Herbert Whone

These drawings were done spontaneously during train journeys or in station buffets – in fact in any gathering of human beings where I felt in the middle of life. They were done at considerable speed as the subjects quickly became aware of being observed, especially when sitting as near as the opposite side of a table. After much experimentation at trying to be invisible, I came to the conclusion that the length of time I could safely show interest was no longer than three seconds. Then I had to fall back on sidelong glances of even shorter duration. However, this gave me more a sense of adventure and play than of work, and on the whole greater pleasure than any other project undertaken in my artistic life.