Sketching, drawing, art in general is a tool, a tool that helps you see differently than others and be able to see things in a different perspective. You’d be surprised how much you can notice about people if you studied art.
For example, if you’re in a café, and you see an elderly man sitting nearby sipping coffee, you might not think much of it. But look again.
If you notice the way his skin creases deeply every time he so much as glances at the ring on his finger, you’d know that he must’ve lost his spouse and was still in mourning.
Which makes you wonder, what did she look like? Did she have a special way of making his coffee? Or was it just the little things that she did, like purse her lips when looking at a newspaper that made him love her so? Love…is not meant for everyone; I know that from experience.
But now as I am at a cemetery, I sit on the plush fog laden grass, I notice things like how all the tombstones face a certain way. Are they facing the east, waiting for the sun to rise once more?
I think all these thoughts as I draw everything around me, feeling more and more relaxed with every line I make.
A few feet away from me, and the tree at which I sat against, a tall figure (which I’m guessing is a man) in a long black coat walked at a leisurely pace one of the tombstones. He sat down in front of it all pulled out a guitar from his side and strummed a few notes.
The lighting was so perfect that I had to get closer, so I did. What I really didn’t expect was to hear a voice so hypnotizing and low that it drew me closer, until I was sitting right next to him. I couldn’t move a muscle, and I don’t even think he noticed me sitting there.
After a long pause, I picked up the black pencil and started drawing him. His bone structure was remarkable and the way light illuminated his skin flawlessly and cast shadows over his closed eyes drove me wild. He had slightly purple eyelids, as a result of little sleep I’m guessing. I restrained myself from reaching out and stroking his cheek, or even running a finger over his red seductive lips.
“What are you doing?” A small smile came onto the man’s face, and his eyelids parted, revealing eyes a color that should only be on werewolves.
My face heated up even as I silently begged it not to, “Sorry, I just kind of started drawing. You’re face his fabulous in this light,”
Fabulous? Did I just say frigging fabulous? I’m a loser.
“Do you do this often?” He asked, going back into his pose like before, “Because I don’t think it’s too healthy to be sitting in graveyards drawing strange men,”
“I don’t think it’s too healthy to be singing in graveyards either,” I half smiled. The man laughed, giving off an adorable Cheshire cat smile. And suddenly I wanted to kiss him. Every inch of my body was yearning for him just then.
“Yeah, it isn’t.” He shrugged, “You look like you just swallowed a wasp,”
My face tinted once more. I thought I was inconspicuous.
“I’m kidding,” He laughed, “You should laugh more, it’s a good thing,”
“Why bother when there’re so many more bad things in the world,” I muttered; the man opened his left eye and looked at me oddly so I changed the subject, “Do you mind if I draw you?”
“Why else would I be sitting this still,” He cracked a smile, and I picked up the black pencil and lightly started drawing. By the time I’d finished, the cemetery was practically pitch black.
“We should probably get going,” He said, stretching once he got to his feet.
“Okay, you go ahead,” I smiled wearily up at his face.
“I’m about as much for doom and gloom as the next guy, but it’s almost two, and I think you need to get home,” He said, offering a hand.
“Honestly, it’s okay,” I said, not budging.
He sighed, and pulled me up nonetheless, holding onto my hand and dragging me around the graves until we got to a Volvo.
“Nice car,” I commented, trying to be polite.
“You think I drive a Volvo? Aside from being the ugliest crap ever invented, I don’t own a car, I walk,” He said, bowing grandly as he lead me onto the sidewalk. We walked quite a ways and every once in a while, he’d turn to me and ask if this was where I lived, and each time I’d just shake my head.
Now he was just singing softly, something about a kitten.
“Do have a cat?” I asked, just for the sake of conversation.
“God no,” He said, “I’m allergic to about everything that breaths,”
“Okay, then,” I nodded, holding my breath. About thirty seconds later, he caught on and laughed so I exhaled.
“Is this the place?” He asked, stopping at an apartment building.
I shook my head, and kept walking, but I felt a tug on my arm and came to a stop.
“Are you going to tell me where you live, or are you afraid that the big bad wolf will stalk you?” He asked me, pursing his perfect lips with a smile in his eyes.
“I’m just kind of between places right now,” I looked away; I was never able to lie when looking a person straight in the eye.
“How so?” He asked,
“It’s a long story,” I exasperatedly said, but what I really meant is ‘I really do not want to go over this.’
“I’ve got time,” He said, sitting on the black Mediterranean styled porch railings. His long legs managed to still touch the cement steps.
“Oh, uh, okay,” I stammered, leaning against the railing he sat on, “I’m from the US—well, France actually—but I was raised in America. I guess it’s sort of obvious, with my bad accent and all,”
“You had me fooled,” He shrugged.
“Really?”
“No,” He laughed, “Sorry, go on,”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to be an artist so I spent two years raising up money because my mom and dad cut me off—I either became a lawyer or they disowned me…and they did. So I get to France, thinking that I’d become inspired and all, but I’m robbed, I loose all I had and after…” I trailed off, “I made some mistakes…a lot actually, so I kind of ended up here,”
“Everyone makes mistakes,” He said,
“I know, but…” I started biting my nails, snapping my hand down when I noticed I was doing it again, “Sorry,”
“Why are you apologizing,” He chuckled, “Everyone has habits, hell, I smoke about…4 cartons of cigarettes a day,”
“Wow.” I smiled warily.
“Don’t worry, it’s only as a tool,” He said, “You know, for my voice.”
“Absolutely no pleasure in that,” I joked
“None at all,” He cracked a smile, getting one out of me. I haven’t smiled this much in a long time.
“Do you live around here at all?” He asked me, locking eyes with me. I felt like a bunny sitting in front of snake just that moment, totally caught up in his eyes that I couldn’t even look anywhere else, no matter how much I tried.
“Yeah, well not live here, I mean. I just kind of stay around this neighborhood,” I stammered,
“Where?” He asked me, looking like he really wanted to know.
“Around…” I said cautiously, “I really don’t want to get into that right now,”
“Sometime then?” He assumed when I shrugged he said, “I’ll take you up on that,”
A chill came through and goose bumps popped up on my arms as I silently cursed myself for ripping my sleeves off in an effort to bring back a style and I unwillingly shivered.
“Are you cold?” He asked, not waiting for my reply before draping his long black coat over my shoulders.
“Thank you” The warmth filled me as I looked on ahead. He and I stood in silence until I noticed a light tremor come from the man.
“You’re shivering,” I pointed out.
“No I’m not,” He denied,
“You’re such a lair,” I smiled, nudging him playfully.
He gave me a long, very odd look then asked, “You want to go inside?”
“Uh…”
“I don’t use lines like, I have candy inside my car or something,” He joked, “Just a lost puppy.”
“That’s the way to get a person into your house,” I sarcastically joked, “child molestation; appetizing,”
“Absolutely,” He laughed, “No, but seriously, get in,”
“I’m fine out here,” I said, staying put even though I knew he was just joking.
“You don’t have anywhere to go tonight, do you? A kind, caring, wonderful creature has offered the lovely maiden a place to rest, would you seriously turn it down?” He asked,
“What would this wonderful creature’s name be, because I swear, it’s really been bugging me that I don’t know,” I asked,
“Ville Valo,” He replied, shaking my hand promptly, “And what would the lovely maiden’s name be?”
“Estelle Vogel.” I smiled,
