Another day at work. Henry rides shotgun, alerting me to anyone too near the street. He barks a warning to the guy waiting for the light to change and another warning to the lady hanging her wash up in her backyard. Information collecting is the business of the day. It's what I do some days, either with my sketchbook or with my camera. I prefer sketching over snapping pictures. With sketching I remember more, there is more of a personal connection, like the little things about a subject. With snapshots, I don't always remember why I took the picture... Years can pass and I will still remember why I sketched that particular person though. It's the time spent drawing a subject, studying that subject, studying the form of that subject. That's why I love sketching people. The lady reading the paper while walking her dog. She still has her apron on from making her husband's lunch that he takes to work each day. The apron with a pocket, with what appears to be a washcloth in it. She stands there, as her dog lays its business on Mrs. Peter's lawn. She wears the same dress for days which gives me the opportunity to add a bit of the pattern of dress to my sketch on another day. Henry sounds up and her dog answers. Tomorrow I may add a bit more to the sketch should our paths cross again, and they will, knowing her habits now.
The hunt continues for Information. Those winter days when the studio is so much friendlier than outside, I will look through my sketchbook and pause at the sketch of the lady reading the paper and possibly attempt a tiny color sketch of her. Smiling as I do.
Turning down Mountain St., I spot Mrs. Vera out watering her flowers which line her front walk. Another sketch for a winter day. Henry grows impatient for his treat and walk, so it's onward to the river walking path. An extra long leash makes him happy and quiet, allowing me to sketch a fisherman. Making note of which blue I should use for his jeans, and the color of his straw hat. I think how strong the colors should be when I do the color sketch from this pencil sketch. Henry pulls at the leash to check out a tree he may want to mark.
We head to the dam at North Aurora, where I unpack my paints. A full work day is what I aim for each day. When I'm asked the question "if I have ever had a real job, " I just smile and think of the hours I put into a work of art. My job is putting that smile on someone else's face.
