Sketching at a Police Helipad. What Could Go Wrong?

PATROL HELICOPTER, 1981, gouache on illustration board, 9½” x 13”.

Here's the story:
A field in Glendale, California, contains what I’m told is the world’s largest collection of police helicopters. It’s a calm, sunny day, ideal for trying out gouache paint. But I’m not expecting what’s about to hit me.

I pass through a gate in the chain-link fence and approach a building. Inside, two women with headphone radios are communicating with police helicopters around LA. One looks up, adjusts her headphones, and asks, "What can I do for you?"

"I'm an art student," I say. "I wonder if I could set up outside and paint a picture of that helicopter." I point through the large windows. "Is that one going to stay there for a while?"

She pauses for a moment, seemingly surprised by the request. "Sure, I guess so," she replies. "That one's not going anywhere for a while. Just stay on the grass and off the airfield." She resumes her work as a call comes in.

Outside, I unfold my stool near the landing area and lay out my paper towels, sketch paper, and extra panels.

I paint the sky gradient and distant mountains. Soon, I hear the faint sound of a helicopter. Like a speck, it grows bigger, approaching until it’s overhead.

Then it hits me—the downforce from the rotors knocks off my hat. Loose papers fly up and disappear behind me. The hot wind dries the paint instantly, and dust and gravel get in my eyes. I clutch onto the painting.

As the chopper shuts down, I pick the loose papers off the fence and pack my things. The pilot gets out and smiles as he walks by. "Sorry about that," he says. "I wondered what you were doing there."

[This painting is reproduced in color in the new edition of The Artist's Guide to Sketching. available in the USA from my little family web store.]

Step-by-Step of the Underdrawing

The Artist's Guide to Sketching isn't really a "how-to" book, but we do have a chapter with a with a step-by-step sequence explaining a method for achieving accurate measurements and perspective.

Here's how you do it: first rough in the big shapes, check measurements and slopes, draw perspective guidelines, then refine the detailed underdrawing.

Chris (CF) Payne says: "While all three of James’ books are profound and valuable, The Artist’s Guide to Sketching may be the best, if not the most important. The lessons are supremely important, and each presented with visual samples and clearly written text. I wish I had this book when I was young and hungry to learn. A perfect book for high school students just beginning their art education, and an absolute must for first year college art students regardless of their art major.”

 

Gang Members as Models

Gang members may look intimidating, but if you catch them in public places, they make great models.

Two Young Gang Members, published in The Artist's Guide to Sketching

This idea applies to goths, bikers, punkers, ravers, metalheads & bodybuilders.
In my experience they’re keenly aware of the effect their appearance has on ordinary, mundane people. They know it’s a costume, either temporary or permanent (as in the case of body modifications).

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