The View From Cortelyou Road, As Seen Through Neighbor Michael Hirshon’s Pen

We were pretty pumped when neighbor Michael Hirshon sent us a link to these drawings he made of spots along Cortelyou Road. After we immediately pestered him with questions about his love of putting pen to paper, he was kind enough to tell us about how Ditmas Park inspires his art – and why he can’t get enough of our neighborhood.

Tell us about you! We read on your website you had a bit of a nomadic childhood – how did you come to be in Ditmas Park? What do you love about the neighborhood?

I’ve been an illustrator for about five years, and I’m here in New York finishing the last semester of an MFA illustration program at the School of Visual Arts. My wife and I have lived in this area since moving to the city — I love this neighborhood because I think it’s really the only place in the city where you can feel like…well, you’re not in the city. All the beautiful houses and trees strike such a perfect balance with all the vibrant small businesses. Also, all the delicious food.

What inspired you to draw these spots along Cortelyou? Do the places you drew (like the Flatbush Food Coop, Catskill Bagels, and the Cortelyou Library) hold any particular meaning for you?

These are places I pass by every day and often go into — I love the sandwiches at Catskill, the bulk bins at the Coop, and the characters at the library. My favorite way to draw is to draw on-location, so these seemed like good places to sit down and enjoy the view.

Do the people you’re drawing ever notice you sketching them? Has that ever led to any memorable exchanges?

I’ve heard horror stories about sketchbook-shredding altercations on the subway, so I try to be sneaky about it! Sometimes people peak over my shoulder and I try to give them a good show.

What first drew you to drawing? Who are some of your favorite illustrators?

I don’t think it was anything in particular — like most kids, I loved to bust out my crayons and draw a robot or a dinosaur. The only difference is that I’m still doing it. My favorite illustrators are Robert Weaver, Dushan Milic, and Steve Mumford.

If you could only draw one place/person/thing for the rest of your life, where/who/what would it be?

Tough question, since I most enjoy drawing new things I’ve never seen before. I think if I could only draw one, I’d get bored pretty fast.

Illustrations and photo courtesy Michael Hirshon.