Lon, you must be very talented to be able to draw so fast with so many distractions going on around you. Even if I had your speed, I could not concentrate on drawing, when hearing people's lives being dissected in a courtroom. How in the world do you keep your mind from wandering?

Thanks, Lon, for posting your 10 minute sketch. Very fresh, light and very appealing. It sets a mark for me.

The past two weekends I've been doing portraits at a festival and a horse show. True to what you said some friends came by to have portraits done and I then had a line waiting for pastel portraits. Does this mean we're like sheep?

Lon, can you post one of your court pastels or are they the property of the networks?

Thanks,
Tammy

The courtroom stuff is really awful, even though it is perhaps the most I get paid per minute (like $1,000 for fifteen minutes work). I will find some pictures and post, if it is not too off the subject. Is that OK, moderator?

Enzie, I actually like a bit of distraction. It refreshes my mind. I like conversation, and even complete interruptions. When I come back, I am a little refreshed. It is like turning away briefly gives you a little rest.

I can talk a bit about courtroom stuff when I post it.

Regarding speed, ya know, I don't really hurry. I just make each line count. I call it, "one shot drawing." Each line is final, and you just go through the procedure very methodically. And with the sanded lead, I can cover ten times the space in the same time as someone who uses a fine point.

I draw using what I call "line first" method (kind of my mantra). I focus on each line, and let the form take care of itself. If each line is correct, the drawing will be correct. Of course, I have a procedure which I stick to. It is the polar opposite of the methods taught in most classes I have heard about where you are told to not worry about the lines, just scribble your way to the end.

You learn what really is essential to a portrait when you work in this short time frame.

This was the case involving the school shooting in Springfield. This is Kip Kinkel. I had very little time to draw this. You have to grab the essense any way you can. I HURRIED!

One more. Usually you have to provide a panoramic view as well as the witnesses and the judge.

This was a case in Portland involving Planned Parenthood. Often you are quite far away from the witnesses, so you have to zoom in a bit when drawing them.

Most local courtroom artists try to use markers and watercolor. They wind up with small drawings and pale colors that do not show up well on TV. I prefer pastel, even though it is messy. I work large and get the job done. The networks often buy my work even though they have hired another artist of their own. That is when it gets fun - drawing for three or four networks at once! It is a rush - and it is a bit heady having your work broadcast all over the place.

You never know what to expect, where you are going to sit, or whether you will even have a usable view, especially if there are other artists competing for a spot. I never try too hard to get the best spot. We are usually seated before the attorneys enter, and we don't know where they will sit.

Thanks, Lon for posting the courtroom scenes. I see how you put down your line and the smudge in the color according to the light source.

Tammy

Lon, what a fascinating job! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Moderator here. I'm glad you posted these. Yes, I think they are fine for this thread.

I found the one of Kip Kinkel very emotionally evocative. That little boy who did such terrible things, surrounded by all those big lawyers and cops.