Sleeping on the Morning Train

 

This morning, I sat on the packed train looking around for someone interesting who was relatively still to draw. My eyes landed on this lady. She was sat opposite me on the DLR train so that she was sideways on to me. Absolutely perfect! The first thing I was drawn to was the fact that she looked so cosy in her big puffa jacket. She appeared as though she was snuggling under her duvet. Very sweet. The second thing was her extraordinary mouth. She had very shapely lips, which I wish I could have captured from the front. Then her hair! It was slicked up in this little pony tail on top of her head. It reminded me of when I was a little girl. My mum used to do the same thing to my hair. Well I have two sisters. our mother used to tie our hair the same way when we were kids- usually when we were going out somewhere. Visiting relatives or something…

 

I was wandering if she was dreaming about something. Wandering what she was dreaming about and what extraordinary story she would tell if we were to talk. We all spend so much time engrossed in our own stories. Sometimes when I sit and think about the sheer volume of stores, of peoples lives happening all around me I get overwhelmed and intrigued all at the same time. Life, time, it just keeps on moving on. It is important to be present is the moment to witness it. At times like this, when I am sketching someone secretly while they sleep, daydream, text or read, I feel like I am truly present.