Sketching in public! /gasp/ + tips 'n tricks

Hello everyone!

HAPPY FRIDAY WOO~! /mini-explosion of streamers and confetti/ Hope you have something fun or relaxing planned for the weekend! So, last weekend I went to Starbucks and tried something new. I've been itching to practice my gesture and figure drawings and while the internet is replete with resources and reference photos, I wanted a more dynamic sketching experience. I followed the advice of Fran Meneses on YouTube and gathered my materials in my backpack for a cafe sketch session. I didn't really know what to expect, like would I get weird stares? Would I be quick enough to actually sketch people walking by? I took these anticipations with me and charged into Starbucks, ready for anything. 

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I ordered a green tea frapp and sat down at a spot I'd been eyeing next to the big windows. I'm relieved I was able to snag one of those seats since they open out onto the busiest street downtown where plenty of people are walking by. I started pulling out my pencil bag and my papers, feeling a bit weird myself. Nobody was giving me any problems, but I'm so used to sketching in the comfort of my home (with no one sitting next to me) that I psyched myself out a bit. The first 5 minutes felt a bit awkward, but I got used to it rather quickly and came to enjoy it!

What I would do was take quick glances at people walking down the street or waiting for a light to change. From there I'd take note of the general shape, size, and stance of the person and sketch out their main features. This serves two purposes: you don't end up staring holes into people and you force yourself to simplify your lines. This helps you capture the essence of the individual without trying to draw them in their exactness. The main takeaway I got from this experience was that drawing random passerby is great practice for natural poses and different body types. Getting exposure to a variety of people felt entirely important and fascinating at the same time. It's no secret that I mainly draw young women, which is not to say that that's bad. But it never hurts to want to widen my breadth and learn more about people different from myself. And getting a chance to experience that subtly and honestly through sketching felt significant. 

 ❤ Tips for drawing in public! ovo ❤ 

-keep the materials simple; I used a ballpoint pen and construction paper and think it took a lot of guesswork out of the drawing process. All I had to focus on was who I would draw next rather than what pen I was going to use.

-keep your sketches simple; take this opportunity to practice capturing the general movement and shape of people. Sketch quickly and help train your brain to see the bigger picture. Each sketch I did took about 2-3 minutes at most. Save the details and minutiae for photo reference practice.

-draw whoever you see; I avoided being choosy about who I drew and instead looked up, saw a person, and drew that person. Learning to draw a variety of people is incredibly useful and helps you better understand how bodies work and move. Doing so also pushed me to draw people I don't normally draw, which is something I'm always trying to improve at. 

-have fun! if you're worried about drawing in public, let me assure you that no one pays attention. Perhaps bring a snack or a drink to accompany you or listen to music as you draw. Experiment as much as you want and enjoy the process of trying new styles. 

Hope this was helpful, let me know if you try sketching in a public space! ^^ I'll likely do it again soon, I just had so much fun! Thank you all for your support and I'll see you in a couple days with some new art! :D<3

Love,

Vicki