Drawing people deeply engrossed in their phones is one of my favorite subjects. It’s great because I don’t have to worry about awkward eye contact. Plus, these people often sit incredibly still for such a long time, which gives me plenty of time to observe them carefully.
The subway is hands down the best place to draw strangers. It also means a lot of awkward eye contact
I made this quick drawing of a man sitting across from me while I waited for the dim sum carts to come by.
Sitting on the subway, I saw a man across from me with his face in his hand. It was such an emotional and intimate moment, I immediately felt compelled to draw him. It's not often I encounter scenes like this. My usual subjects are people relaxing in coffee shops or bars, which are generally more relaxed settings. This encounter made me think about where I might find similar poignant moments.
I often find myself continuing to draw on a page that's already partially filled, and sometimes it can lead to some interesting compositions. It's interesting how these memories captured in different locations at different times can exist in the same place.
To prove a point. The guys at the top were having dinner at the counter at ovovo. The conversation on the left was captured at a coffeeshop. And the man on the right was waiting for his breakfast at my favorite breakfast burrito spot.
I love drawing people who are completely absorbed in their work because I don’t have to play the game where I pretend I’m not drawing them. This guy was so wrapped up in whatever he was doing that I don’t think he looked up once.
Drew this older gentleman at a diner, hand to his cheek, foot turned to the side. Could've been waiting for his check, could've been waiting for a friend to come back from the restroom. Didn't have much time to work it out, so the lines had to make their own decisions.