Drawing the Big Band live

By Luis Ruiz in Málaga, Spain

It was not the first time I drew during a concert, but it was certainly the first time I drew on the stage, sitting among the musicians. I was honoured to be invited to sketch the Big Band del Conservatorio Superior de Málaga, playing at the Teatro Echegaray. What an experience! It is so different to be located there instead of mixed with the public. The perception of the sound and the feeling of being in some sense part of the band makes the pen vividly vibrate to the sound of music.

Of course, there was hardly any light except for the little lamp I had attached to my sketchbook, what made the experience more intense. And I was also allowed to change my vantage point freely -in fact I was encouraged to do so. I am very grateful to the organizers, especially to my friend Ana Sánchez, for this unvaluable gift.