Odd Characters, Lynn Cohen

I think this is so funny, especially after seeing the art by Elaine below today! I am sure these are different gals in a different part of the country/world; but how synchronistic is it that we both found a purple haired gal talking to a green haired gal???? !!!!

Odd Characters, Columbo by Sirkka Jalava

I came to see, how you are, saw the theme and thaught that maybe I have something to participate with if it is ok for you.

I hope it reminds you of detective Columbo, because I have tried to do him.

Here he has the cigar in his right händ although it is difficult to see.
My regards to you all, Special regards to Lynn and Ann, who are keeping the blogboat in right course.

Odd Characters, Colourful Girls, by Elaine (jaguarish)

Drawn from a photo I sneaked as I found the look of this pair irresistible but didn't want to blatantly start sketching them. Yes, the girl on the left has lavender braids and a tattoo on her upper arm and another on her forearm. Yes, the girl on the right has green hair and tattoos on her right arm and left leg.

Odd characters, Fortitude Valley, by Elaine (jaguarish)

So I keep seeing fantastic sketchable people everywhere... but it's always as I'm walking through and can't stop! Arg! Yesterday I made more effort to capture some people.  First, a test run with my Noodler's brush pen.  I'm still trying to get the feel of it and so this is a pretty rough result.

Then on the train, on the way home, I was shocked to see that every single person was gazing intently at their mobile phone (it's not usually 100%) but they made perfect victims, er I mean subjects.  Unfortunately even then they still move or leave altogether so parts of each sketch are made from memory.

I've been thinking about this memory drawing business... and realised that my method is to mentally rehearse the lines I intend to draw.  I especially do this if committing a person to memory for later (like my previous post) but I also do it while in the middle of a sketch, anticipating the next bit I'm going to draw.  As a result, even if I've lost the original subject, I can still complete the drawing, albeit in slightly less realistic detail.  Just thought I'd mention it in case it's a helpful tip!

In the case of the above drawing, I did the standing man's upright arm (holding the loop) after he moved, and I also added a hint of his lower outline.  With the other fellow, I got too intrigued by the way his hair was ruffed and poking out between his fingers as he clutched his head.  I really regret I didn't first do a whole-body outline, because his posture was fascinating -- practically curled over his phone.  But I didn't "rehearse" that so I wasn't able to add it afterwards.

Odd Characters, "The Almost Kiss" ACEO, by Penny StewArt

I drew this little ACEO illustration, using watercolor and pen, from my imagination, for a challenge in a facebook group to paint 30 ACEO love theme cards in January 2015. The challenge is officially over now, and this was one of my favorites. I don't know why. I call it "The Almost Kiss." They are odd characters, aren't they? ACEOs are 2.5 x 3.5 inches, in case you did not know.  

Odd Characters, 2nd Visit to Dr. Sketchy by Joan Tavolott

Our group made a second visit to Dr. Sketchy's a few weeks ago. The theme for the models was "Russian Fairy Tales." Again we had poses that went 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 minutes.

Here are a few of the sketches I did.

Odd Charachters, Lynn Cohen

 

 

All three of these are SELFIES done as homework for Sketchbook Skool (BootKamp).

 

I like this one the best for a likeness of myself, I look good in green!

 

The third Odd Character is a one line drawing with careful observation and focus on detail.

 

They were all fun to do!

 

Odder Characters could not be found anywhere!



Odd Characters, Family of 3, by Elaine (jaguarish)

This is another drawing from memory.  I saw this family of three on my morning walk from the train station to my office.  First the lady's shiny red jacket caught my eye, and then I got intermittent glimpses of extensive tattoos on her ankles and feet.  Unfortunately her long skirt only gave me glimpses as she walked along, so I couldn't include them in the drawing.  After walking along behind them for several blocks trying to get a better look, I realised these three were a family despite their assorted appearance and oddly indifferent attitude to one another, maintaining a stranger's distance from each other and speaking not at all.  Today was the first day of school across Brisbane so I imagine this is a mother walking her son to school, with the other son dressed very casually who must have a different school or start date (most Australian kids wear school uniforms).

Odd Characters, Lynn Cohen

This fellow was modeling yesterday at the San Francisco, Fort Mason, Art Marathon. A mixture of costumed and nude models. You can see more on my other blog if interested (I filled 44 pages in my art journal or was it 36 pages and 44 model posess?) (http://lynn-nonameblog.blogspot.com, check life drawings at top of side bar to find them all) I drew for six hours with an hour break in the middle for lunch! It was great fun.

Odd Characters, Hotel people, Ann Hyde

Our recent trip to Birdlip in Gloucestershire was a short visit, but still really good. We went out a lot and I sketched quite a bit.  Here's one I did of what I'd consider Odd Characters.  A group of people in the bar/restaurant area of the hotel waiting to order their meals.

I've added the Location link to Birdlip in the section below....

