Some girl yelled at me for drawing her today

[Sphyzex_9]

So I was at Starbucks today with my sketchpad, and I sit next to this girl and start drawing her. At first she gives me a strange look and then after a while asks "are you drawing me?". I lie, and say no and she's like, "lemme see," I say no again, and she's like "lemme see that shit" so I show her and she's asks why I'm drawing her. I say it's not her, and she's like "Then why do you keep fucking looking over here? Shit".
Oh well, screw her.

[Arshes Nei]

Question: Was mentioning ethnicity necessary?

[Kilowatt]

What does it matter if she's asian.?

[Sphyzex_9]

What does it matter if she's asian.?

It doesn't. I was just explaining the setting.

[Idiot Apathy]

New question, why didn't you just say yes?

[Lex.W]

Mentioning ethnicity was necessary in the sense that it was descriptive rather than racist (or at least that's how I interpreted it). It was no more necessary than mentioning the fact she was a woman, or that it was in Starbucks. I don't see what the big deal is.

Also, I think when she asked if you were drawing her, you should have replied with a friendly "Yes I am, but I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable" or something along those lines. Rather than being defensive and confrontational.

[Sphyzex_9]

Also, I think when she asked if you were drawing her, you should have replied with a friendly "Yes I am, but I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable" or something along those lines. Rather than being defensive and confrontational.

Yeah but I wasn't trying to be confrontational, I just kinda freeze up those situations.

[Arshes Nei]

Mentioning ethnicity was necessary in the sense that it was descriptive rather than racist (or at least that's how I interpreted it). It was no more necessary than mentioning the fact she was a woman, or that it was in Starbucks. I don't see what the big deal is.

Also, I think when she asked if you were drawing her, you should have replied with a friendly "Yes I am, but I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable" or something along those lines. Rather than being defensive and confrontational.

Gender could matter depending if the artist drawing her was male or female. As a fellow artist I can kinda understand someone drawing me for observation, but it can be kind of creepy even if unintentional. There's also the fact that well there's a reason for model releases now a days.


But the "oh well screw her" came off so derogatory, mentioning the ethnicity kinda made it worse, especially as "some X girl". The set up of the scene seems more like "I need to find a way to say something demeaning" rather than simply explain a situation.

I think if the OP had been a bit more cautious with how he presented it, maybe we'd not ask about the ethnicity and be more sympathetic to the situation as fellow artists.

[ZsMann]

still though the truth will get you further in life

[Elwell]

She wasn't necessarily pissed off at you for drawing her, but she was pissed off at you for lying to her.
And rightly so.

[Sphyzex_9]

She wasn't necessarily pissed off at you for drawing her, but she was pissed off at you for lying to her.
And rightly so.

Yeah you're right, but I didn't know she'd keep asking.

[stoph]

you gotta master yourself some Jedi mind tricks before you go out drawing strangers again

girl: you drawing me?
you: these aren't the droids youre looking for.. *waves hand*

it'll work, trust me

[Prometheus|ANJ]

"Are you drawing me?"

"Yes. Is that okay with you?"

"No."

Then if the person choose to be an ass about the drawing:

"Alright, I'll change the face into Cthulhu then."

[spaztastic]

That is why I stalk... I mean observe from a distance. Actually that's why I just get stuff off the net.
A good thing to note too, is she might have been having problems with men stalking her, I have had that happen. If some one had been drawing me when i knew I had a stalker I would have been pissed as hell.

[aesir]

When that happens you say "que?" "No hablo ingles"

Or you can pretend you're doing sign language and shake your head sadly

Or rip the page out of your sketchbook and eat it.

Or say "no... I'm STEALING YOUR VERY SOUL! bwhaahahaha"


I feel your response was uncreative.

[Grief]

and then i slip a roofie into her mocha grande lukewarm flavored coffee, and she's all getting mad, like wtf is her problem?

"jerk." she says throwing her drink away and leaving. so i grab my ether soaked rag and put her in a headlock, and she's all totally being rude about it. "GET OFF ME, SOMEONE HELP!" she keeps saying as i work her arms into submission, and she's making a scene out of all of this for no reason and is being loud. like, other people are looking at me and its making it awkward.

i can't even believe her, you know what she does? she BITES my hand that was holding the rag trying to suffocate her. i mean how inconsiderate is that shit? i mean hello i use my hand to draw silly. she runs off and i didn't even get to finish my sketch.

gosh.. what do you guys do when this happens to you?

[Dizon]

That's ok, man. Lesson learned!

[Taboo]

protip

draw outside wearing reflective shades

[Rist]

She says: "are you drawing me?"

You: "No"

She says: "well why are you looking at me?"

