Sketching people on the train, traffic crossing and coffeeshop

By Don Low, Singapore

There is a hilarious post on how to draw people on subway circulating on FB. It kinda reminds me of how I draw people on the train too. I seldom draw on the bus because I will get really giddy. Our bus drivers (in Singapore) are like F1 drivers, in my opinion.

Train or subway is a wonderful place to observe people and draw them at the same time. Singaporeans are pretty polite. They leave you along most of the time. There are some who will turn over and start to look at what you are doing, but they are mostly foreigners, who would walk over or bent over to say hi. The locals would usually raised an eyebrow when I pull my sketchbook out of the bag, then turn a straight face and return to their smart phones soon after.

When I draw people on the train, I will avoid using a big sketch book so I need not spread my arms too much, which will become an intrusion to someone’s space, whether you are seated on standing. My shoulders are already broad enough. I try not to bob my head up and down too much too, so I am relying on my memory throughout the process of sketching. If I need to, I will try to look up and down without moving my head, just the eyes. I shall not dwell on a subject for too long or I might attract the person’s attention. Normally on a crowded train, I could only spend not more than 5mins on a person. I look for people who are engrossed with their phone or something. Most people are shy to see what you are doing anyway so I am not worried about drawing attention to myself. I pay more attention to getting the gesture, clothing, some likeness but not a portrait when I draw.

Just recently I decided to try drawing people waiting at the lights. I was fortunate enough that day to be able to find a good place where I can sit, sip coffee and look at a traffic crossing. Good practice to make quick gestural studies.

PS: The lines were made with a ball point gel pen… the blacks were filled in on the spot, while colours were added later in the comfort of the studio.