We’re just not getting enough sleep. Folks are conkin’ out in public. On the trains, in bookstores, on benches, cafes, parks, libraries, malls, movie theaters. I’ll concede the narcotic at work could be a drab plot in a movie, not sufficient action packed gore, sex, or violence in the cinema, too much turkey for lunch, terminally long waits for partners to try on every shoe with a sole. Whatever the cause, they’re dropping like flies for 40 winks till pot holes, ushers, or asphyxia jars them back to the realm of the hustle.
 
 
 
 
For the record, the drawings in this post were executed in several stocks of books, Rhodia, Stillman & Birn, Utrecht, Tomoe River Pad, Lakota, and various ledger books. Tools used included ballpoint, gel pens, various fountain pens, and Pitt Artist Pens of severa nib sizes, and some watercolor pencils.
This post will illustrate how a drawing develops in stages. The above drawing of chef Kenny preparing meals at Table To Stix Ramen was done while I ordered & dined on a delicious bowl of pork belly ramen and a desert of green tea ice cream. It began as you see below, with a quick sketch in a gray Pitt Pen while chef was at the ramen pot.
The skeleton of the image is established quickly and light enough to make amendments that will be incorporated into the drawing as contours and tones get strengthened and become more definitive.
Since Kenny is moving, I worked on the foreground, the counter, the plates, the hot water dispenser, until Kenny would return to tend boiling ramen. Back and forth, as he moves, I develop him and the space around him.
Below, four stages of the same four hour drawing done on two days at the same time both days so I would have consistent lighting. The basic structure of the train overpass is set down before I develop the variables such as shadows, clouds, and trees or the textures on the walls and pavement.
In the following two nude studies, it is relatively how the figures were drawn with contour lines using lighter values,mind then developed by building shadows and adding highlights.
The four preceding drawings all began with a lighter value followed by darker values to sharpen features and create contrast between skin and clothing or that develope special allusions. The brown drawing of a man drinking from a cup begins with an either/or distinction between light and shade and then a second application of ink deepens tones so that an ear and the shape of his hair becomes evident. Further steeps in that direction  will ” flesh out” the character of your subject.
The following drawing were from a still productive steel maker in Cleveland.
All drawings were executed with pigmented pens, some fountain pen but predominantly Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens. The white was either a Pitt Pen White or a white grease pencil. The papers were Yasatomo, Strathmore toned paper, Clairefontaine, and various ledger books. With the exception of the bald dude with the dark eyes, all other drawings were drawn from life.
Further examples of how a drawing develops can be found on a July 3rd post from 2015 titled Appropriate Distraction. You’ll find that easily on this blog’s site map.
Below are more examples of the strategies employed above. One is from my imagination, the rest are observed. One of the inherent benefits of drawing from life in dynamic conditions such as the cluster of heads inside a movie theater just before the lights go down, is that you’re forced to avoid dawdling and redrawing contours several times. The practice ushers out timidity and procrastination, relaxes an over emphasis on being exact and builds confidence.
The challenge is to grab what you can till the moment passes. There are times when I can feel the pose and see the angles clearly; where my focus isn’t too tight and my field of vision is such that the connections and relationships of major structural parts and key details are apparent. Then, a relaxed but progressive pace that doesn’t overwork nor overthink the draughtinging and makes use of at least a few tools so that broad areas are developed quickly and details have clarity. The emphasis is on efficiency and fluidity rather than speed.
In the above drawings you can see several tools at work on different paper. Both papers have sufficient sizing so the ink stays moist long enough to be wiped or smeared or dabbed brining the finger into play and adding finger prints and a hazed or brushed look. With a broad brush nib, strips are done in one stroke passing the need of predawn outlines. A range of tones, even if it is only a couple, help distinguish separate elements making features pop and giving the lighting more character.
 
I like to work in ink which once it sets up, prevents further smudging, has tonal strength, forces my hand to limit over drawing contours, and can have cool and warm hues to aid in distinguishing different elements, i.e. a scarf from a shirt, and holds the same edge not requiring constant sharpening.
This week, I’m throwing up a collection of head studies and anonymous portraits captured while drawing in public, largely on public transit.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Making use of the same tool kit I have worked with over the last few years. Fountain pens such as Pelikan M215 and M250, Faber-Castell Basic Black Leather, Sailor Bent Nib, Lamy Studio, all filled with Platinum Carbon ink. Don’t forget to rinse you fountain pens out on a regular basis, say 2-4 weeks. And, I make use of the full range of F-C Pitt Pens, all colors, all greys, and the whole variety of nib widths. And yes, those are my fingerprints, it’s automatic copyrighting.
