From My Sketchbook:
Other than conversation with a companion or reading something enjoyable, sketching affords a practical and pleasant way to pass time while waiting for someone, a train, a bus, or as in this situation, a flight.
The difficulty here is that drawing people has its own set of challenges involving proportions, gestures, and whether or not to include extensive details, but in situations like this there is the added challenge of movement. Unlike a studio setting where a model will sit quietly for an extended period, here, individuals are like moving clouds, but are less predictable. Without warning their natural activity suddenly alters the setting and composition as they turn, bend over, stand up, walk away, walk in, sit down, change seats, walk around, etc. I began this work by focusing on the man across from me who was sitting in the front row, wearing a large cowboy type hat and reading a newspaper. From there the rest of the drawing evolved by inserting additional figures as they came and went, and enough details to identify the setting.
I was on the first leg of a trip to Saint Croix, at shortly after 7:00 AM, I had made my way through the security station and found my departure gate. All was well, I had plenty of spare time and now I could afford to relax a bit. I had just purchased a cup of Star Bucks coffee, taken a seat at the terminal gate and had over an hour at hand before the first call to board my flight. I carried an Agatha Christie paperback with me for such an occasion but was saving it for the flights. Rather than buy a newspaper to occupy my time with, I took out my sketchbook and pen and surveyed the terminal for a subject. It was early in the morning and the area was mostly empty of travelers, there were a few housekeeping staff moving about, collecting trash, mopping floor areas and the like, but otherwise not much other activity. As it approached 8:00 AM, shops were opening up for customers, but overall the setting was somehow lacking interest for me, there were empty seats and a mostly empty concourse for subjects.
Just as I was thinking about putting the sketchbook back into my carry-on bag, folks began to come into the area where I was relaxing, and began to take seats. They sought out comfortable locations, unburdened themselves of their carry-on and personal belongings and settled in for the long wait. I already had my vantage point, waited for folks to spread out and get settled, and then began to draw. As is often the case when I am busily engaged in drawing or painting, time passes quickly for me, and it seemed suddenly time to pack-up and board my flight.