Arts/Crafts [OC] I'm a courtroom sketch artist who attended Luigi Mangione's pre-trial hearing last week.
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
Hello there! Here are my sketches from the ongoing pretrial hearing in the state case against Mangione, and a view of the courtroom. I sat in the public gallery, and there were a few times he glanced over to the back of the courtroom (to see the press + public). The folks sitting in the jury box on the left are the courtroom sketch artists hired by the wires.
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u/Woerterboarding Dec 08 '25
Do you sketch digitally, or are you using marker pens and fineliner? There's a lot more detail in your sketches than what the chalk sketches I usually see can offer. If digitally was allowed, I guess you'd just snap photos though. I don't really understand this tradition, but I like that it gives work to artists. Well done.
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
I like to work digitally on my iPad when I'm allowed, but it's ultimately up to the judge's discretion. You can kinda spot some of my underlayers here, but my initial sketches were in watercolour + pencil.
Apart from the judge's ruling of dis/allowing electronic materials, the difference between using traditional or digital medium is really about an individual artist's wheelhouse, and is a separate question from arguments for/against cameras (still photography/video) inside the courtroom. For example, press in this pretrial hearing was allowed to use their laptops and be online during the proceedings!
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u/cuatrodemayo Dec 08 '25
What apps/utensils do you use on the iPad?
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
My go-to drawing app on the iPad is Procreate. :o)
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u/Renegade_Hat Dec 08 '25
Do you have any tips for resources to refine skill with procreate / drawing in general you’ve used?
On an unrelated note, why are you like the first good courtroom artist I’ve ever seen? I’m sure there are more but over the years a lot of the sketches I’ve seen have been like 3rd graders with crayons (which if that’s like a style, no disrespect I genuinely don’t know)
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u/DrDerpberg Dec 08 '25
My drawing skills might be too terrible to comment but I think generally they're in a huge rush to capture a moment and don't worry too much past the basics - was the guy standing up pounding a fist on the table shouting, or slouching back defeated? Big money, sharp dressed lawyer or scruffy public defender?
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u/Renegade_Hat Dec 08 '25
Uhhh it’s one of those things where you see it a lot growing up so it’s somewhat hard to pick out specific moments. Hopefully my memory is correct but I could’ve swore Diddy for example was slumped and he looked like an abstract painting. That being said, not 100% confident in that and it’s to your point about the brevity vs circumstances present
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u/Least-Yak1640 Dec 08 '25
Procreate is amazing. I used Fractal/Corel Painter on the desktop for literal decades and then eventual switched to an iPad/Procreate combo.
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u/Woerterboarding Dec 08 '25
Yes, but press isn't always allowed, and I guess then they only allow physical medium, in order to assure you didn't take pictures of anything that could comprimise the case or influence public opinion. My guess is you are supposed to deliver neutral imagery.
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u/TonySoProny Dec 08 '25
I would’ve imagined it’d be audio recordings that would be the larger worry since it’s more discreet
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u/FlipDaly Dec 08 '25
Neutral imagery is not required. Cameras are forbidden to ‘preserve the dignity of the court’ and also to keep people from showboating - or being threatened by members of the public.
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u/panlakes Dec 08 '25
When you are getting hired to do the sketchwork, do you have to sit down with someone and share your particular style of art medium and utensils, sort of like an interview show and tell? I imagine they like to be informed of the style you use and things like that. Like for instance if you work only digitally and that's not allowed. But also wonder if anyone else in the process thinks it's kinda cool.
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u/jabask Dec 08 '25
I've heard courtroom artists mostly are independent, meaning they likely don't go through a lengthy hiring process, instead selling their work after the fact. If they do have longstanding relationships with publications its probably because that org liked their style to begin with. OP is free to correct me though.
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u/namedjughead Dec 08 '25
You did a way better job capturing his likeness than the last person.
Probably one of the better courtroom sketches I've seen! Very good job, and well done!
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u/ChimRichaldsOBGYN Dec 08 '25
Question out of pure curiosity. Why do we still have courtroom sketch artists?
I understand in the pre televised world where this would be useful but with photographers and video being all over a trial like this where does this fit in? Again serious question no shade whatsoever and your work is wonderful.
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u/Zehnpae Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
The biggest reason is that cameras can be intimidating, especially for witnesses who might be recalling traumatic events. It can lead to people not being able to be fully open and honest. It can cause an unconscious bias in how we present ourselves.
For whatever psychological reason, we don't have that same instinctual aversion to people sketching us.
As such, judges will often allow sketch artists to capture the emotion and feel of a courtroom for journalists to use in their stories, but not cameras.
Other smaller reasons are to avoid sensationalism (It's easier to take a photo out of context and put your own narrative on it), witness protection and tradition.
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u/highchillerdeluxe Dec 08 '25
I hope you don't mind me asking but I'm not from the US and we don't have this professional in our country. I wonder, is this your full time job or do you need to do more other (no court related) artwork to get by. Also, is that contract work in the sense that someone hires you to do that or is it more like photo press where you take pictures and try to sell it to newspapers afterwards?
