Drawing people in very long queues to vote

Fancy improving your skills in drawing people in a natural stance? 

Back in 2008, I stayed up to watch the results of the American Election - which Obama won. One of those moments in history. Next day I published Another kind of surge which started....

The following comment was reported on a New York Times blog.

Overheard in a North Carolina polling place line:
“How long have you been waiting?”
“About 200 years…”

It also noted that I drew people waiting in queues to vote while waiting for the results to land - and it also included this image (BELOW - which I've made bigger for this post). 

I highlighted the image again in 2016, while waiting up for the predicted winner in Sketching the Vote in 2008

The thing I remember that was so remarkable then were the huge long queues of people waiting to vote.

There were so many images of them in the press and online that I decided to start my very own queue and sat adding sketches images of individuals from the various images online until I'd created my very own queue led by an elderly African American lady with a flag.

Another kind of surge
(or what I did while waiting for the results)
11.5" x 8.5", pencil
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Drawing queues to vote in 2024

In 2024, what has struck me very forcibly is the length of the queues to get into rallies and the length of queues for early voting opportunities.

This time I'm thinking of drawing all women in the queues.

If you are watching the results too and want to draw your own queues too I'd love to see the results! Comment on my FB post today to watch out for you. Or message me on FB or via sites highlighted on my linktr.ee

TIPS:

• I added individuals from many different sources. Reference many media images of people in queues for sources of people to include. Stopping videos is good. 
• Focus on stance/posture and clothing and NOT on people's faces. A suggestion of eyes is often all you need
• The zigzag enables you to get more people on the page! Plus cater for different angles....
• Try and tell a story
• You might want to try a few people before you get started. 
• You'll be amazed how your drawing improves as you build your queue!

This time I'll be waiting up again - tomorrow night into Wednesday morning - with all my fingers crossed that the "gold standard" pollster Ann Selzer has got it right - after doing her Iowa Poll "the right way" (i.e. proven sound methodology + track record over time). She has an absolutely exceptional track record - check the tabulation of her poll predictions over the years on Wikipedia. Also listen to Rachel Meddows.

Prior to the 2024 United States presidential election, Selzer & Co. released their final Iowa poll that had Kamala Harris leading Trump 47% to 44% in the state, markedly different from other polls that showed Trump with a significant lead.[18] Trump criticized the accuracy of the poll. Selzer responded by saying the poll used the same methodology as in 2016 and 2020, and that, "It would not be in my best interest, or that of my clients—The Des Moines Register and Mediacom—to conjure fake numbers."[19] Wikipedia

References:

• 10 Tips for How to Sketch People (2008
• Drawing people (2018)
• Which are the best books about Portraiture? (2013)
• Van Gogh: Drawing media and techniques (2007)

and

• Another kind of surge (2008)
• Sketching the Vote in 2008 (2016)

PS Yes, there is a red vertical line. I hadn't quite given up on my old malfunctioning Canon Printer/Scanner at that time!

PPS Do not underestimate the effect that allowing people to bet on elections in the USA has had on the incentive to keep other polls looking very close.  I don't think it's close at all. I think it's going to be comfortable heading towards landslide. This is because too many male commentators have totally missed the commitment of women to voting and getting the vote out.