Imitating Keith Haring for Day Without Art

Since 1989, December 1 has marked the Day Without Art, aligning with World AIDS Day. This occasion provides an opportunity for art communities to unite and raise awareness about the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. On this day, we honor the lives and contributions of those who are no longer with us.

Today, at the Draw with Me session with Sketchbook Skool, we paid tribute to Keith Haring by copying elements of his poster, Retrospect. I have long admired Haring’s work, with its bright colors and confident lines. Known for his graffiti-inspired artwork, Haring's art gained widespread recognition, making its way into popular culture, including fashion. However, other than reading in MK Czerwiec's Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371 that she was influenced by his work throughout the 1980s, I didn’t know much about his past. I was unaware that his art was strongly influenced by the social and political movements of his day, or that he died of AIDS at the age of 31.

Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371 by MK Czerwiec, page 4.

The drawing session was a chance for me to use some alcohol markers that had been collecting dust. Haring's characters exhibit a style of illustration that I have always found appealing: simplicity. Although the style seems straightforward, copying it demonstrates that it is not. I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn more about Keith Haring, and I'm eager to make studying and imitating other artists a habit of mine.

Retrospect by Keith Haring (1989)