One of the many enjoyable aspects of traveling is that opportunities to pull out a sketchbook are plentiful, and doing so seems to be the best way to cement detailed memories.

Dark Horse Espresso Bar ©2016 Elizabeth Fram                                                                         People working at their computers not only stay relatively still, but also assume some interesting, if subtle, postures.

I love that there are multiple chances each day to both make leisurely drawings, for example while lingering in a restaurant, or to squeeze in a quick sketch during a random 3-5 minute gap in whatever else we’re doing. I try to do likewise in my regular day-to-day, but it’s much easier on vacation when there seems to be more time and less to juggle.

Waiting by the Elevators ©2016 Elizabeth Fram         Filling a few moments while waiting for our car, I caught this young woman sitting with her pile of luggage by the hotel elevators.

It’s one thing to draw an inanimate place-setting or the surrounding scene of tables and chairs, but images of people make a drawing come alive. And the more I sketch in public, the more I am finding my challenged ability to capture people quickly and accurately really needs to be addressed. The best and possibly only solution is practice.

All Star Band © 2016 Elizabeth Fram   Musicians make for great models. Even though they aren’t static, their movements are repetitive allowing extra time to catch a shape or gesture. Drawing at this jazz club had a couple of advantages: we were close to the band and it was light enough that I didn’t have to strain to see the page, benefits one doesn’t usually have at a concert.

I rarely have time when I’m out and about during the middle of the day to just hang out and draw people. And since it would be ideal to have a steady stream of models whenever practicing, for now I’ve decided it’s okay to rely on my iPad and a timer in order to build up some practical capital in facility and speed. It works in a pinch, but I do keep in mind that there is no substitute for working “live”.

Checking Phone © 2016 Elizabeth Fram

I bought a cheap 100-page sketchbook in Toronto for just this purpose, and I’ve set a goal of filling it up by making 8-10 quick drawings at a sitting, giving myself about 3 minutes for each. I have a long way to go, but practice definitely makes a difference. I am at least beginning to feel more comfortable placing features so that the figures aren’t just faceless beings.

Practice © 2016 Elizabeth Fram

Also, I am using a mechanical pencil rather than a pen — not so that I can erase, but so that I can vary the line with pressure while keeping it, for the most part, in contact with the page in an effort to work on speed.

Several of my trusty books have been helpful resources:

• Fast Sketching Techniques: Capture the Fundamental Essence of Elusive Subjects by David Rankin
• The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location by Marc Taro Holmes
• Drawing 365: Tips & Techniques to Build your Confidence and Skills by Katherine Tyrrell

Head ©2016 Elizabeth Fram

My request to you: please share any bits of advice you may have picked up along the way on this subject. I know for a fact that several of you are accomplished at drawing the figure and I would love to hear any pearls of wisdom you may have beyond the gold standard of “practice, practice, practice”.