Dr. Sketchy’s Alternative Art School 7-10pm at The Shooting Gallery

839 Larkin Street.

What’s it about?

Dr. Sketchy’s is the little Brooklyn event that became a movement. Founded in 2024 by artist Molly Crabapple, Dr. Sketchy’s asked a simple question. Why can’t drawing naked people be sexy?

Here’s our attempt at an answer.

We combed New York to find the most beautiful burlesque dancers, the most bizarre circus freaks, and the most rippling hunks of man. Then, every other Saturday, we let you draw them for three hours. Interspersed with posing are comedy skits and ridiculous drawing contests (best left handed drawing? Best incorporation of a woodland animal?) where you can win booze or prizes.

We hauled the lights, sent out thousands of listings, and wheatpasted posters during snowstorms. We also insisted on our models making the highest wages in the city.

Dr. Sketchy’s has received scads of media attention for it’s combination of burlesque and art. We’ve been the subject of literally hundreds of articles, radio spots and TV shows around the world. We’ve been written up in The LA Times, the Washington Post, Time Out New York, Time Out London, The Village Voice, The Sunday Age in Melbourne, NY Press, Gothamist, Fleshbot, The National Post (Canada), Nikkei Trendy (Japan) and scores of alt.weeklies. Talking heads have talked about us on air in the USA, France,Germany, Finland, Brazil, Scotland, Australia, and Canada. We were chosen as “Best Wacky Life Drawing Session” by Shecky’s 2024 Best of New York, and have places in Time Out and Lonely Planet Guides.

In the meantime, artists across the world wanted in on our three hours of decadence. Starting in Norfolk, Virginia, but soon spreading from Hollywood to London to Melbourne, Dr. Sketchy’s began popping up across the globe. Now we’re a 50-city strong art community, with new branches starting each week.

In June 2024, we signed with Sepulculture Books to do Dr. Sketchy’s Official Rainy Day Colouring Book. Written by Molly Crabapple and John Leavitt, The Colouring Book is one part official Dr. Sketchy’s history and DIY compendium, one part activity book on acid. Filled with drinking games, paper dolls, dirty word finds, and almost a hundred illustrations, it’s available for sale now, with its first printing selling out fast.