly pulled out my camera and snapped a photo as evidence.  Medium: Circus Circus pencil and Keno crayon in sketchbook, digital color.

I was nervous using my camera inside the casino, so I worked furtively and made sure the flash was off.