30-second coffee
Posted: November 25, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: pencil drawing, people sketching 27 CommentsI love our new neighbourhood but it’s more rural than urban, and lately I’ve been missing having more opportunities to sketch people. Today I pushed myself out the door and drove to the local Tim Horton’s so I could sketch some people. But in an area where it’s more “country” than “city”, even the local donut shop is sort of empty.
Armed with a small sketchbook and a pencil, I set myself up at a table with a view of the cash register. As people stepped up to order, I drew them. Since a card transaction — from order to payment — usually only takes about 30 seconds, that’s how long I had to draw each person. I spent a bit of extra time adding shading as I waited for the next person to come into the shop. I was determined not to resort to drawing the glazed donuts, and also determined not to leave until I had 10 figures on the page. Here they are, smudges and all.
I always wonder if people notice when I am drawing them. The man on the far left with the pointy beard (below) was sitting there for as long as I was. Every time I tried to draw him, he looked at me. That is always an uncomfortable situation, as I try to pretend I am drawing something else. But there was no fooling him, even though my sketchbook was tilted up. At one point when I looked up, he looked at me and said “C’est beau, vos dessins.” Even though I don’t think he could really see my drawings, I appreciated the kind words and the acknowledgement that it was ok to draw him.
That gentleman was very nice about having his picture made, Shari. You are like me when I am trying to take a photo and someone notices. Then I slowly pan away…🙄
Haha, I do that too Lois. But I think they usually know what we are doing!
Drawing traditional nude or costumed figures is also my passion.
That’s why I organize sketching outings, such as “Le salon de la passion médiévale ” at Place Bell in Laval early may, “Les Seigneuriales de Vaudreuil-Dorion” in early June, “Les médiévales de Lanaudière” mid-July L’Assomption, “Le vieux marché du 18e siècle” at the Pointe-à-Caillères Museum in late August, “La fête au petit village” Répentigny, “Le festivale de la galette” St-Eustache in mid-September, and more …
You would love to attend to this differents events mainly free.
Jocelyne, I always see when you promote these events but it seems I am never around. Maybe this year I can make it to the Vaudreuil event in June since I will be around. I love your drawings from these events too!!
Quelle belle histoire.
I always get caught whenever I try to draw or photograph people!
Me too, apparently!
These are SO wonderful! 30 seconds-wow!
Thanks Kathryn!
This made me smile! Next time Peter-Paul comments on my figure, I’ll just say I have baggy pants! Great idea to draw in the store!
Glad I made you smile, Bunny! Say hi to Peter-Paul.
I always worry that I’m creating an uncomfortable situation for someone if I try to draw them.
Me too Ginny. But usually I smile and show them the drawing and they are fine with it!
Well done you!
I remember participating in an Urban Sketcher’s event in Montreal years ago. I drew a person having coffee. He came over and was shocked at how I had drawn his nose! He said something like:
“C’est Moi”?
I felt bad that I had made his nose so big – in the end he seemed flattered and sauntered off.
But, I get how unnerving it is to try and draw people.
Love your courses!
Susan
Carrying Place, ON
Glad you like the courses Susan!
As for drawing people, I have so much trouble drawing people I know for exactly that reason. The nose is too big, the likeness is not right.
It’s so much easier to draw people I don’t know.
I am realizing that all I want to get is to capture some sort of gesture or unique characteristic about the person.
Glad you made it to Montreal too!
Get thee to a coffee housery! These are so much fun, and a great reminder that much is to be said for lounging around and enjoying the sights.
Naomi, I enjoyed my time there so much that I might just have to do this every day for an hour. And the good thing about Tim Horton’s is that the coffee was only about $1 instead of five times that much at some other places. Good deal all around.
Love it! As always, you inspire me.
Me ha gustado y reconfortado leer este comentario. Yo me siento culpable cuando estoy dibujando personas, sin que lo sepan. La perosna de barba puntiaguda fue realmente amable, el admiraba tu trabajo.
Muchas gracias por mirar los dibujos. Creo que a todos nos pasa lo mismo al dibujar personas. Pero la mayoría de la gente es amable y agradecida al ver tus dibujos.
I’m always self conscious drawing in a coffee shop so this is very encouraging! I try to find a really busy place with the hopes that no one will pay any attention but that is just holding me back, so thanks for the push!
Very much a real life situation and challenge! Thanks for sharing
I always carry a small blank notebook in my purse. The paper is “fair” quality but fits well in my purse. Recently I’ve been in dr’s offices and waiting rooms for lab work. I position myself so that I’m not directly in front of the “patient.” It’s amazing what I can accomplish before their name is called.
Great sketches Shari, thanks for sharing these ‘on the fly’ moments. They’re quite evocative.
Love this! Like Bernadette I never leave my apartment in New York without my
A6 Moleskine book and a fineliner. I sketch heads and torsos on the bus and in waiting rooms. No one has ever noticed as they are tied with beads down to their phones!
I’m glad to hear that you do the same Linda! I find that if it’s a busy place, no one notices me drawing. But if it’s just me and one other person, my drawing becomes more obvious.
As that very perceptive pointy-bearded gentleman said, ‘c’est vrai qu’ils sont beaux vos dessins!’ Thanks for sharing, Shari ❤️
Merci Didi!