A Commuter Sketch

On three different occasions, we were on the same train going to the city.  I think he gets on at the New Rochelle station.  He was also on the same train I took this morning but I didn't do a sketch of him.  I was focusing more on the hands I can draw.  I'm happy I only have a few pages left with this sketchbook.  I'll be starting a new one this week. Yay!

Bryant Park Sketch Meet

The rescheduled Bryant Park sketch meet two Sundays ago was successfully held yesterday.  It was a bit cloudy but not hot and muggy like we've had in the previous days.  I came early and had a chance to socialize with dear friends and met new participants, too.  In the morning, I sketched a view looking West of 41st Street and in the afternoon, the towering view of the One Vanderbilt building on the East 42nd Street.  It was great day to be with my NYC USk friends!

Bryant Park Picnic Performances

Last night, I went to Bryant Park not to see the Ballet Hispanico performance but to sketch people and try this new Platinum 3776 FP with 14K SF nib. A day later, I applied some WC wash to it, which was by no surprise, that Blue Black ink cartridge it came with wasn't waterproof. Anyway, I need to use this pen more to see how I like it.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9230

I got off work early and made the 6:30 PM express train to Stamford on Track 21 at the Grand Central Terminal.  A young couple preferred standing by the closed doors of Car# 9230 we were on.  Adjacent to them was a seated passenger.  All of them in my front view.  I thought a trio of the figures would be a nice composition.  I started with the seated one, then worked next on the young lady before the next train stop at the125th Street station.  Additional passengers came on board and the young couple got momentarily separated and pushed away from my view.  As much as I wanted to include her partner in this sketch, I resisted making up one.  I put away the sketchbook into my backpack and browsed the Internet on my phone.  It's hard knowing when to stop.  I'm still trying to learn that but I think I succeeded this time..

A Commuter Sketch on Cars 9393 and 9289

Sometimes, when everything is going right, I get good sketch results on the commute to the city.  I think these two sketches has made it to that list of interesting ones by far.  That guy with the headphone was busy with his mobile device but I was busy capturing a good likeness of his shoes before working my sketch up to his head.  On the second sketch, he was seated several rows away but I had a good look and this sketch of him was just satisfactory to my liking.

Sketch Outing at Oyster Bay, NY

Two weekends ago, the NYC Urban Sketchers met at Oyster Bay, NY.  I've never been before and previous meet ups at Oyster Bay in the years past were all very exciting.  Since the event was moved to a Sunday, it worked out well with my schedule.  My car had to be fixed the day before in time for this event.  I arrived later than 10:00am but eventually found Alan near the town center.  We walked around and sketched this house together.  In the afternoon, we got a chance to be inside the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, normally off-limits to non-residents, but Suzala got us all in.  It's a beautiful park with a view of the LI Sound and the marina.  I used a pre-marked page to sketch the scene.

  

On E 37th and 5th Ave

On Tuesday, I was at the corner of East 37th and 5th Avenue when this delivery truck caught my attention, then the scaffolding, the lamp post and the street sign.  This scene in my new (old) work neighborhood had to be sketched.

  

A Commuter Sketch on Cars 9351 and 9619

The view at eye-level wasn't that interesting so I shifted my gaze down.  Lo and behold, there were shoes and sandals to pick from.  And I hope I wasn't attracting attention with my sketching.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9388

He was deeply engaged on his phone.  I noticed his left hand resting over his right knee, almost, and that was where I started this sketch.  Then the posts and the seats.  I noticed a partially visible right arm of this lady wearing Birkins.  That lady standing by the exit door was added last.

A Commuter Sketch on Car 9160

At the 125th Street Station, I saw him get on the North bound train to Stamford.  I noticed the head band and the lace up face mask type.   He didn't bother take a seat, just stood by the car entrance/exit doors.  Several stops later, he got off at the Larchmont Station.

The Commuter Sketch Series

On my daily commute, there's the 52 minutes of sketching time to spare each way on the train.  Here are some commuter sketches I did last week.  Capturing people gestures in my sketch has become so much more interesting and fun.

 

The Flower Delivery Van

Left my recent job in Port Chester last week and rejoined my prior work company in the city.  I'm now a commuter once again!  Monday was my first day of work and I was early enough to get this sketch done in time.  A delivery man was sweeping the van cargo floor while another seen hauling away some more supplies from the side door.