Sunday, March 7, 2010

More drawings from the Underground


I've heard people say that it can be intimidating drawing someone on the subway. What if they look up and see you drawing them? These days, you need never fear. NOBODY LOOKS UP ANYMORE. Everyone's face is so deeply buried in his gadget, you can do a sculpture if you feel like it.
I'm not an expert at drawing from life, but here is a tidbit I am relearning. When you are drawing someone from life, don't look away from your figure for more than a dot or a dash. Don't look at the nose and say to yourself, "now I will spend some time drawing a nose, because I remember how to draw a nose." You have to study every curve and taper in it because each line will be unique to that nose, the way each person's nose is unique to his face. You have to draw it as if it's the very first nose you have ever seen.

This is what I keep telling myself, anyway.





25 comments:

  1. Great advice and great drawings!

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  2. I like the first sleeping guy

    great advice for life drawing too

    I never worry if people will see me drawing them, they're usually very nice about it.

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  3. Yes it's very true, whenever I try to draw people on the trains I rarely get to draw somebody with their eyes open!! Thanks for sharing these sketches they are amazing!

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  4. Thank you for sharing this, plus the advice! :D

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  5. What make of scanner are you using? These scans are terrific quality

    Thanks for sharing such inspiring work!

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  6. Haha, what you say is so true. I sat this weekend and drew people that didn't move a budge...perfect figure drawing, though all my sketches are of people looking at a downwards angle.

    Great stuff. Love the blog.

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  7. Fabulous advice! That's definitely a problem I have when drawing from life. Always love your posts.

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  8. Your sketches are great!!
    i also try to draw in public transports, it is really interesting and i feel fear sometimes because of the reason you mention... When i draw someone in a train or bus, when the drawing is finished i give it to the person i drew as present!!
    It is amazing!!

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  9. I love them Peter! a few simple lines and you have a face! At least you get lots of practice drawing faces in a downward position ;) Lets see more more!

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  10. These are really great Peter ! Super characters.

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  11. thanks for this advice! love the drawings, as always. :)

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  12. great drawing and advice.

    Also... got "Sketchy Past" over weekend... eye candy... Christmas came early... the editorial content is spot-on... your methods, etc. a real gem!

    Wondering if you will try digital someday and bypass all the headaches with paper, drips, color, etc. I did traditional acrylics, oils, watercolor and airbrush for years went all digital in mid 90's... looks like painting - I'm not going back.

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  13. Love your drawings and illustrations! So glad to see you have this blog! Thanks for many years of delightful viewing (your work, that is).

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  14. Beautiful sketches Peter . . . !

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  15. amazing, I love all the sketches.

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  16. wonderful advice and awesome sketch, really amazing!!!

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  17. THese are wonderful. Sketches are where the rubber hits the road. Fantastic inspiration to me thanks~T

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  18. Beautiful sketches! I love drawing people on the tube- it's so natural and completely not posing. Plus you never know when they're getting off so you might get halfway through a drawing and then they leave. Love the old man(third picture down).

    www.styleisalwaysfashionable.blogspot.com

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  19. wow wonderful sketch, as well as the advice!!

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  20. You're sketches are awesome! If you haven't already, check out the work of Reginald Marsh.

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  21. نقل العفش الطائف
    اهم شركات نقل العفش والاثاث بالدمام والخبر والجبيل اولقطيف والاحساء والرياض وجدة ومكة المدينة المنورة والخرج والطائف وخميس مشيط وبجدة افضل شركة نقل عفش بجدة نعرضها مجموعة شركات نقل العفش بمكة والخرج والقصيم والطائف وتبوك وخميس مشيط ونجران وجيزان وبريدة والمدينة المنورة وينبع افضل شركات نقل الاثاث بالجبيل والطائف وخميس مشيط وبريدة وعنيزو وابها ونجران المدينة وينبع تبوك والقصيم الخرج حفر الباطن والظهران
    نقل العفش بمكة
    نقل العفش بالرياض
    نقل العفش بالدمام
    نقل العفش بتبوك
    نقل العفش بالقصيم
    نقل العفش بينبع

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