Tired. Sketching on the way to Manhattan in Stillman&Birn Delta, Subway.

Blackwing 602 in Stillman&Birn Delta sketchbook.

Sketched on Subway and on the top my newest Ebay treasure: "White Dot" vintage pencil.

Sketches on the train on a rainy day.

I sketched few people on the way to Manhattan, noon, not too many people, paradise. I was trying to draw not labels but angles, negative spaces, train my eye to take it almost abstract. But when I saw that I draw people out of that abstract shapes in relationships with each other it made me happy.

I used Palomino Blackwing 602, what a wonderful pencil, still amazes me.

Today I had interesting view on foreheads, how beautifully and symmetrical, almost mathematically it shaped. When I draw with thinking  I feel tremendous love for  people. Each and every one so special.

Sketches in brown sketchbook.

On the way to Manhattan, people, legs, shoes, books.

I sketched in Rockefeller Plaza, people were eating and chatting and no one paid attention to me.  I tried different pencils: Ebony, Blackwing, Blackwing 602, Pitt oil.

Somehow pencils didn't feel right, too thick, too muddy.

Finaly Blackwing 602 felt  the most comfortable on this dry paper, but then it was time to leave. Little white accents added extra dimension. I felt bad to fill out Stillman&Birn with momentarily people sketches, but this brown book is ok for it.

Sketches in the hospital.

I spent a day in the hospital with my friend, who undergo very serious operation.  We came at 5 in the morning, so most people in the waiting room fell asleep. I am happy it went well and better than expected and I will have my friend back in better health.

I drew with Palomino Blackwing 602 in Stillman&Birn sketchbook.

Used watercolor Durer pencil here. Some people brought computers or Ipads, but I am still resisting Iphone, trying to devote my time to my only love, drawing.

I add few color accents here and there to pencil sketches with little fat Muji multi color pen. Adorable pen, I first heard about it from Lapin.

Towards the end of the day people felt happier, because they heard good news from the doctors, operations were over, everybody waited for their love ones to wake up in recovery room.

Here drawings on A train, I was standing and it was shaking pretty badly, so lines a little more loose. I decide to put to work "The perfect pencil" by Faber Castell, the plastic version, because obviously I can't afford  Graf Von for $500, which probably has useful sharpener and feels amazing in the hand. I was pretty happy how a bit hard pencil was gliding on juicy Stillman&Birn Gamma sketchbook paper. Union made in heaven. No smudges.

So this how I survived the day which shook me to the core.

Trying different pencils in Stillman&Birn Gamma sketchbook.

Tried "Sketch and wash" pencil and Palomino Blackwing 602 on the bottom. Thought again how wonderful would be to get that crazy fisherman vest with million pockets, I saw on that old lady coming out of that fancy Manhattan building, where I did glazed stony panels. I would have a pocket for water brushes and one for Muji pen, and one for few Kuretakes...

Here tried watercolor pencil and oil based Pitt, both were pleasant on this paper. First I felt bad to use such strong paper for casual sketches, but then couldn't resist the pleasure of scribbling with different tools on such friendly surface, it was gliding and nothing bleed on the other side, even strokes with pressure.

Spent few minutes in the park, sketching people with oil based pencil. So nice, cold, sunny and magically lonely. Wind dropped few small branches from the tall trees, I thought would be funny to be struck by a stray branch, especially after falling on the marble floor on spilled hand soup. So I decided to limp home.

I wish I had sharpener with me, but it is too bulky for the trip, so I used washable pencil unsharpened. Had so much fun with it. Conclusion: this Gamma book is excellent companion for a trip with any media, hope to try it soon with watercolor.