Why do you need to draw rather than taking a photo?
1 Sometimes people who don't want a photo taken. They might say, "I don't look good in photos," or, "I have enough photos," or, "It's company policy - no photos".
2 If you photograph them at work apparently sitting around and not on the job at work they might get into trouble. However, draw them in a bikini on a beach, or dancing, or playing golf, change their name to a nickname, then their boss won't recognize them or be bothered that the hotel or restaurant chain is being brought into disrepute.
3 They might be intrigued by being drawn. Many young people have never had their photo drawn.
4 Drawings can disguise faults. The crossed or gap teeth which are so obvious to you might be the feature they hate showing. You could correct the teeth, or show them with a closed mouth and exaggerate the lovely eyes, and they would be flattered.
5 Drawings can accentuate the features which define them. Maybe they are very proud of the Afro hairdo, the giant moustache, the heavy brows, the ten rings on their right hand, the huge pendant, the giant ear-rings, the jaunty hat. A photo might show them just looking distinctive or odd but all their photos show the same. The drawing exaggerates that feature and is flattering to them.
6 Surprise.
Potential sitters know more or less what a photo will look like. They can see themselves in a mirror or reflected in a shop glass or the waters of the lake. They don't know how you see them or how you will present them.
7 You can ask them what they want. Some people love being photographed. Others are impatient.
8 Getting out a camera can annoy people. The person being photographed. Others at the same table. People nearby. Restaurant owner. However, with a pencil and paper you may appear to be taking notes on a meeting. You can even put a piece of lined paper over the bottom of the drawing page and makes notes such as straight nose, almond eyes, curly hair, bald patch, bright red streak in hair, silver necklace, blue shirt, black watch, shoes with big laces. It looks as if you are taking notes, and you are.
You can note their name and the date, and add these to the drawing later, or when you lower the sketch pad or drawing pad. Or go to the toilets and adjust the sketch, add their name and date and your signature, then come back and show them the finished result.
9 I sometimes travel with a sketchpad and pencils ranging from HB to heavier for shading, coloured pencils which can be made into colour wash by adding water. I have miniature set which I travelled with but never used. I take a set on holiday but often leave it behind.If I take a sketch pad, I often carry A6, diary size.
10 A4 pads are too large, You need a tote bag. Family and friends ask why I am carrying such a large bag to a nice restaurant. Or I have to lug heavy stuff around all day and I'm tired before I arrive.
I recently went into an Apple store and tried out their device with the pen. I wanted to photograph a member of staff with a beard who had just met a customer with the identical beard. They looked like twins. The member of staff would not let me take a photo. I don't take photos if asked not to. No point. I am trying to ingratiate myself and please people.
So I found a bystander and added the Apple green shirt as a reminder of the location.
This was the result.
1 Sometimes people who don't want a photo taken. They might say, "I don't look good in photos," or, "I have enough photos," or, "It's company policy - no photos".
2 If you photograph them at work apparently sitting around and not on the job at work they might get into trouble. However, draw them in a bikini on a beach, or dancing, or playing golf, change their name to a nickname, then their boss won't recognize them or be bothered that the hotel or restaurant chain is being brought into disrepute.
3 They might be intrigued by being drawn. Many young people have never had their photo drawn.
4 Drawings can disguise faults. The crossed or gap teeth which are so obvious to you might be the feature they hate showing. You could correct the teeth, or show them with a closed mouth and exaggerate the lovely eyes, and they would be flattered.
5 Drawings can accentuate the features which define them. Maybe they are very proud of the Afro hairdo, the giant moustache, the heavy brows, the ten rings on their right hand, the huge pendant, the giant ear-rings, the jaunty hat. A photo might show them just looking distinctive or odd but all their photos show the same. The drawing exaggerates that feature and is flattering to them.
6 Surprise.
Potential sitters know more or less what a photo will look like. They can see themselves in a mirror or reflected in a shop glass or the waters of the lake. They don't know how you see them or how you will present them.
7 You can ask them what they want. Some people love being photographed. Others are impatient.
8 Getting out a camera can annoy people. The person being photographed. Others at the same table. People nearby. Restaurant owner. However, with a pencil and paper you may appear to be taking notes on a meeting. You can even put a piece of lined paper over the bottom of the drawing page and makes notes such as straight nose, almond eyes, curly hair, bald patch, bright red streak in hair, silver necklace, blue shirt, black watch, shoes with big laces. It looks as if you are taking notes, and you are.
You can note their name and the date, and add these to the drawing later, or when you lower the sketch pad or drawing pad. Or go to the toilets and adjust the sketch, add their name and date and your signature, then come back and show them the finished result.
9 I sometimes travel with a sketchpad and pencils ranging from HB to heavier for shading, coloured pencils which can be made into colour wash by adding water. I have miniature set which I travelled with but never used. I take a set on holiday but often leave it behind.If I take a sketch pad, I often carry A6, diary size.
10 A4 pads are too large, You need a tote bag. Family and friends ask why I am carrying such a large bag to a nice restaurant. Or I have to lug heavy stuff around all day and I'm tired before I arrive.
I recently went into an Apple store and tried out their device with the pen. I wanted to photograph a member of staff with a beard who had just met a customer with the identical beard. They looked like twins. The member of staff would not let me take a photo. I don't take photos if asked not to. No point. I am trying to ingratiate myself and please people.
So I found a bystander and added the Apple green shirt as a reminder of the location.
This was the result.
I was really pleased with the results.
How does the iPad work? It is one of the top of the range models. I was surprised to see that the smallest iPad mini is less costly than I expected, under £500.
However, the drawing feature is only with the large size iPad Pro which is more expensive.
How does it work? You need to practise a bit but a demonstrator in store will show you. You need the special pen which goes with the device. You can choose from many colours by tapping on them
Glossary
Bust - sculpture of head and often shoulders, often displayed in galleries sitting on top of an oblong upright so the head is on level with yours
Caricature - exaggerated drawing of a person, body may be in miniature to fit into the page
Portrait - picture of a face, usually just the head and shoulders, like a bust in @ dimensions or personality - that's to say the whole body
Sitter - person who sits still for an artist.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, portrait painter, caricaturist.
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