Twelve Cafe Drawings

Actually they're not all strictly cafe drawings this time, since one was done on the train, one on the tube (Bakerloo line,) and one in the Hammersmith Apollo.

Cafe Sketches number 65
These three drawings were done on a trip into town to see Jose Gonzalez play. It was a nice evening, but I didn't get much done in the way of drawing. Trains, rowdy bars and dark theatres aren't the best places to practice.

Still, any practice is good practice. I'm beginning to look at the cafe sketches as my guarantee that I won't become 'studio-bound' by learning academic drawing techniques.

Cafe Sketch number 69

The next trip was back to old favourite, the Cafe Nero. Thankfully they haven't made it no smoking yet.

I had a good time on this trip, and I got to draw someone, this guy here, that I've wanted to draw for a while but not had a chance. Old people are interesting to draw, I'm happy to report I got a fairly good likeness of him here.

Cafe Sketch numer 71
The third trip, yesterday, also went ok, but I'm starting to get a bit frustrated with the drawings. I know they have to be done fast, but I should be able to get the main shapes more accurate then I am at the moment. Every now and again I hit one right and produce a nice drawing, but it's the exception rather than the rule.

I think it'll be a good idea to go back to basics with these drawings for a while, and concentrate on using them as fast eye training, forget about making nice drawings and make sure the basics are right first. There are so many interesting avenues to explore with drawing, it can be easy to let your eye stray onto interesting details and miss the big picture. I think that's what I've been doing lately.

21st May 2006

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