Re: tips on sketching people without their knowing?

In Reply to: tips on sketching people without their knowing? posted by justine on 06/29/00 at 9:48 AM:

: Does anyone have any ideas on where is the best place to do this? Libraries, restaurants, is wearing sunglasses helpful? Thank you Justine

Starbucks! I've been sketching people in cafes for several years now. Coffee shops are usually full of people who stay for extended periods of time socializing or studying. During a two hour session at the local Starbucks I am usually able to get dozens of quick gesture sketches of customers in line, a half dozen profiles of customers drinking their coffee, and one, possibly two or more refined sketches of students poring over their college textbooks.

Pools are a bad idea unless you hold several black belt ranks in both striking and grappling arts because if you stare long enough to do a full drawing of, say a girl in a bikini, her biker boyfriend might decide to tear your head off. Or what about sketching children? That could possibly have worse consequences.

In any case you are correct in wanting to draw from spontaneous, live models as opposed to simply copying photographs. Photographs are good for capturing movement and are a useful tool to the seasoned pro but there is simply no comparison between the artist who is experienced drawing the human figure from life and the person who has only copied photographs. Good luck and happy sketching.
 
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