Sketching Animals Views

Books

Everyone who knows me also knows I’m a carnivore (just take me out for barbequed ribs if you want to understand what this means). Yes I am sketching animals that I eat. I don’t have a problem with this. If you do, please stop reading and come back to my blog on another day. (Some of my friends are vegetarians. I was a vegetarian for 18 months once. It isn’t going to happen again. I deal with my carnivore nature and my love of animals by asking questions and by supporting humane farming practices.)

You need to understand this because it will help you to understand what you see at the Fair: strapping 18-year-old boys crying or trying to bluff it out while the cow they raised and cared for is led away; families huddled around a pre-teen exhibitor, comforting her; elderly farmers shuffling away from the judging ring, kicking the hay bits from their paths. Sure, there are animals that win their class and are valuable as breeding stock because of those successes, but this isn’t so for all of them. Be observant and respectful when sketching animals at the Fair.

And be patient. The animals won’t stand still—they are watching and waiting for their owners to bring them their next meal and will move as soon as they see it coming. The farmers have to get their animals groomed for the ring, so you just might start a sketch only to find that animal is being led away before you’re even close to finishing. Go with it. It’s part of the fun of sketching at the Fair.

7. If a farmer is standing nearby, and asks to see your drawing, say yes. Be prepared to hear him say, “That doesn’t look like much,” (especially if your drawings of salt water taffy look like dead chickens! —see the comments on Sundaye's part #5 post). Then just suck it up and keep working. Sometimes I will say, “I’m not quite finished, can I show you in a minute?” because I know that until I add a few more bits it won’t look like anything. But the main thing is don’t be coy about your sketching. Show it the farmer. It’s the polite thing to do, and it’s good practice for sketching out and interacting with people. (If they really like the drawing and want it because it actually looks like one of their animals—well in my case it’s part of my journal so I can’t really break up the set. I explain that and tell them I’m happy to send them a color print if they give me their postal address. I’ve never had anyone unhappy with this suggestion.)