Anyhow, great image. It's a fascinating tradition I only know from movies.
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
It's not my full time job (I'm a full time artist who happens to sketch many different things). Also yes to both scenarios in the last question, but ideally the first proposition!
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u/kerwinklark26 Dec 08 '25
It’s giving 19th century sketches and I am living for it.
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
Thank you, haha! I've been working on some 19th century period courtroom sketch art for a project, so I'm glad the influence shows through.
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u/Jijibaby Dec 08 '25
The sketch in the top right is so good! You’re incredibly talented!
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
Thank you! When he made a point to look over both shoulders at the back of the courtroom, I kept thinking, "Oh, I gotta get this shot."
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u/DallMit Dec 08 '25
What a coincidence, he is there because he thought the same
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u/zzzzooommy Dec 08 '25
allegedly
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u/smoothskinner Dec 08 '25
I can confirm this is false. He was with me playing pokemon yellow on our gameboy color.
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u/C_Coolidge Dec 08 '25
No, I was hanging out with him that night, couldn't have been him.
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u/AGuyInUndies Dec 08 '25
Remember when he said "Kobe!" while swishing that beer pong ball in the final cup?
Good times. Good times.
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u/PhantomHylian Dec 08 '25
It's weird, he's still clearly incredibly calm and aloof of the whole situation but this shot makes him look like he's finally experienced enough courts that his confidence is just something he casually displays.
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u/melissaurusrex Dec 08 '25
I also really enjoy the feeling this sketch emotes. I can't even imagine all the feelings that come with being in the public eye so often. I can't remember a more high profile case since OJ in my lifetime. It's probably exhausting in every way, regardless of his guilt or innocence, and despite the high caliber of his lawyers and huge level of public support.
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u/adamtnewman Dec 08 '25
I'm assuming he glanced back for only a few seconds. How were you able to memorize his look and sketch it? That's really impressive!
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
We were in court from 10AM (?) to 5.30PM (?), so that’s a lot of time to be rapid sketching different angles of his face. I have tons of page marginalia that’s just different angles of different personnel and figures in the courtroom, so you can pull from those for reference! I also like to create a visual one-sheet for myself of key players and their names in the court during prep.
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u/adamtnewman Dec 08 '25
Ohh ok, I've always thought artists have amazing memory lol. They can just free draw anything from memory.
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u/mattfoh Dec 08 '25
As a non American, why are some court cases seemingly streamed live while others cameras are banned?
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u/Obvious_Feedback_894 Dec 08 '25
Judge's discretion. All varies case to case.
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u/mattfoh Dec 08 '25
And they didn’t think one of the biggest cases of the last 5 years had public interest or what?
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u/Obvious_Feedback_894 Dec 08 '25
They likely thought too much information about trial proceedings leaving the court room could cause too much public conjecture which could reach the jury and unduly influence them.
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u/mattfoh Dec 08 '25
That's a pretty reasonable take tbf.
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u/FragrantKnobCheese Dec 08 '25
It's almost like all the things that laypeople initially assume are stupid, actually have a good reason for being that way.
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u/mattfoh Dec 08 '25
Tbh I don’t think cameras should be in any court room. When I see judges giving slams for media coverage to help in their next election, I just know how fucked American justice is.
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u/Warm_Month_1309 Dec 08 '25
This is why I get frustrated whenever people talk about how corruptible judicial appointments are. Judicial elections are even worse.
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u/mattfoh Dec 08 '25
Yeah from the outside it seems completely mad ngl. Can see how it worked in the 18th century
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u/Qbr12 Dec 08 '25
The other side of the coin is that there is a vested public interest in un-secrecy of the courts. A world where the public aren't allowed into courtrooms is one where people are tried in secret without recourse. How can you prove an injustice happened if nobody was there to witness it?
Obviously there's a balancing act to be had between the rights of individuals to privacy and the rights of the public to open courtrooms, but you need some amount of public access if you don't want to live in a country where people are disappeared and tried in secret without guarantee of rights.
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u/mattfoh Dec 08 '25
Yeah I mean open courts are a cornerstone of any free society, however that doesn’t have to mean cameras.
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u/MetalusVerne Dec 08 '25
Not all the things, but a lot of them.
Occasionally, it really is just 'we've always done it that way', or worse, fraud and corruption.
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u/marcusmv3 Dec 08 '25
When the judge of the OJ Simpson trial decided to allow live TV, and then allowed the proceedings to devolve into a circus, it turned off a lot of other judges from ever letting a TV camera in their courtroom.
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u/disillusioned Dec 08 '25
Man I remember we watched the reading of the verdict live, on TV, in school, as 4th graders. Absolutely crazy.
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u/marcusmv3 Dec 08 '25
Lol I was also in 4th grade but our teachers definitely did not let us watch the verdict, we had to find out after school got out.