Odd Characters by Joan Tavolott

I have gone with several members of the NYC Urban Sketchers to a "Dr Sketchy" event twice. Most people don't know about the events but they are held in a lot of big cities. The one we went to is held in the basement of a restaurant. They charge a fee to come and sketch but there are models each time who are dressed for that week's theme. The models pose alone and together for 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 minute poses. Some of the poses (OK many) get a bit risqué but everyone has a lot of fun. There is a whole room of artists crowded together on couches and chairs and a bit of liquor flowing if you want and everyone is sketching madly.

The first time I went the theme was "Men Who Would Be Women and Women Who Would Be Men." They were dressed in outfits ala the 20s but as the opposite sex. The guy was my favorite. He was over 6 ft tall and dressed in a sequined halter gown and had big feather fans like a stripper. At the end of the night he was in a g-string. lol Here are a few of the saner sketches from that night.

Odd Characters, Lynn Cohen

I love the characters I find at Tacos Jalisco. It's always a different group/room full and they are really fun to draw. Again I went half an hour before my lunch date with my husband so I could draw freely!

Odd Characters, Young Ladies with Umbrellas, by Elaine (jaguarish)

I still haven't managed to sketch anyone live (although I have sneaked some photographs which I plan to work from, soon) -- below is a page from my journal, where I drew from memory.  It was raining today when I left work and I was amused to observe different people with their umbrellas.  The below two young ladies were the most memorable.

Odd Characters, Penny Stewart, Chimera

I don't draw much from real life, but I admire you all for the sketches you make sitting in a restaurant. Mine are all made up. I like drawing Odd Characters, especially for ACEO cards. These are 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Recently one of the challenges on the NFAC Ebay challenge was to draw creatures (are they characters?) called Chimera, which are more than one creature combined. I created three. They always make me laugh. Hope they bring you a smile.

This is a "Rooster Fish"

"A Web Footed, Red Headed Baby Woodpecker Chicken"

"The Turtle Mouse." 

Odd Characters, Me!, Ann Hyde

I said I can't draw people and that includes myself!  But, hey atleast I tried, lol.

Odd Characters, Diners, Ann Hyde

Ok, so i found a way round having to draw people, which i'm hopeless at.....tada!, I drew the back of this one, in a bar/restaurant having a meal.  Sketched with pencil quickly so nobody noticed, then added the watercolour later.

Odd Characters by Joan Tavolott

All of these "odd characters" were sketched at my local library.

I can always find people hanging out there.

Odd Characters, Lynn Cohen

"Hello, my name is Lynn and I am an ART-O-Holic!"

 

I am on a roll here with posts of my characters found at various Starbuck Cafes in our area.

 

Characters, Lynn Cohen

It's become our habit to go to Starbucks in the mornings (when I am not working which is four days a week to choose from) so I can draw. Husband brings a book and has coffee. I have a breakfast of their hot oatmeal and fresh blue berries and nuts. And I take out all my art supplies and draw to my hearts content.

This was part of a happy family with a little baby. I think the boy who's on an e-game, back of head to you, is the big brother. Grandma is having the most fun. There were lots more in their party but that is all I drew. The other gal is with someone else I could not see because of the boy.

The guy in the stocking cap is talking sideways to the gal with the red hair.

The third group who made it into my 2 page spread were content over coffee and conversation too. Everyone stayed a long time. Long enough for me to draw and color them too. I only adlibbed a little bit.

What I was most impressed with that no one in the room seemed to be on a phone or an iPad or laptop. Only the kid was using an e-game!

I used the non-waterproof Vision Elite today, and guess what? It did not bleed. It was very dry by the time I got around to paint. I used Daniel Smith watercolors, which are very thick in my little travel pack. I do not know how to use them yet. I am used to pan paints. But I will master these in time. See dark green thick spot on lady #2's shirt/belly. I used water soluble colored pencils too. Prismcolor and Derwent Inktense.  I always want to say Intense.

I'm not sure its so nice to call my "characters" Odd. They are just normal folks out for a pleasant morning. But it's the theme!

Odd Characters, Up Late at the Art Gallery, by Elaine (jaguarish)

I'm so thrilled this theme is taking off!  I look forward to sketching some characters on public transport for this, which is what I was thinking about when I suggested this theme.  Meanwhile, here are some sketches I did from "Up Late" night at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.  The current exhibition is "Future Beauty" featuring modern looking fashions by famous Japanese designers (I'll include some of my sketches of the fashions as well, at the end).  Inspired by kawaii Japanese pop hairstyles, Future Beauty Up Late attendees could have their hair made over by these two stylists from Lyla Clare at Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art. Most people opted to have a French roll which involved lots of hair teasing and some glitter gel to finish.  I loved watching the stylists working intently and rapidly, and the people getting styled looking so surprised and amused by the results.

Jessalee and Mia (the stylists) were so pleased to be drawn that they gifted me their bottle of champagne (they said they were riding home and wouldn't be able to drink it).

 

These were drawn with a blue-black Uni-ball Insight -- waterproof and glides so smoothly!

Below are the fashion sketches -- all displayed on bald, navy-skinned mannequins, which was a bit disconcerting.  I drew with the Uni-ball Insight again, or with Inktense pencils.