Ink in Moleskine sketchbook (Larger)
Usually I sit in an inconspicuous spot when I sketch on BART but the only available seat was the kind where two passengers sit facing two others. This lady at first seemed annoyed at my sketching her — since our knees were nearly touching I couldn’t hide what I was doing — so I tried sketching the guy below a few feet to my left who had a big nose ring like you’d put in a cow. But he got off so I went back to her. She eventually ignored me and I was able to draw for another few minutes until I reached my stop. (5 minute drawing),
Sepia Memory Brush Pen (felt pen with a brush-like tip) in Moleskine sketchbook.
I took a walk to the Peets Coffee in my neighborhood and forced myself to slow down and draw for a little while. I’m also in such a rush to get to the next thing, which in this case was painting in the studio. This old felt tip brush pen was running out of ink.
Ink in Moleskine sketchbook on Veteran’s Day
I overheard him saying, “Today is a very sacred day. I’m glad to be alive and have survived Viet Nam and the military government.”
Jana Bouc, Artist 
10 replies on “Random Subway & Cafe Sketches”
Your 5 minute sketches are incredible, Jana — I can see such observational and line skill in that short amount of time .. after 5 minutes, I’ve already worn out my eraser from corrections!!! LOL I LOVE these — so fresh and energetic! You’ve already got all these done — looks like you’ll be joining Teri for 50! Super, Jana! BTW, I managed a couple of miles this week — but between catching up at work and grands, my exercising is not as it should .. sigh!
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Drawing people in public requires a bit of magination to pretend that your are invisible, and I tend to get too many back views at the gigs I go to because they are about an audience. WhenI drew the women at the poker machines (4 minutes) one woman moved three times to other machines.
w.
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These are all good, but I just love the top one. There’s so much attitude in her pose. Well done!
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Wow! Wonderful ! sketches. Love the attitude on the sourpuss lady! I must admit my crimes now. I have drawn sketches of people on the Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and all buses that are in my area of travel and the Commuter Rail and Amtrak, yes, I love the Amtrak. (shhh! This is a secret, My iPhone is quite naughty, it pretends to be typing and looking at email and snaps pictures, very quitely.} I get to keep references. I cannot wait for my next Amtrak ride. Yeah! I am one who has even taken pictures inside Penn Station. Yeah! I got caught, I got a warning.
Love my sketching. I really need to publish some.
((( Circle of Hugs )))
Sherrie
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The scratchy style really suits the subject here.
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Love your ink sketches and I agree, you did actually capture some of her attitude in the top sketch! I also enjoy your squiggled last sketch…I enjoy doing them as well, they are very relaxing.
ronell
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I love your sketches. I actually picked up a bottle of ink for the first time two days ago and the results were disastrous. I can’t draw or anything, but I like to try new things. I do want to learn to sketch with ink eventually…
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Lilabirdie, I usually just draw with a pen like a Micron Pigma, rather than using bottles of ink and dip or fountain pens. Much more portable. I’ve found that drawing with ink is actually freeing since there’s no erasing. You just have to go for it!
Quiltknit, I must confess I’ve taken photos too (just once though) and sadly they didn’t come out well enough to work from as it was too dark and I didn’t want to use flash).
Wendy, I like the way you said that, that you need to have imagination to pretend you’re invisible. I love that image!
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Hello Jana,
I have a blog with some drawings I do from trains in Tokyo and around. In all my years of drawing on the Tokyo trains Iv only met one Japanese man who was drawing.
I like your drawings . What is Moleskin?.
It would be nice to exchange thoughts and ideas . Where do you live and draw?.
all the best, Greg Winder. http://greg.exblog.jp/
ps. it might be hard to leave a comment on my blog . You can write to me at…. greg_winder@hotmail.com .. if you like.
and don’t forget at the end of each page on my blog you can click on to the Japanese word to the right at the bottom of each page to see more . cheers
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Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.
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