The dynamics of drawing strangers in an urban setting

Gentleman at Starbucks working
on his laptop.- pen& ink 6x9

   Although it is a little "different" to go sketching at a coffee shop it is even more tricky to casually sketch somebody sitting there doing their own thing. When I do this, I often get one of two vibes... either folks ignore me or they notice me and the tension thickens like dry ice. I've had folks get up and walk off when they realized I was drawing them and I always feel bad about that. The key is not to make it a point that I am observing them specifically when possible.
   Hating my own image being photographed, I can certainly sympathize with my victims. Photographers like Cartier-Bresson or Fellig  were fascinated with the candid. They ran into this predicament trying to catch images of people naturally in their own environment. Some even built devices with redirected lenses to where the photographer could point his camera in one direction yet redirect the "real lens" to take the image of someone to the side of the lens. If only we artists could be so fortunate to have independent vision on the side of our heads. Better yet try those kid's spy glasses that actuallyshow what is behind you.There is always working from reflections (large windows)...
As I cautiously "sneak a glance" I can't help but think,' If only my subjects knew that I am not so much watching them (with critical eye or judgement) but rather observing the abstract shapes, comparing values... and hoping they don't move before I get something worthy.
   Since I was less than 6 foot away from this stranger I'm thinking he knew what I was doing and just "went with it" in appreciation of the local artist sketching at the Starbucks. I was very appreciative because when reflecting the drawing as a whole, I thought it sure is a narrative that marks our culture in the typical urban scenery for this day and age.

A second play day

Yesterday (Saturday, 21 Feb 2015), Urban Sketchers Tacoma held our second "Play Day".   It is conceived as an orientation to the group for new members and a chance to play around with new media for sketching. 
I gave a presentation about the on-line component of Urban Sketchers.   Here, I'm setting up the monitor (photo by Frances)



Over lunch, we had a "what's in your bag" session.  Here is Frances





Darsie demonstrates his clever and unique "Field Easel Bag"



During the "play" part of the day, there was opportunity to try out new techniques and media.

It all starts with a sketch

2 preliminary sketches 1/4 size each

 Sometimes sketching is the practice of "thinking visually" before investing the time to commemorate a place in time through a more extensive study. In this instance a friend and I went sketching together at the Skansie Netshed in Gig Harbor one afternoon. I start with preliminary composition sketches and try and do a vertical and a horizontal but in this case I did 2 verticals to see which I prefer in the crop... higher or lower.  I really enjoy finding "things as they are" in their own environment as there are so many nice vignettes just waiting to be found and appreciated.  Take me to a place that shelters antiques
and I am a happy artist!

7x9 watercolor study

New! Monthly outings on 3rd Wednesdays!

BREAKING NEWS!   FROM NOW ON—URBAN SKETCHERS-TACOMA HAS TWO SKETCH-OUTINGS EACH MONTH

We launch the  Third Wednesday Sketch-Outings  on March 18!
Come Sketch Mid-week with Urban Sketchers-Tacoma

10 am-12:30pm on Wednesday March 18th
We will be sketching inside Union Station in Downtown Tacoma
1717 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402-3200.

The ‘Museum Stop’ of the Light Rail coming from the Freight House Square 
stops a short distance from Union Station. 

IMPORTANT: Because this is the Court House, there will be a security check.
Be sure to bring official, government issued photo I.D. to be able to enter.
The first images in this album  are inside the Court House.

March First Saturday Monthly Outing--March 7th.

On the 1st Saturday of each month we meet at 10:00am, then, disperse to sketch.  At 12:30pm we meet again to share our sketches and have a group photo.


Our next outing will be March 7th at Tacoma’s Main Public Library
1102 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA  98402 (South of 11th.) 

Free parking: in the lot south of the library + on street parking in front of the library on Saturdays.

 Library opens at 9 am. (for early birds)……. 
Sketchers meet at 10 am in the Olympic Room

Two events in library that may interest sketchers:
--Teen Coder Dojo, meeting in the teen area.
--House of Matthew Homeward Bound Program, in the computer classroom

If sketchers would like to share lunch after the outing, restaurants that are fairly near/about equal distance from library:
(Restaurant across street from library, closed on Saturdays)
Down hill: The Bite at Hotel Murano at 11th and Broadway
Up hill: Le Le’s Thai/Vietnamese Restaurant at 1012 Martin Luther King Jr. Way ( between 11th and10th)

Sheltered from the rain in Johnny's Dock

We met at Johnny's Dock restaurant  for our February monthly outing.  There were windows all around the building out of which to sketch.  Good thing, too, as it was pouring rain. Many of us sketched this same scene across the waterway.  At times, the visibility was diminished by the rain!

I was somewhat distracted by good conversation this time,  so really only got one sketch done.  I had a great time, though.



I think this might have been our largest group yet.  I think I counted at least 25 sketchers.  Some had to leave early so not everyone is in this group photo (taken by our resident photographer, Scott McElhiney)

Pat sketching

Jane

the group in the lobby: Jamie, Candy, Feather

look at all those windows!

sharing sketches