Profiles at the donut shop
Posted: November 29, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized 5 CommentsI was back at the donut shop today, drinking coffee and drawing people. This time I went to a more crowded shop in another town so that I could see more faces. I also sat in a booth with a good view of people, instead of facing the lineup at the cash register.
This was one of those shops where everyone knew each other, so there was a lot of sitting around and gabbing, and lots of joking between different groups. For the sketches below, I always start the same way. I draw the line of the shoulders first and then fit the head on top of that. That really helps me to get the angles of the head and face. I don’t carry an eraser on these outings. If a line is in the wrong place, I just draw right over it and keep going.
Sketching in the donut shop would keep me too busy to eat the donuts-might be a wise thing to do🤔. Your drawings are wonderful!
I always carry a small sketchbook so when waiting in line or sitting in a waiting room I hope to catch a quick sketch. I have always started at the head and go down from there. But, I’m going to try starting with the shoulder line. I think that makes more sense but something I never thought of or tried. Thanks!
Thank you for that drawing tip, Shari! These are so good!
Carmen, it’s great to hear from you. Thanks so much!
Interesting, I haven’t tried drawing the shoulders first, and definitely will do! That sounds very useful – getting the slant and character of the body first. I also haven’t used an eraser for several years, and surprisingly it was liberating once I got over the initial panic. Plus I draw mostly with a fountain pen partly for that reason too. Simply being unable to ‘correct mistakes’ means we’re forced to let go of perfection, doesn’t it? And the exploratory lines are kind of how we see anyway, as bodies and shapes shift, so it actually helps bring dynamism to the sketch. As viewers, being given a bit of work for our brains to do is also really satisfying and pleasing! I learn a lot from your postings and appreciate your efforts very much, Shari!