Over the years, I have drawn hundreds (maybe thousands?) of faces. A speed portrait is just that: a drawing of the sitter or sitters done as fast as I can with pencil and ink. It takes me about 3-5 minutes per person, starting with a quick pencil sketch to block in shapes, then followed up by ink to draw features. As I draw, I get to meet so many interesting people, get to know them a little bit, and then send them on their way with their own portrait. It’s a wholly unique experience for some: sitting for a portrait is truly an antiquated activity but that’s what is so entrancing about it, and it’s why some folks have waited up to an hour to get their portrait drawn. I thank them for their wait and they thank me because they recognize it’s a rare thing: to be seen and drawn and given that drawing.
Whether if it’s at my art fair booth, a convention floor, or for a corporate party, I do my best to put each sitter at ease and I go quickly to get as many people drawn as possible.
