First Robotics

 A few weekends ago I joined my friend @suzala at Hoffstra University for the First Robotics Competition. We've gone a few times in the past since she and her husband were involved with the local groups for a long time. Rick still works at the events here on Long Island. The competitions are quick moving and not easy to draw, but I try to find people that are officials that are usually standing pretty still. It is loud and full of energy.

A woman who was sitting near us came over to look at what I was doing and noticed that I had included a small image of her adult daughter who was some kind of a master-of-ceremonies. She is wearing the bright yellow jacket and has some kind of decoration on her head. She took a photo of my sketch.

After the lunch break was over the competitions resumed and the woman who was master-of-ceremonies came closer to our side of the floor. I sketched her with all her decorative buttons as well as a referee and a few other people. When I was finished sketching I passed my sketchbook over to her mother and told her she could take a photo if she wanted. She was thrilled! The event is a lot of fun to sketch, although I don't really watch the competitions because I'm concentrating on sketching.

First Robotics - Sketch 2

 After the band concert that I posted the sketch of the other day, I remained right where I had been sitting in the morning. I had a clearer view now because they had removed the row of seats in front of me, so there was nothing blocking my view. This time I was able to see and sketch one of the robots in the center.

We didn't stay for the entire competition on Friday because my friend, Suzala, had to get home to work with her art students that had lessons scheduled starting around 3:30. It had been a fun day of sketching.

Meanwhile I did some sketching for the Creative Spark Scavenger Hunt that was going on.

Here is a bit of my breakfast.

And a sketch of a vehicle.

First Robotics - Lunch Concert

 At around noon the First Robotics Competition took a break. I was in a luck seat because they took away the row of chairs that were in front of me and I then had a front row seat to a concert at lunchtime. There were about 9 musicians from Long Beach High School who performed. I didn't know how long they would play so I started with the first musician that was on my left. After I finished enough of that one musician I moved to the next in line. I guess they played for about 30 minutes, but I was only able to sketch three of them before they left. They were actually very good. I'm glad I didn't try to do the whole group because I wouldn't have had enough info to complete the sketch. When the group was leaving a man came over and told me that his son was one of the musicians I had sketched and asked if he could take a photo. I said yes, but told him the sketch wasn't finished yet and if he wanted I would email a copy to him. I did later when I got home.

First Robotics Competition - Sketch 1

Last Friday I joined my friend, Suzala, at the First Robotics Competition that was being held over two days at Hofstra University. Suzala and I sketched there a few years ago and thought it was fun. I still haven't figured out how the competition is scored, but that doesn't affect my enjoyment of sketching it. I was able to sneak into a seating area that I believe was supposed to be for judges, but nobody stopped me and I had a 2nd row seat to what was going on. Most of the teams were from local schools with a few teams from foreign countries. Each team dressed in attire that was somehow connected to their team name. The two people on the left were in cowboy hats, but I don't know what their team name was. I like the uniforms on the referees. The competition moves quickly and teams are on and off the floor fast, so this sketch has bits of assorted activity that was going on.