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.