Protection.

This young guy was well insulated from both the cold and the world.

He had the obligatory silly wooly hat, complete with cutesy ears, over which he had clamped an impressive pair of noise cancelling headphones. Nothing was going to get to him.

And, when he stood up to get off the train at St. Pancras, it turns out he was carrying an ornate Elven sword which he tucked, Legolas style, diagonally into his backpack. 

Like I said, nothing was going to get to him

A face in the crowd

The other day someone asked me if anyone had ever recognised themselves on here and got in touch.

I think the chances of that are so phenomenally remote. Given the randomness of both my sketching and people visiting. That has to be a roulette wheel with the worst odds ever.

Anyone care to work them out ?

Borrow your dog, Sir ?

Had the loan of a friend's dog yesterday afternoon, specifically for the purpose of drawing her.

Her name is Sunny and she was an excellent model.

I like Greyhounds. I like how their muscles and bones are so clearly visible, with just the thinest of skin stretched between the most minimal of points. Ergonomic, efficient, no waste.

There is a very languid Art Deco / Art Nouveau quality about them.

I will have to 'borrow' her again.

Some bloke's head

All there is to say about this one.

Contemplation

" Everyone of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false self..We are not very good at recognizing illusions, least of all the ones we cherish about ourselves."

   Thomas Merton

"

Calm

This woman sat with her family around her, the Son talked loudly about what they could go and do that day, the Girlfriend chipped in with comments and her Husband asked the questions.

But she just sat quiet, listening, smiling occasionally, nodding her agreement, but serene and centred.

I know she knew I was sketching her too, but she hardly made any acknowledgement of that either.

Profile

One of the guards in the National Gallery.

He took over from the previous guard and spent a while walking around, patrolling the space, making himself aware of who was around, scoping us all out.

Although I saw him eye the previous incumbent's buttock dent in the leather seat of the guard's chair with a certain disdain and I think he was really just waiting for the seat to cool off a bit before he sat.

I also have a feeling I have sketched him before.