Subway Sketching

On my two trips to NYC through Elmira College, the one constant was sketching. My first trip we had to sketch on the subway just to help pass time and to constantly work. While on the second trip we were required to fill up two small sketchbooks a week so subway rides became valuable times to fill our quota.

Sketching on the subway is a great thing for any artist to try/use. There are so many variables that go into it. How long do I have to finish this person? What's unique about this person? Who do I choose? How do I draw them without them finding out and knifing me? There are a ton of poses, faces, fashions, objects, time constraints on each car. An hour long subway ride can easily give you 10-20 decent sketches if you time it right. It's perfect for honing in on a certain trait, like feet, poses, eyes, etc. because there are so many options and they are always changing.

Then there's the human element. These models aren't voluntary. Some may not appreciate you staring at them constantly then scribbling in a notebook. From my experience, most people don't mind, as long as you're good enough. Nobody likes to look uglier than they are. People like to ask questions and it's a great way to start conversation in a car full of strangers. You definitely run into people who don't like it, or freak out if there are a group of you all doing the same thing.

Each sketch is like a little battle. How well can I capture someone in the two minutes they're sitting in front of me or the 15 seconds they're next to me waiting to get off. Making anything competitive makes it more interesting so when you "nail it" and look at your page and see the person who just left, or turned away, it's a great feeling. Flipping back through the book days later and remembering exactly what that person looked like is also a great feeling of success.

Sketching on the subway is one thing I'll miss the most about being in NYC. If I ever get back there, I'll definitely make sure I have a sketchbook and pen in my pocket because it's a unique experience at every stop.