#OneWeek100People2017 - Day 4

Today I had a great idea for where to find a lot of people...the Motor Vehicle Department. I don't know about where you live, but here in NY you spend quite a while waiting for your number to be called. There were lots of people seated, standing at the windows at the counter, and standing at tables filling out forms. It was the perfect location...so perfect that I kept on going and going, and I sketched all the way to my goal of 100 people. Here are the last pages of my models.

#OneWeek100People2017

These were done yesterday after I had already posted. The man on the left was parked at the beach next to me.

At first I had a seat where I could see the full figures of the people.

For most of these I sketched what I could see from where I was seated looking left.

Then I moved to a seat on the other side of the room so I could sketch people's faces from the other side.

Several people were standing at the table where there was space to fill out the forms.

Lots of people were just sitting and waiting.

Here are some additional people working on filling out their forms, and some people just waiting...and waiting.

This turned out to be a great place to sketch people. I'll have to remember it in the future on freezing days when I don't want to sit in my cold car.

After reflecting on this challenge there are a few things I realized:

1. Each day felt like I was starting over and I needed one or two people for practice before I got into the groove. A warm-up would be good.

2. The material I think worked best for me in this challenge was the Platinum Preppy pen. It moves smoothly and can give me enough detail to satisfy me.

3. People's faces are pretty similar with just small details to differentiate them...hair style (or lack there of) and chins (single or double). The faces don't really need a lot of detail since I wasn't doing portraits.

4. I still need to concentrate on the body heights and remember that the average body is about 8 heads high. I also need to work on drawing the position of the feet in shoes. Usually I get to that part of the figure and say, "Now what?." One of the artist who started the challenge, Liz Steel, has been making comments on her own sketches and when she finds something that needs attention she works on it, even researches it. Maybe that's what I need to do with the feet and shoes.

5. I LIKE challenges! LOL

For those who are curious, not one of the 100 people seemed to notice that I was sketching them. People around me noticed, but nobody made a big deal about it or even commented...they just looked and smiled.

#OneWeek100People2017 - Day 3

Today I went out for breakfast again. It seems like that is a good time to catch a lot of people. Bagel Lovers is next to my Weight Watcher's location in Patchouge, and my friends and I usually stop there for breakfast after weigh-in. I missed going there on Monday. It is usually crowded and I could was sure I could find some models. My only complaint with these "fast food" places is that their chairs are often connected to the tables and you can't push them back for more room to sketch. I like to sketch in my lap rather than on the table so it makes it a little uncomfortable. Here are today's characters. For a mild day there were a lot of people in puffy winter jackets and boots. lol These probably took me about an hour and a half but that included eating my breakfast too. I need to find a location where more of the people are facing me.

#OneWeek100People2017

Happy International Women's Day!!!

#OneWeek100People2017 - Day 2

This morning I had an early appointment at Nissan to have my oil changed and tires rotated. In the past the service center has been a great place to sketch people because everyone checked in at the counter when they got there. However, they changed the process so everyone is seen in an individual cubicle. Then only the people who are waiting for their cars come in and sit down. That limits the number of models.

#OneWeek100People2017

These two men above were on the other side of the room so I did them first using my Elegant Writer pen so I could add a bit of shading. The pen wasn't writing so well so I abandoned it after a while. 

These two were in a cubicle and I could see a bit of them through the window.

After my car was finished I went over to McDonald's for breakfast and started sketching the cast of characters there. I switched to my platinum preppy pen.

I was almost ready to give up because everyone left...but in came a new group.

I will probably end up there again this week. Next time I'll just have coffee, not their egg white sandwich (which is pretty good by the way).

#OneWeek100People2017 - Day 1

I am participating in a sketching challenge by Marc Holmes and Liz Steel who have invited artists all over the world to take part. The idea is from Monday, March 6th to Friday, March 10th we sketch 100 people. It can be done from live models or photos. I gave doing live models a shot today going to Starbucks before meeting friends for lunch and then to the public library in the late afternoon. All of these sketches were done with a Pentel brush pen. I figured it would help me not do a lot of detail. lol

If you are interested in participating I have attached Liz Steel's description of the challenge below my sketches for today.

#OneWeek100People2017

Announcing a worldwide event:

#ONE WEEK 100 PEOPLE 2017
March 2017, Monday 6th – Friday 10th.

Do you want to get better at drawing portraits? Or people in action?

Every aspiring artist has heard the advice, ‘Carry a small sketchbook at all times!’ We’re all told ‘Practice drawing every day!’ This is of course great advice.

But sometimes we need a little extra motivation.

I’ve always enjoyed giving myself a playful challenge. A short-term tangible goal.

It has to be something that’s achievable – but also a bit of a stretch. We need to commit to giving a little extra effort! Plus – we need to give ourselves permission to clear our busy schedules and make time for art.

Taking inspiration from the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), this year urban sketchers Marc Taro Holmes (Montreal, CA) and Liz Steel (Sydney, AUS) invite the world to join in with ONE WEEK 100 PEOPLE 2017.

The simple goal is: Draw 100 people in one week.

You can do it any way you want. Pencil sketches, or pen and ink, maybe watercolor sketches. Whatever it is that you’d like to practice most.

We’re committing to draw about 20 people a day. We’ll be posting our work every day for the week of March 6-10. If you want to join in, use the hashtag #OneWeek100People2017 and everyone can find your work too!