If ever I needed a good reminder of why it’s important to have drawing materials with me at all times, it happened last week.

Rte.189 Pile-up     ©2018 Elizabeth Fram, 3.5 x 5.5 inches, Ink on paper

For years, a sketchbook has been a very trusty companion while I’ve waited…in school and store parking lots, in airports and train stations, and even for cookies to be done in the kitchen. In many instances you never know just how long you will be left hanging. But the beauty of a sketch is it can be done very quickly or, the longer you sit, stretched out into minute detail.

Schiphol Airport   ©2014 Elizabeth Fram      The word “waiting” shows up a lot in my travel sketches. Airports are great places to try to explore the fluid shape of a plane from different angles.  And ubiquitous cell phones & laptops make it easy to practice quick captures of fellow travelers.

Due to an accident on snowy roads last Friday, I sat boxed-in at the top of an off-ramp for the better part of an hour. Not wanting to turn off my engine because it was only 19º F. outside, at least I had the radio for company. But it doesn’t take long to feel pretty antsy when no one is moving and there’s no way to know what is happening or how long the snarl is going to last.

Bruce Road      ©2009 Elizabeth Fram, 4.24 x 5.25 inches, Ink on paper          When our house was on the market before moving to VT, appointments for house showings would invariably be set up for around dinnertime…most inconvenient when you have a ravenous teenager with a boat-load of homework to get through. We would would pile homework, food, and drawing supplies into the car and park up the street to wait where we could watch to see when they’d left.

Luckily, even though I only had a small 3.3 x 5.5 Moleskine Cahier with me, that was all I needed to get my mind off the frustration of being late for my appointment while finding myself stuck for who knew how long. There’s a lot to be said for getting lost in the world of shape and line — it’s far more interesting and productive than sitting and stewing. And to tell you the truth, it made the situation rather pleasant.

Council Rock vs Bensalem     ©2006 Elizabeth Fram, 5 x 8.25 inches, Pen on paper.    Over the years I spent as much time as any parent waiting for games and track meets to begin, and happily so. Occasionally lacking someone to chat with, there was usually something interesting to draw.

After about 40 minutes with no police presence to take charge, a resourceful UPS driver (thank you again, whoever you were) got us backed up and turned around, one-by-one like a sliding tile puzzle. And just like that, I was on my way.

Fall View from Shaws     ©2014 Elizabeth Fram, 5.25 x 6 inches, Pen on paper.        The parking lot of our local grocery store looks across to lovely tree-covered hills. It’s a good spot to gauge subtle seasonal changes.

In hindsight, I keep thinking about how that little sketchbook made it possible for me to leave the situation happily lost in thought about John Muir Laws’ principles, rather than dwelling fruitlessly on the frustration caused by the unexpected delay.
$3.00 very well spent, wouldn’t you say?

Customs     ©2016 Elizabeth Fram 5.5 x 11 inches, Ink and watercolor on paper.      Getting across the border to Canada on a holiday weekend can be another sort of waiting game.

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Enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers!