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53
New Yorker Draws Sketches Of Masked Strangers On The Subway, Captures The Spirit Of The Times
Devon Rodriguez is known for his subway oil paintings of unsuspecting subjects. He has now taken to drawing sketches with a pencil while on the subway. His TikTok has several process videos of it, with some of them climbing over a few million views. The artist is also selling these sketches on his website if you’re interested in owning them.
Devon says that his work is about documenting the world around him, typically on the NYC Subway. His job is not to direct reality, but to let reality lead him. He likes to remain hyper-aware of what’s going on and tries not to disturb his subjects in any way.
More info: devonrodriguezart.com | Instagram | tiktok.com
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Image credits: devonrodriguezart
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
The author has also told Bored Panda what it’s like to be drawing these people: “I’m curious about people, how they operate, what they wear, how they interact with the world around them, etc. Even when I’m not drawing, I’m watching people and thinking about their nuances and the different mannerisms that people adopt. They’re a perfect subject for me to draw. When I’m drawing, it’s like meditation. As I’m rendering their forms and clothing, I’m pondering things like ‘what does their body language say about them? How does the way they present themselves describe their psyche?'”
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
And Devon isn’t using his opportunity to draw these sketches just so he can practice the art that he’s been immersed in for 8 years—it’s more than that. “I see a greater meaning in this endeavor. The subway has been a subject of mine for several years now. Faces are a thing that I’m so used to capturing on the subway and now most of them are covered up with the COVID-19 masks. I think it’s interesting to capture this devastating moment in time with art. It’ll reflect 2020 when I look back on them in the future. It’ll be interesting to capture the different types of masks people wear and how they wear them.”
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
“I’m going to continue the sketch series for a while. I’ll be making one a day every day for the next few weeks, at least.” And since he’s not stopping any time soon, keep following him on his social media to get updates on the series.
TikTok Video by Devon Rodriguez
Image credits: devonrodriguezart
Devon Rodriguez in his studio in the Bronx, New York
Image credits: Jacob Pritchard
Devon Rodriguez was born in the Bronx, New York, and has been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and been featured in numerous other articles. His love for New York is evident in his artwork. He currently has a portrait of his mentor showing at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and his self-portrait will be exhibiting at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art this fall.
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What do you think ?
Lemon 5 years ago
What beautiful art! The woman at the end who is wearing her mask incorrectly really annoys me though...
CodingGirl04 5 years ago
Even though I don't like it when people wear the masks wrong(for obvious reasons) I see it far too often, and it's nice knowing that these are truly real drawings and the mask in the drawing wasn't tampered with
Load More Replies...
Kyana Winter 5 years ago
These sketches are all great, but I do wish he asked the subjects if they would like to be drawn before drawing them and posting it on the internet :(
b l a n c 5 years ago
isn't that what makes it kind of wonderful in all it's simplicity and blandness?
Load More Replies...
Billy The Kid 5 years ago
Amazing talent! He must be fast to catch them before they leave or a good memory. I wonder if any of them was thinking why does he keep looking at me for?
Globalspace 3 years ago
What I find interesting is the way these edited videos mislead the general viewer into thinking they were done in a few minutes for unsuspecting subway riders. I do like the way the videos were designed to create a sense of appreciation from the subjects. And that’s touching. It’s just too bad it’s a complete act rather than a genuine sharing of art. Bored Panda was duped as was the entire media that covers this. I’d like to see these videos in real time without edits and real subway riders looking appreciative. Bored Panda…?
Lemon 5 years ago
What beautiful art! The woman at the end who is wearing her mask incorrectly really annoys me though...
CodingGirl04 5 years ago
Even though I don't like it when people wear the masks wrong(for obvious reasons) I see it far too often, and it's nice knowing that these are truly real drawings and the mask in the drawing wasn't tampered with
Load More Replies... Kyana Winter 5 years ago
These sketches are all great, but I do wish he asked the subjects if they would like to be drawn before drawing them and posting it on the internet :(
b l a n c 5 years ago
isn't that what makes it kind of wonderful in all it's simplicity and blandness?
Load More Replies... Billy The Kid 5 years ago
Amazing talent! He must be fast to catch them before they leave or a good memory. I wonder if any of them was thinking why does he keep looking at me for?
Globalspace 3 years ago
What I find interesting is the way these edited videos mislead the general viewer into thinking they were done in a few minutes for unsuspecting subway riders. I do like the way the videos were designed to create a sense of appreciation from the subjects. And that’s touching. It’s just too bad it’s a complete act rather than a genuine sharing of art. Bored Panda was duped as was the entire media that covers this. I’d like to see these videos in real time without edits and real subway riders looking appreciative. Bored Panda…?
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