- Snow on the ground changes the graphical character of the landscape. Dark, positive shapes become white negative shapes.
- Footprints and tracks in snow provide ideal perspective cues and graphical lines to lead the eye.
- Wind can sculpt snow into strange and interesting shapes.
- People bundle up, displaying a variety of body shapes and silhouettes.
- People move with a more purposeful gait and with an economy of action. This seems to display something of their inner character.
- Drawing with cold fingers forces you to be very selective, to think about everything that you draw, and to work quickly.
And now, on to the sketchcrawl:
First off, here's the kit: a 5.5 x 8.5 inch spiral bound sketchbook, folding stool, carrying case, and an assortment of pens and pencils. Also pictured is a small reducing glass (bi-concave lens) with a taped-on rectangular mask. It's a terrific compositional aid.
Stop #1. Tim Hortons at Bathurst and Dundas Streets. This is a great place to observe people. The restaraunt looks out onto a busy intersection. People of all ages, ethnicities and body types frequent this area.
I've got to tell this little story: As I was waiting at the counter for my soup and coffee a lady behind me suddenly leapt up and started running around the restaraunt pawing at the air and hyperventillating, then, just as suddenly, sat down again and resumed eating as if nothing had happened! The whole restaraunt froze and sort of half-stared at her in an awkward, bewildered sort of way. Less than a minute later she did the same thing again. This was particularly unnerving to me since she was right behind me and I had my back to her waiting for my lunch. Finally the minestrone was ladled out and I took my seat, far away from the hyper lady.
I have to have some sympathy for folks when they suffer from seizures or other such socially awkward quirks. In high school one of my favorite teachers had a shocking seizure right in the middle of class. She was fine after a brief rest. It can happen to anyone, and shouldn't reflect badly on them otherwise.
Next stop: Kensington Market, one of the coolest neighborhoods in North America. Really. I read it somewhere.
Heading East towards Yonge street. King's College Circle at the University of Toronto:
On Yonge Street: a food court at College Park mall. This is a mini-mall with an apartment complex above. Mall food courts are a wonderful place to observe people. They are sitting still, usually concentrating on their lunch, sometimes talking with a companion, always displaying body language that can be used to infuse your drawings with personality.
Eaton Centre (another shopping mall). This is the entrace near the corner of Yonge and Dundas. There is a certain scale to these huge electronic billboards that this small sketch fails to capture.
Inside the Eaton Centre, another food court. For some reason I seem to do better at sketching people with a colored pen. It is as if a colored line is somehow not "final" and therefore I feel free to sketch more loosely.
Large cup of coffee:
Ice skaters at a rink in front of Toronto City Hall:
That's it. Don't fear the cold. Winter sketchcrawls can be great fun. What do you think?
Tom
