A New Role: The Wind Has Changed

News. My daily life has changed dramatically. I went to a job fair on Aug 23 and talked to one of the representatives for less than 10 minutes. Based on his direction, I filled out an on-line job application that night for the company. Did a phone interview lasting about seven minutes on Aug 29. Was asked to fly to Baltimore to have a two day conference with the company....and their customer! The novel interview process went well enough that I received a job offer before I left and a request to start work Tuesday, Sep 4. Its been a whirlwind ever since. A different product, different company, different people, and a different mission. I will have to work hard to measure up and fit in.

But what about art? Where is my Artistic Endeavor now? How does this affect my Creative Pursuit?Well, I am thankful that I had a chance to peruse Adebanje Adelaide's blog on Daily Drawing and sketching in the city and on mass transit during my year of unemployment. His example planted the seed for how to make the best use of some small time for myself in an otherwise busy and long day. I have a very long commute into the city on a commuter rail and then the city subway. But not long enough or uncrowded enough that I can do much productive work without interruptions. So I have decided that it gives me opportunity to have some personal time in an otherwise extremely busy day and therefore a chance to draw and sketch my commuting commiserants....which I have been doing.

Original Sketch: News is in the Wind- Copyright James E. Martin 2012

I keep the sketchbook with me. The train and the subway both pose lots of movement and affect the steadiness of hand. This genre adds a new daily venue of urban motifs and people in their urban business day that I did not necessarily aim for nor expect to be thrust upon me. Serendipity. Or Providence.

I expect to improve my observation skills, my eye-hand coordination, and my drawing skills over the longer term to reveal a personal style and form. I don't expect to "drive towards" a style but rather hope it will emerge as I look back on these drawing efforts.

Although fitting in the sketch time has been a fairly easy decision point, I can foresee a difficult time and lack of availability for transposing the sketches into the on-line blog.