Woman On Traralgon Line Drinking Bourbon

 This was a very caricatured and unflattering sketch, but the woman recognized herself.

Melbourne To Melton Train 5/4/24

 

Stratford Portrait Group, February 2024

 I neglected to scan this previously so here it is. It was a ten-minute sketch somewhat cartoony.

Melbourne To Traralgon Train Again

 Public transport is a great place to draw people. Should I ask first? Well, all spontaneity would be then lost, and people might say no! Sometimes, though, I do ask, just so I can do a more detailed picture and because the person is sitting so close it is going to be obvious. The reaction is then generally a request either to take a picture of the art or to buy it. I have sold a couple of pictures recently, although I do usually like to keep my better work.

   I drew what turned out to be pretty much a caricature of one young woman who was travelling with her uncle. Both were drinking Bourbon (Bundi) despite the train prohibition (which the ticket guy seemed to ignore). It was a quite good drawing - I haven't featured it here. I couldn't resist showing it and she recognized herself. I promised to send a copy to her once she sent me her email as the picture crossed two pages, would be damaged and I wanted to keep it anyway. 

  They were friends with a group who were getting off the train at Moe. One of these was a middle-aged woman with heavily caked makeup, pursed lips, scratchy, loud voice and no teeth, who loudly proclaimed that they could take me to court for drawing without asking, as if that was a regular recourse for someone like herself, a woman of obvious means to pay expensive lawyers (but not a dentist). I suddenly felt a little like Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey would feel if their subjects for study suddenly turned. 

 

Below: Some other people I drew on that trip.

  

   

Schizophrenic Rap Player

 I was at Melton station recently. I had nearly an hour to wait for the Melbourne train and was reading my fantasy novel, finally getting into it when I heard a loud annoying cacophony. It turned out that a dark man in a hoody was playing, from out of a large bag, his rap 'music'. Why should I have to listen to this crapolla?

  So I approached him and asked him to turn it down. He replied, in animated fashion, that he was schizophrenic. That didn't make me feel any better about having my ears assaulted so I left and went through the tunnel to the other platform where there was an office and asked if they could call the cops to shoot him. Unfortunately, no such happy event occurred but he did disappear - maybe paranoia got the better of him.

  However, I find most, even annoying events, to be eventually fortuitous and it has given me the idea for another eventual Mick and Hoppa story.

  It was a quick drawing and it was impressionistic as the train was soon to arrive. The man was no longer there to model for me, so it is really a cartoony impression.

   

Flinders Street Station

 I just returned from a short trip to Melbourne. I sat on the steps opposite Flinders Street Station and drew this. Not long after, there was a political protest there and large numbers of police.

  Earlier I drew a Japanese musician who was playing her violin to sell her CDs. I gifted it to her so don't have the picture but I asked her to send me a copy so I can do so. I also drew more train pics that I'll post soon.

  

Southern Cross Waiting Room

 After an eventful hitch-hike home from Adelaide I ended up in Southern Cross station waiting room. It was an excellent place to sketch people. 
  The first picture was done in pencil. I added a tint and some digital color.

The chairs were designed to stop people laying down. The sign also reinforced that people were not to lay down. I assume this was to stop homeless people moving in. This fellow did not get the message and was most likely warn out by a long journey.

  This was the last picture I did as my train would be due in 15 minutes. It was a very quick one done with disposable calligraphy pen.

As I had used up my gel pen I did some drawings with pencil. I added a colored tint on computer. The figure at right was of a very agitated and nervous looking man who also appeared like he might be homeless. His attitude was a bit disturbing. His loud prayers in the adjoining prayer room were the finishing touch.