December 1

Your economy of line is superb, saying so much with so little!

Thanks Ruth!

I agree with Ruth. I especially love the lady with the hat and glasses. Excellent.

Thanks Jeannette!

You are buidling up a lovely directory of faces. I feel that they all have a story to tell and are full of character and interest. Such lively and fluid drawings. I love the fact that you have done them on a bus journey. Well done Adebanji

Thanks Angela, you are right - the very thing that keeps me interested in human faces-the story!

I feel I know these people - especially the girl in the woolly hat and specs - and that's a tribute to your accuracy of line. By the way, how on earth do you draw on a bus? I have trouble even reading on a bus - although we do have pretty rotten roads on the Isle of Wight.

Thanks Robert, Its all about practice, I'll always draw as far as no one on the bus objects and I remember clearly that on this very day- the people around me kept looking and smiling with no comments or objections- to me that makes a great sketching trip!

I've often wondered whether people min you drawing them. When I sketch from life; usually in a waiting room I always feel conscious about repeatedly looking at people and what they may say. Your work has encouraged me much more to take a sketch book and pencil wherever I go and to do much more life drawing. I particularly like the man in the back; just what a story that face could tell. He looks so patient and resigned while the woman on left seems distracted and impatient.

Do you add in the fine detail later Adebanji? Or is it a case of practising drawing mouths etc.? I want to know your secret! :-)

James, no details after- that's why some sketches remain unfinished, unfished sketches even have a beauty that the finished ones don't have. But the secret is the line in the middle of the mouth- I always pay attention to its movement and shape- it defines the mood. But nothing can replace constant practice of drawing from life, draw, draw, draw, draw.........

Ok thanks for your guidance Adebanji - I have just done my first line & wash portrait of Alan Titchmarsh (added today) and I think the line in the middle of the mouth sort of happened ;-) Not sure how to erase mistakes but I bet you would say that's a sort of beauty... Anyway I quite happy I had a go - I love your work, and I'm sure it will inspire me to draw draw draw..... Thanks