Sketch Cups by Miguel Angel Cardona, Jr. - Exposure
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Sketch Cups

San Francisco, CA

Miguel Angel Cardona, Jr.
By Miguel Angel Cardona, Jr.

DISPOSABLE "ART"

I’ve drawn hundreds of “sketch cups” over the past two years in what started out as a procrastinatory work habit. Many of them have been sold online and in local coffee shops with proceeds going to benefit homeless children through Project Night Night.

The act of drawing on paper coffee cups has allowed me to overcome some of my social anxiety and engage with people in my community. Because of these cups, I have had some amazing opportunities, met some of the most interesting people, and gained a sense of belonging in a new city.

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"Viral"

My cups have been featured on Cool Hunting, Mashable, Today.com, The Chive, The DailyDot, Daily Mail, and numerous other online venues. The highlight of my “cup career” was Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr., posting my Iron Man Cup (rigged to glow blue with LED lights) on his Facebook page.

I thank Eva Glettner (instagram: skatemamas) for all the publicity.
She made it happen by interviewing me for Cool Hunting LA.

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Coffee Shops Frequented by City:

San Francisco, CA: Café Sophie, Precita Park Café.
Rochester, NY: Lovin Cup, Javas, Fuego and Boulder Coffee.
Buffalo, NY: Caffe Aroma.

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Example of my Process

Because Predator.

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I am the one who coffee.

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"ART OF PROCRASTINATION"

In early 2013, I had the opportunity to have a gallery style showing of my sketch cups at Boulder Coffee, in the South Wedge district of Rochester, NY. I provided a DJ, beverages, a table full of markers and blank cups. It was simultaneously an art show and a dance party. A ton of my students at the time, friends, relatives and co workers attended the event, along with local regulars looking for a caffeine fix. It was one of the best times of my life.

Photos below courtesy of Roman Blagovirnyy.

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Good Day Sacramento

Dear god, I don’t know why I am posting this here—This the clip from the morning show that interviewed me. Really I just pretended I was talking to Danny Tanner and Rebecca Donaldson on “Wake Up San Francisco”.

I had an Almond croissant that morning, and was accompanied all day by two of my favorite lady friends. We played in the rain around downtown Sacramento after the show. It was a fun day.



© 2025 Miguel Angel Cardona, Jr.

Miguel is a designer working at imgix and living in San Francisco.
In his previous life, Miguel was a New Media Professor at RIT & Co-Founder of Dumbwaiter Design
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