S2S #4: The Squatter

Debi posted the character sketch for this guy. He was a challenge! Not really the position, but the fact that she specifically stated the place that she saw him. Since Chipotle is a chain, I had to find a "Chipotle Chair". I used some creative liberties in this one. I'm not extremely pleased with him. I have had issues with each sketch so far, so why should this one be any different?

I think that it's because I have to come up with these from reading and my imagination. I never have been great at sketching unless I can see the subject right in front of me, life or photograph. I can't really do that on these. All the more reason to keep practicing and making progress.

The Squatter

Sketch2Sketch #4 - The Squatter

I stood in line at Chipotle waiting to give my order when I noticed the man I passed on the way in at the drink station sitting with friends. Noticing not really that he was sitting with friends, but that he was squatting in his chair. Yes, squatting. His black sandaled feet were on the chair while black nylon pants covered long legs were folded up against his slim torso with his knees coming up almost to his chin. He wore a charcoal gray long sleeved t-shirt that covered his lanky arms down past his wrists. He smiled at his friends while talking. Coffee colored stubble speckled the lower half of his elongated oval face while matching long layered hair covered the rest of his face.

S2S #3: A Mother And Her Baby

Sorry to take so long with this S2S. It has been all crazy up in here. I have to say, the baby was much cuter before I messed with the color. Oh, and by himself. The proportion relationship between him and mom are just not where I would like them to be. Oh well, chalk it up to learning and practice.

A Mother And Her Baby

She stands quietly at the counter waiting for her drink order, arms wrapped around her plump baby boy perched on her left hip. The handles of a pink paper shopping bag from a nearby boutique hangs from her clasped hands. Her dark sandy bob is held back from her face by her rounded black sunglasses that fit snugly around the top of her head. A long nose sits between brown eyes on her oval face. Her lips sit flat like her affect and her color choices of a taupish-gray deep v-neck t-shirt and slate gray shorts. Black leather straps from her slippers cover her feet in a v-formation. Her baby looks around the coffee shop from under his white bucket hat with his arms dropped to his side. His clothes are slightly mismatched with a white polo shirt bearing one red and blue horizontal stripe with some white in between across his chest and white and light green horizontal striped cotton pants.

S2S #2: Hanging On

S2S #2: Hanging On

I decided to work this one in ink and watercolor pencils. He was pretty challenging to visualize. I love a good challenge. I hope I did him well :)

Sketch2Sketch: Hanging On

The sandwich shop was quiet and he stepped from behind the counter to the opening that led to the kitchen. He jumped up and grabbed on to the ledge above the opening. He pulled his legs out in front of him so they were parallel to the floor. He kept his feet in his black tennis shoes flexed so the toes were pointing towards the ceiling. His baggy jeans hung low on his hips, almost sagging despite the worn brown leather belt he wore. A white work apron covered most of his black t-shirt and ended at his knees. His arm muscles revealed themselves from his effort to hold himself in this position. His short scraggly beard didn't quite fill the lower half of his face, either telling of his youth or that he would not be able to grow a full beard. He formed his pinkish lips into an O shape as he started to whistle. His nearly beak-like nose that wasn't quite so rounded sat between his dark sapphire eyes. A black cap with red "JJ" lettering outlined in white covered his short dark chocolate hair on an oval head.

The Student in the Coffee Shop

Here he is. Yes I need a LOT of practice. I really messed up on the face. Sure I could have corrected that in Photoshop, but that would defeat the purpose of this project.

 He was a pretty quick sketch with Sharpie Ultra Fine and some Prismcolor Art-Markers (the few colors I have).

I have dedicated this little 3.5in by 5.5 inch leather bound Mead journal for this project.

*I think I should have had the backpack sticking out from the back. My new rule...(No Re-doing is allowed) Let's bite this perfectionism off, and learn in the most humbling way :)

Sketch2Sketch #1 - The Student In The Coffee Shop

We're trying something new as Laura mentioned in the last blog post. This is an exercise for both of us to hone our skills and keep in practice. I welcome constructive criticism as I learn from suggestions as how to make things more polished. Without further ado....

The Student In The Coffee Shop

He walked into the coffee shop. "Hey man." he said to the barista as he approached the low black counter and engaged in small talk. Walnut brown hair sat short and clean around the back of his rounded head while the slightly longer hair on top was styled metrosexual unkempt. Day and a half old stubble framed the bottom half of his face. Reddish brown metallic framed glasses that his brown eyes peered through, sat atop his perfectly straight and average nose. He wore a dingy white LaCoste polo shirt with a heathered gray t-shirt layered underneath despite the 102 degree weather outside. His kept his thumbs hooked under the straps of his charcoal backpack with the rest of his hand lying softly over the top of the straps. His bare toes peeked out from under the frayed hem of his dirty wash jeans that hid the slippers he wore.