Anxious couple (pen, ink, felt-tip)

There was a lot of whispering. He was very uptight, lots of leaning in and muttering. She was a bit distant. They settled down after a bit.

Clutch

Some people hug their possessions and accessories as if they’re convinced someone is about to rob them. I’m not overly happy with this drawing. The passenger beside the subject spotted me and asked to see the drawing, as she was getting off the train. Not sure if she was disappointed that it wasn’t her but she turned it upside down, then right way up, then upside down again before handing it back and saying. She said, ‘Hmmm’, then hopped off. Then everyone stared at me. Demanding public, I tell you.

Slingshot baby

Leisure Suit in Pen and Ink

This drawing is almost bordering on caricature. The man steadied himself with a cane and so wasn’t terribly mobile. I thought he would present the perfect subject; interesting and not terribly active, so plenty of time to study and capture the detail of the facial features and so on. Almost as soon as I started sketching, my pen leaked all over my hands. Sometimes these things are meant to happen. Rather than stop, I just used the ink on my fingers to smear in the background and to denote a little texture on the suit.

Walcha’s Got Everything (pen and ink wash)

I drew this at the Gunnedah markets, in the same session as the Apple Eater lady. In this instance, the subject was a stall owner who was chatting to a companion. They were lamenting the sorry state of affairs in the locality, whereby the neighbouring town of Walcha allegedly receives every benefit imaginable to mankind while their locality does it hard. I can’t comment other than to say that either is a nice place to visit. Had a flying saucer landed in the middle of the markets, her response would have been, “a bigger one landed in Walcha last week.” Behind it all, she was having the time of her life, though.

In this sketch, I did my best to capture her weathered, somewhat resigned and slightly laconic disposition.