Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Ways of Waiting...

I have recently given at couple of talks on the benefits carrying a sketchbook. Especially for animators.

So on a whim I though I'd write a little post about it.

I recently did some holiday traveling. So I decided to put my layover time to good use. I started sketching people who were waiting for their flights.

It became really interesting to note the subtle differences in how people waited.

Some people stood in front of the monitors willing there flights to hurry up. Others plugged away at there laptop keyboards, while others went old school an worked on knitting.




I started to notice that people where doing interesting things with there luggage. Like this guy who had almost turned his into furniture as he waited. Or this grown woman who was sitting cross legged on the floor.

Where else would you find a grown up waiting in public like this?

In doing these sketches I noticed these different little mannerisms and poses. Things I wouldn't have thought about if I'd tried to come up with them out of my head. Without observation.




This guys had closed himself off from the crowds of people while he was waiting. Making his own private little space for himself.




I liked the way this guy on the bottom was sank way into this chair. Almost becoming part of it, The same shape as it. And the girl shifting the weight of her bag as she paced, waiting.




While all the adults found a place and stuck to it. This little girl was spinning around a post at the gate. Then ploping down and using her Mom's magazine as a telescope!




If I had been given a scene in which a little kid, or a group of people was having to wait I don't know that I would have come up with these actions out of my head.

But by observing them, and carrying a sketchbook, we can learn new things, and come up with new little bits of business for our characters to do. Even in the most mundane situations.





6 comments:

Jeremy Bernstein said...

Great work Beth!

dyanna said...

Your blog is very interesting.I'm waiting for your new post.
Have a nice day.

Patrick said...

Amazing stuff... I just stumbled across your blog by accident!
I'm an aspiring animator / illustrator myself, so I'll be watching your blog with great interest.

Olive Tree said...

Hi, it's a very great blog.
I could tell how much efforts you've taken on it.
Keep doing!

michaelamos said...

These are very nice.
I enjoy drawing people waiting as well - we have trams where I live and I can see the stop out of my window so I can draw them throughout the day. Love the ones of the guys sinking into the chairs.

W.O.R - Original Author said...

What everyone else said... Just very observant and inspiring...
Really love it..