Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.

Dr. Sketchy's Knoxville's May session really brought out the bold, beautiful women with our "Beauty, Brains and Bruises" session featuring our local roller derby dames, THE HARD KNOX ROLLER GIRLS!  This session features models from the HKRG: 6 beautiful, brainy and bruised power players that inspired the art monkeys to new heights in sketching madness.  To match their intensity, we also featured performances celebrating the various elements of women-power.  Here's a photo blog of our kick-ass session.

We kicked this session off in style with a musical performance.  The incredibly and inner-light filled Anjana took us to new heights with two original songs celebrating the power within and the inspiration that comes from those who enter our lives.

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  Our first models, Motor Psycho Hooligan and Knox Villain presented a challenge to create them as super-heroines complete with the carnage and characteristics of a good action scene.

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  Next up we featured a fun, metamorphosis dance piece by one of The Follies Girls, Asta Carousel - who brought us some "weird science".  

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  Then our next models found out just how hard a 15 minute pose can be (especilaly when you're used to being in motion and plowing down the competition).  Here's Space Riot and Evil Lucia giving you a pose for our "negative space" art challenge.

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  Then, just when you thought it couldn't get any better we sliced into your skull with a dynamic sword performance by Soubhi of The Forbidden Fire and Bellydance.

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  We ended our session with two more modeling roller girls, Battle Ready Betty and Sgt. Slaughter.  The challenge was to imagine these wild women in a "day job" and the winning artist, Jason Ammons made the beauties a bit of a shocker. Can you say, "Get thee to a nunnery?"  Um, hell no...but it was a great sketch!

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]  As always we'll end with some photos of our awesome art monkeys in action and in their natural habitat of drinking, drawing and debauchery.

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]

[Above Photo by Jason R. Scott 2012.]

SEE you at the next session in June 2012 and thank you again to our performers, models, art monkeys, staff and the incredible photographic work of Jason R. Scott.  We love what we do and hope you do to...DSK forever!

Session, 2/19/12 at Old City Entertainment Venue in Knoxville, TN
All Photos by JASON R. SCOTT

To say that the “Little Branch That Could”, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is starting to thrive would be an understatement…we are really starting to find our groove and our regular art monkeys keep comin’ back for more.  Better yet, we are always excited to see new faces in the crowd.  This month we kicked our session into OVERDRIVE and celebrated with a ROCKABILLY CRUSH theme featuring performances and models from Knoxville’s White Lightnin’ Burlesque troupe!  The evening began with Cherry Dee Light (below) and her teasing us at the “Queen of Pain”…oh how having a crush can hurt sometimes!

Branch manager, Nipsy Tussle and our branch art consultant, Rob St. Clair got the party started and cleared the way to meet our CRUSH for the night – the man with the plan, the boy that all the girls’ hearts beat for…our own, hunk-a-hunk-a-burnin’ love, Jeremiah Horsley (below).  He posed like a champ and we all kinda’ fell in a lil more love with him.

Then, as her name best describes her, Sassy Frass (below), took the stage and welcomed us into her “Ring of Fire”.  Mesmerized by her hips and sips of whiskey the art monkeys were ready for more!

So we did a switcheroo challenge where we introduced our ROCKABILLY Crush’s first true love whom was soon replaced by the seductive Sassy!  The art monkeys handled the switch off challenge in FINE form and gave us a rendition of how a broken heart and revenge can lead our honeys to hurt the one they love.

Last up for performing was the ultra-leggy, Strawberry Tallcake (below), who all but fixed our broken hearts with her sweet performance.

Finally it was Cherry Dee Light’s chance to take on the long-form 20 minute modeling challenge as our ROCKABILLY CRUSH’s latest love, and look at just ONE of the wonderful works of sketch art came from their pose (below).

The lovely ladies of White Lightnin' Burlesque did an amazing job of holding the poses and really inspiring some incredible artwork from our art monkeys. 

The incredible night came to a close with a huge dose of love and a donation to the Hellcat Harlowe “Feel-Better Fund” as White Lightnin’ Burlesque’s founder and head had suffered an accident in December that has her still recovering with the hopes of performing again!  A true dame and darling’ she showed up to support her girls and we were honored to give her a lil something to help her with whatever expenses she’s having to deal with during her recovery.

Life is damn good at Dr. Sketchy’s Knoxville and even with a ROCKABILLY boy who changes girls as often as he changes his underwear, we just cannot wait to come back for more.

(Nipsy Tussle, Rob St. Clair and Jeremiah Horsley)

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Knoxville made the decision that each year we'd offer a unique spin on the "holidays" by doing something non-traditional.  This year, we put our collective heads together and the answer was simple, produce THE STEAMPUNK SIDESHOW, a variation on a solstice celebration; and thus the December 2011 DSK session was born (all photos are courtesy of the extremely talented Jason R. Scott of Knoxville).  

The backdrop was the wonderful venue of Broadway Academy of Performing Arts and Event's Center (BAPA), in Knoxville, Tennessee.  We were additionally blessed to have the mood enhanced with a more steam-punkery feel thanks to Doc Quincy E. Quartermain of The Artifice Club and the wonderful background music tableau that he generated for the event.

The evening began with an incredible belly dance performance by performer and model, Jaia of Biz'Cirque and Ananda Dance Company who opened our event with a stunning sideshow themed routine.

She then joined upcoming performer, Ali for a fun twist on posing with the challenge for our art monkeys to add something "absurd" into the mix.

