If you know me, you also probably know that, when it comes to clothing, I have a weakness for classic prep styling. Perhaps it’s my deep-seated need for order and consistency in all things; or maybe I’m still suffering the after effects too many viewings of Chariots of Fire. Whatever the reason, this delightfully decked-out young man was a pleasure and an inspiration, and I just couldn’t take my eyes off him the entire time I was at Starbucks.
Ajuan Mance
Home Depot, off Davis St., San Leandro, California
(Here, as in the last drawing, I’m using a vintage postmark as my background.)
Ajuan Mance
High Street Post Office, Oakland, California.
(The background image is a vintage postmark from the Airport Station P.O.)
Ajuan Mance
Midday shopper, Best Buy store, Emeryville, California.
Ajuan Mance
Three friends laughing and talking together on the bench outside La Farine Bakery, Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland, CA.
Ajuan Mance
Seen at La Penca Azul, International Blvd., San Leandro, Ca.
Ajuan Mance
Leaning on the stucco wall in front of the house, off Seminary, near Foothill.
Ajuan Mance
Just a fun character study, based on a recent trip to the Stoneridge Mall at Pleasanton. The Black shoppers always stand out at that mall, mostly because there are so few of them.
Ajuan Mance
I participated in my first zinefest in August of 2012, and since then I’ve adopted a few strategies for interacting with attendees. For example, I always do a few drawings while I’m sitting at my table. I do the drawings using my standard medium, Pigma Micron pen (.08 or .05) on paper. It’s a great way for me to document my experience of the festival, and it’s also fun to be able to show visitors some actual works in progress.
I did the outline for this drawing at the Alternative Press Expo (APE), in October of this year. I passed these two men as I was driving to the second day of APE. They were standing in front of an empty storefront in Oakland, near the corner of Foothill and 50th, dressed in their Sunday best. I don’t know what kind of sermon they’d just heard, but whatever it was, it must have been hilarious.
Ajuan Mance
I passed these two men near the China Gourmet restaurant, on that stretch of Fruitvale Avenue that’s just below MacArthur. I felt a little self-conscious because I was carrying a clear plastic bag containing five pounds of raw goat meat. Maybe that’s why the guy on the right (your right) looked a little uneasy. The guy on the left didn’t really seem to be paying attention.
Ajuan Mance