Comments on: Homlessness & Poverty Sketchbook

By: VEe!

VEe! — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:06:49 +0000

Homelessness * Poverty / The Wall Street Journal

That’s definitely a statement.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:12:47 +0000

Thanks Ronnie, Sue and Pat. I don’t mind saying that I felt a little uncomfortable sketching these people. Like most, I know they’re there but I’m in a hurry to get to where I’m going, and I don’t stop to consider their plight. My first encounter of the day was outside on a sidewalk. there’s a man who always sits in the same spot. He’s badly deformed and holds a sign saying he’s deaf. I put a bill in his cup and try to communicate that I’d like to draw him. Of coarse, he can’t understand me but seems pleased with my donation and gives me the thumbs up sign. But, when I begin to draw, he holds the sign over his face and signals for me to leave. The last thing I want to do is make anyone feel like they’re in a freak show, so I respect his wishes and move on. In Penn Station there is more elbow room, and more people milling about, so it’s easier to be a commando sketcher. But I find myself learning about them and the skill set required for living on such a harsh environment. First, I thought that they would be a stationary subject, but I think fear of being tossed out into the cold made them move far more than I imagined. One minute they looked like they were parked for the long hall, all of their worldly possessions in toe, but by the time I find an inconspicuous place to observe and started to draw, they would be on the move again. I thought to position myself with a view of the trash can and they would come to me. that worked for one quick drawing. I followed one guy and saw he headed into the mens room. I walked in to find it packed with homeless. some shirtless cleaning themselves. Two guys were fighting. I couldn’t really draw in there anyway and truth be told, it felt a little unsafe, so I turned on my heals and continued to look for subjects. in a few hours time I started dozens but came away with five sketches.

By: Pat D

Pat D — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:14:22 +0000

Larry,
The sketches of the poor and homeless people are very moving…emotional, disturbing, poignant, yet beautiful. The portraits are voices which you and Adebanji Alade have freed so we can hear and see and be moved by these silent human beings.
Thank you.
Pat

By: a brush with color

a brush with color — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:13:33 +0000

I love these, too, Larry. Wonderful! I have a few friends who participated in moleskine projects where the moleskines traveled all over the world for different participants to fill some pages before the went off to the next person. I imagine the finished products are treasures to behold.

By: Veronica Lawlor

Veronica Lawlor — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:42:49 +0000

What a wonderful project! I love your contribution Larry. The body language in the second drawing is especially poignant to me and something I’ve seen unfortunately too often. – Ronnie