India 2019: People in Airports

I had a whirlwind trip to India just a couple of weeks ago. Two weeks, six different places. Some time with family, a fabulous experience running an art camp for kids in a little village, and then I headed back home.

Lots of travel means lots of airport time, sometimes even whole nights. So I did what I usually do, ate a lot and sketched. Here are a collection of airport sketches.

First sketch when I landed. Sketching fellow passengers departing with their luggage after a long flight. You can tell they’re in a hurry to get home.

A night-long layover at the airport means I spend some time hanging out in the lounge with other half-asleep travelers, all with big bags.

More middle-of-the-night sketches, hanging out outside the airport this time. It’s so busy even at 1am. Airport taxis, abandoned luggage carts and the ubiquitous street dog. Sketched with a hot chai (not pictured).

A few hours later, still waiting to board a plane, eating again. Drawing the people, noting what I ate and photographing it because it can’t wait and get cold. And yes, it isn’t filter coffee unless it comes in a little EverSilver cup.

This strange structure? A giant phone charger.

More airport sketching, this on another day. If you’re packing a palette for a trip to India, drop the neutrals, and be sure to pack oranges, pinks, purples and lime green.

Last airport sketches. Every time I pull out my sketchbook, there are at least a few people watching me draw. If you are going to sketch in public in India, you’re going to sketch around people. I really enjoy the random encounters and conversations.