You: "I thought I saw a big spider on your shoulder, I thought to mention this to you but you were looking at me"

[BloodlustKid]

Mentioning ethnicity was necessary in the sense that it was descriptive rather than racist (or at least that's how I interpreted it). It was no more necessary than mentioning the fact she was a woman, or that it was in Starbucks. I don't see what the big deal is.

Also, I think when she asked if you were drawing her, you should have replied with a friendly "Yes I am, but I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable" or something along those lines. Rather than being defensive and confrontational.

There was this comic I read a while ago. I forgot what it's called but the artist's name is Tak or something. The following went something like this (I think):

1: Man, it was crowded yesterday. A black guy just pushed me.

2: Wow, what a jerk.

1: Yeah, then another guy just yelled obscenities at me.

2: Wait...What ethnicity was that guy?

1: White.

2: Why did you say "black guy" but not say "white guy"?

1: Because everybody knows that white is the default race.

2: :|


That's why I find it annoying.

And for the record, she probably wouldn't have mind if you said you were an art student.

Some people think of artists, and they don't imagine their studio being Starbucks...

...Are you sure?

[Grief]

she says: "are you drawing me?"

you: "no"

she says: "why are you looking at me?"

you: "just lookin' at your tits, not at you."

she says: "oh sorry! i thought you were a creep, do you like 'em?"

you: "mmmyes quite nice. superb boobage if i do say so."

she says: "why you certainly are a fine gentleman!"

you: "I KNOW! HAW HAW!"

she says: "haha!"

that's how CA rolls.

[s.ketch]

Just put on your cool face.

[Grief]

[Serpian]

Grief: hahahahaha!!!

[Alex Chow]

Oh, Trollface, how I love you.

I almost got into a fight situation (threats and all) because I drew somebody who really didn't like being drawn apparently. Some people just don't take it well. Actually, it's a very very small minority; everybody else is fine with it, love it, or they would kindly ask me to not draw them if they don't.

[Kilowatt]

Haaaaahaha. Great BuckWeisel & Grief!

[Rist]

This should be rename a Cheer me Up thread lol

As for the ethnic thing, stop bringing in unnecessary debates, that's how topics are locked . Unnecessary debates annoy me!

[Max Challie]

I once I was in a coffee shop, and asked someone if they would mind me sitting down next to them to draw. "yeah it's ok" It just reminded me of this

[Hookswords]

If you're going to sketch people out in the world you have to be prepared for this sort of thing. You never know what people's reactions will be or what they've been through that might set them off in a manner such as you experienced. Honesty is a better policy. It could have gone worse. She could have gotten really pissed after seeing you lied and snatched your sketch book and trashed it, or poured hot coffee on you. Take a breath to unfreeze and be straight forward. Maintain a positive attitude and a lot of times that will defuse the situation. A lot of people will notice you sketching them and not care, sometimes people are curious and will want to see how they've been rendered. But, you have to put perspective on it. Some people might feel uncomfortable. I've noticed people start acting differently once they know they are being sketched. All that person wanted was to relax and get a coffee or a bite to eat. Now they are being monitored by some "artist". Humor is good too, as you can tell by this thread. It went from some sort of weird racist accusation to pretty damn funny. You gotta pick your spots. Maybe dont draw the girl right next to you. Get a little distance, or someone that wont even notice you. Dont stare at them like you're "sketching" with your "Flesh pencil" under the table. Subtle glances and casual movements. If they do approach you dont be aggressive and be accommodating like some others suggested. I have been confronted a few times. Seems I have a look about me that troubles people. The common initial reaction to me is fear. Not sure why. Dunno if it's the hair, my monstrous frame, or the cloud of pestilence that follows me. *shrugs* So, in my sketch book that I was using for drawing people out in the world, I drew a really crappy stick figure. If people would confront me I would flash them the stick figure and say "Sorry if you felt weird being drawn. I'm just trying to get better. What do you think?" *smile* That would usually break the ice enough to defuse the awkwardness.

The real crime here was that you were in a Starbucks.

[Peter Coene]

In my experience most girls have liked it when I draw them, but I go about it differently. First, I don't just sit right next to them, so that they don't feel like I'm invading their space. Second, I draw a bunch of other stuff in the area, including people. Then when I draw her I make it more about her pose, how she's sitting, holding her coffee, etc. Third, I don't lie or freeze up. The fact that you froze up gives the feeling that you were up to no good, lieing made it worse. Heck, even your wording in the first post here gives that impression.

So far the only time a girl got mad at me for drawing her was at a topless bar. Ok, I admit sometimes I'm up to no good too, but catching those poses was a chance too cool to pass up, and when I say I take my sketchbook everywhere I mean EVERYWHERE