Then our headliner took the floor, the sublimely beautiful Talloolah Love, otherwise known as "The Sweetest T in the South".  Talloolah is currently head's up the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret Society and as an accomplished burlesque performer, she dazzled us with her Clockwork Doll performance.   Our eyes feasted on the flesh we were about to sketch...

The evening flowed beautifully thanks to the fine emcee work of Salome' Cabaret's own Kisa von Teasa who joined us again for this session.  Here she is showing off one of our frequent art monkey's handiwork, the incredibly desireable SUSHI SCARF by Tonique of TinyAngryArtMachine.

Just when you think it couldn't get any better, our minds were blown by the hoop artistry of Ali both of Biz'Cirque and Sol-Flow Hoops who took us on a dizzying journey of power and form with a very industrial feel.

Once again the art monkeys who joined us for this inspired day of drinking, drawing and debauchery brought their "A" game and endlessly inspire us to continue to produce these great adventures that combine both performing and visual artistry.

The lights dimmed on our first solstice celebration with a teaser performance of next month's event featuring the beautiful Soubhi and Nur of The Forbidden Fire and Bellydance.  Another fine time had by all here at Dr. Sketchy's Knoxville and to all a good night.

Dr. Sketchy's Knoxville was pleased to present our third session, which will now take on an annual NOVEMBER tribute theme, in order to give thanks to a fellow artist who's inspired so many of us.  Our first, tribute session was dedicated to the man from Baltimore, JOHN WATERS.    Eager fans of the film genius showed up to celebrate the art and the unique perspective on life that this famed director, producer, actor and screenwriter have given us.  All photos by Katie Ashdown.  Art Monkeys unite at Old City Entertainment Venue in Knoxville, TN (above).

The evening's performances were kicked off by Salome' Cabaret's own Big Gay James who did a great drag number to "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray, the Musical.  We later delighted in sketching James' Tracy Turnblad which produced great art focusing on "negative space" which is where those who don't understand John Waters' art, often inhabit.

We then delightedly sketched the fleshy, rebel goodness which paid homage to Ramona Ricketts from Cry Baby - nicely adapted by Salome' Cabaret's own Siren Santina.

Then, the "Devil's Older Sister", burlesque performer, Beelzabetty took to the stage to enlighten us about a BALTIMORE staple that you don't want to take home the morning after.  Here's a pic of her beginning her popular piece entitled "Crabs".

Art Monkeys - hard at work...drinkin, drawing...well, you know;  were then serenaded by our uke songstress, Shawdi Naimy and her rendition of "Screw Loose" from the Cry Baby Musical.

Truth is, the pièce de résistance, was yet to be sketched.  For, awaiting the art monkeys able sketch pads was our very own Dr. Sketchy's Knoxville's Artistic Consultant, Rob St. Clair, who floored us with his homage to DIVINE from Pink Flamingos.  I mean, seriously...he is a vision and a locally-grown inspiration here in Knoxville...

Some incredible sketches were produced and we are always floored by the talent who attend Dr. Sketchy's here in Knoxville.  We are also continually impressed by the new faces and brave non-artist art monkeys who step up and try their hand at the sketchin'.  All in all, I think we did Mr. Water's proud and hope to invite him again to another session sometime soon - we will be sending him the pictures and a thank you note from all of us at DSK for being an ongoing source of seedy inspiration.  We love you JOHN WATERS!

Happy art monkeys Delinda d'Rabbit and John Latham show off their sketchin' skills.  Another session is in the bag and folks, that's a wrap.

Once again, we were guided through the dreamland created by our Sketchy's crew by emcee, Kisa von Teasa of Salome' Cabaret Burlesque Revue.

We were instantly dazzled by the silks talents of these great students who you can tell not only developed an adept ability to gracefully perform what I'd call aerial ballet and acrobatics, but they showed a true passion for their craft as well.  They also blessed us with poses in the silks for at least their 5 minute poses (anything longer and they would have lost feeling in their extremities, and while I'm fond of the color blue - I didn't want to see a limb turn cobalt and fall off).

David M. Stewart (Student - Dragonfly Aerial Arts Studio)

Kristina Mynatt (Student - Dragonfly Aerial Arts Studio)
In fact, these performers served to be wonderful visual inspiration for our able Art Monkeys who really brought their talents and tenacity for taking risks to the session.

David M. Stewart proudly holding his choice for best sketch during his "Put Me to Sleep" Challenge - the winner was the phenomenal ART MONKEY:  Kevin 'Toaster' Catolster.  Brilliant.

The exquisite Kristina Mynatt showing her 2nd place choice for the sketch challenge 'Put me in your Dream".
In between the revelry and performances we allowed our nightmares to creep into our dream world as some of the crew from Frightworks - Knoxville's premier haunt collective provided a wonderfully intriguing inspiration for sketching.  

Needless to say, the Art Monkeys were just incredible - focused, feverish in their sketching and delightfully full of the spirits (both figuratively and literally).

Plus, as a special treat - we were lured into a sneak preview of the November Session of Dr. Sketchy's Knoxville: A John Waters' Thanksgiving (Tribute Session), by Salome' Cabaret Burlesque Revue's very own Siren Santina.

While she sang...we were lucky enough to get the only existing batch left in the entire greater Knoxville area of Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls, generously shared by the amazing staff of Ben & Jerry's here in our area.  Our mouths really loved those sweet and schweddy balls.  Nipsy Tussle of Salome' Cabaret and our DSK hostess with the mostest, happily served up the creamy goodness.

Dreams made real, nightmares revisited, amazingly talented art monkeys and the wet dream of ice cream and flavored balls.  That's what Dr. Sketchy's Knoxville is made of.