scanhead's blurryworld: Tube sketches, 12.10.2011

Tube sketches, 12.10.2011

Unless people are generally too polite or too embarrassed to say anything, it very rarely happens that anyone notices me sketching on the Tube, let alone remark upon it. But this evening, on a mad dash to get a faulty iPhone replaced at the Covent Garden Apple Store, I was spotted by an Asian chap, about 30, who even crossed the aisle at Waterloo and sat next to me.

Him: “Would you do a drawing of me, in my book?”

Me: “Er, well, I’m not sure I can do it in time. I’m getting off in a couple of stops.”

Him: “But I just saw you do two drawings quick as that!”.

He handed me a ruled exercise book, folding it back to a clean page. I could hardly refuse. A quick profile. He was sitting far too close and hardly sitting still but it turned out a reasonably well. A good likeness, anyway.

Slowing into Charing Cross, I handed it back.

Him: “Not bad”.

Not bad? Not bad! Not even so much as a thank you? Not even so much as a thank you very much for my free portrait! A free portrait of the kind that damn fool tourists pay good money for on Leicester Square! Not bad?

Me: “What’s your name?”

Him: “Kali”

Me: “Very interesting to meet you, Kali”

We shook hands.

He got off at Leicester Square.

And so did I.