Napkins: for more than just wiping your mouth

So recently I've begun a new past-time. I often find myself sitting at the college cafeteria waiting for my friends to show up for meals and that has led me to look for things to occupy my time with. First I brought my DS to play Pokemon but I realized it made me sleepy. I then decided to see if I could use the time to talk to my folks but naturally a daily phone conversation will not go on for half an hour. Usually I show up for meals without my backpack, so I don't have any homework to do or paper to doodle on.

Then one day, I noticed a guy sitting at another table across from me. He had very interesting eyes and I wanted to capture them. Fortunately I had a pencil in my pocket and a basket of napkins in front of me. This was the result.


About a month before I was talking to my friend at dinner and he was explaining that when his friend tried to grow out a mustache the hair grew out very wispy. I then imagined the thin mustache to move like creeping tendrils blowing in the wind when his friend talked. To demonstrate, I did this little doodle.


Recalling this instance the moment I finished with the "eye detail" sketch, I decided it would be neat to have a bunch of drawn-on napkins tacked onto my dorm wall along with the things I've drawn on paper.

Today, while at lunch and waiting for people to show up I did another drawing. I decided to do one of the Czech figure skaters I saw last night on T.V. This time the napkins were different and the image is not as visible when scanned. It looks way better in real life.


Drawing on paper napkins is fun. It's challenging to try and not press too hard so that the napkin tears. It also provides for very soft shading. I only hope that I remember a pencil or pen any time I'm expecting a long wait for my friends at dinner.