Coffee Shop Drawings

Yup....still won't let me load pictures.  Sigh.

What you would have seen is my hand at a coffee shop clutching a napkin.  I posted it with no problem on my facebook page.  I hate facebook but at least it accepts my pics.

I was sitting in an armchair facing the window all by my lonesome.  Since I draw mainly hands in coloured pencil, I like to draw my hand (or somebody's hand) a couple of times a week so I don't lose the ability to do so.  After all what an expressive appendage our hand is.  You can speak, work and swear with it. (ohhhhh!  Make mental note of idea for future painting!)

I put my earphones in to dissuade any conversation on days I don't want to be disturbed and put a scowl on my face before getting lost in the lines of my hand.  Today, despite the earphones and cranky face, a fellow came up and asked for permission to sit in one of the other armchairs like I owned it.  I shrugged. 

He read the paper for only a couple of minutes before putting it down to just sit.  Sitting and watching.  Watching me.  Staring actually.

I slunk down further in my chair.  Don't look at me.  I don't like being looked at.  Stop looking at me!  Too bad he wasn't a mind reader.

After getting about half way through the drawing I realized that my model had moved!  The nerve!  When I started prior to the watcher, my hand was relaxed gently holding a napkin.  Now I realized things weren't lining up because my hand was turning white and blue and purple from tightly clutching the napkin.  I had to keep reminding myself to relax and realign my fingers.

Eventually I was finished. Without even a glance up I quickly packed up and downed my coffee.  He then started to get up himself after sitting and watching me for probably 45 min.  I sat back and fiddled with my phone waiting for him to leave.  Weird.

The regulars in this coffee shop are lovely people who will at times, sit together and chat.  When someone needs time alone usually people are adept enough at reading body language to know how open to company someone is.  I have even made a friend here who is a fellow artist.  Every once in a while (at least once a week) though someone comes in who doesn't know the coffee shop rules so I've decided to post them.

1)  Don't stare at me when I'm drawing  Yes I realize it's a free country, but do you sit beside the customers with a laptop and read all of their emails too commenting on their writing ability?
2)  If I'm wearing earphones and you try to talk to me I will pretend not to hear you so don't talk to me unless it's to tell me the building is on fire and it actually really is on fire.
3)  No you can't look through my sketchbook because I've probably drawn you at some point and you won't be flattered because I draw what I see, not what you want to believe you look like.
4)  Don't ask me what I do for a living because I'll probably lie to you anyways and it's none of your business why I'm sitting in a coffee shop in the mid-morning trying to ignore you.
5)  Yes you're right, I'm not knitting today how observant of you to notice.  By the way it's crocheting.

Okay, normally I'm not as snotty as all that but curiosity is one thing.  Rudeness in another.