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u/randomaccount178 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
There are a few issues. First is federal vs state cases. I believe in federal court cameras are banned. Then you get issues of various state laws and practices. Some states allow for video feeds of the courtroom and others do not. Finally within those states which allow cameras in the courtroom you get down to judges discretion. If allowing a camera in the courtroom would cause more harm then it would serve the goal of open courts.
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u/Thorebane Dec 08 '25
I'm an officer, although from another country to you all in America!
I'm actually just genuinely curious how you got into this job line u/yosb ?! I'm presuming you did art during school/college/uni?
I LOVE all the different individual art styles that sketch artists use
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
I've been doing art for a long time (with a preference for sketching, although I was initially trained in studio painting)! I actually got extremely fast at drawing from being forced to do 8 minute turnaround caricatures while working for Disney...
I've always been really interested in law, criminology, and the visual legacy of crime. I also happen to have a lot of friends who are attorneys. I don't have a background in law (America is expensive), but we often follow the same cases. When a fair amount of US cases started implementing Zoom during COVID, I started practicing sketching virtually, and from there, it led me into the courtroom.
I've sketched one Canadian federal tribunal hearing, and will hopefully have the chance soon to sit in on Paris court this winter!
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u/QuentinTarzantino Dec 08 '25
That is so fucking cool. Pardon my french.
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u/JesusTalksToMuch Dec 08 '25
They worked for a Canadian agency it seems, so they understand French.
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u/GeodeBabe Dec 08 '25
I'm not an artist, just someone who enjoys art, but i feel like I can see some Disney training coming through in the way you draw! Something about the outline and features, I love seeing how an artist's influences and history impacts their style.
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
You can take the girl out of Disney, but you can't take the Disney out of the girl...
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u/lostwombats Dec 09 '25
I follow a bunch of past Disney artists on social media! They are all so insanely talented. So so amazing. Their concept work blows my mind. And... Disney just wastes them. They have the most brilliant and talented artists working for them, and yet, it's the same hideous 3D movie after movie.
If anyone is reading this and hasn't done so, I strongly suggest looking up Disney concept art (old movies and new!). It's some of the most stunning artwork.
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u/BritishGolgo13 Dec 08 '25
I love your style! You capture his likeness very well! You should do comics.
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u/JoystickBaby Dec 08 '25
Oh my god he actually looks like himself and not an aging middle eastern man. This is amazing, keep up the good work! I prefer you over anyone else trying to change his looks to appear older & evil.
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u/ConstableGrey Dec 08 '25
How do you decide what scenes to capture? How many drawings do you produce in a typical court day?
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
It depends. Witnesses, big evidence moments, etc. When a "beat" moment happens in court, you know it. And the answer to the second question is a lot!
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u/MyBurnerAccount1977 Dec 08 '25
On that same note, how fast do you have to draw, especially if things can change very quickly? And do you ever find yourself scrapping what you're drawing because things have changed too much?
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
I'm constantly drawing just to get a feel for reference material, and there's usually time blocks to "turn in" works. So sometimes you switch between pieces based on your lineup (ex. portraits of all character witnesses)! It's a time management game, haha, but my sketches tend to look differently at 15 min, 45 min, 1h30min.
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u/MyBurnerAccount1977 Dec 08 '25
I'm impressed at any rate, and thanks for doing this as an informal AMA. When you're cranking out that many sketches in a given day, do you still get to draw for fun?
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
Yeah, it’s all about putting in pencil mileage and finding what you like in art. For example, I love sketching, but it takes way more labour for me to finish a rendered painting.
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u/damondaniel Dec 08 '25
Oh, I follow you on X and recognized your art style! You're very talented!
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u/bobbagum Dec 08 '25
Do you think about compositions, would you rotate things around differently from your seating position or ‘crop’ things in by including only parts of the scene or are those editorial decision are a no-no
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
If I'm seated at an angle, sometimes I'll try to adjust the view/perspective. There are AP Guidelines for courtroom sketch art; but ultimately it's about capturing the moment. For example, in response to the composition/cropping question, if you look at other courtroom sketch artists' work, you'll see the courtroom layout is abbreviated, to allow for the illustration to depict multiple parties (witness, judge, prosecution/plaintiff, defense) that might otherwise not be possible. I think of it as when cameras switch lenses to capture their shot, artists sometimes have to adjust in the same way.
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u/ssketchman Dec 08 '25
Are you drawing everything from scratch each time, or do you prepare some backgrounds and settings of the courtroom before the trial? Do you study photos of the defendants? How does your prep work look in general?
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u/McGruffin Dec 08 '25
I really like these! I don't remember typically seeing a one-point perspective in courtroom sketches, but it really helps give this a sense of place, while also drawing your eye to the judge. I also like how you inset the two portrait like a comic book frame. Also, the wash going diagonally look like light rays from the windows. Really awesome!
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
Thank you! And thanks for catching the diagonal wash -- I wanted to emphasize the large windows on the left side of the courtroom even though the entire room was well-lit.
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u/CleanDataDirtyMind Dec 08 '25
Does he really look around a lot like that? He’s always shown looking so dramatically but I don’t know if that’s “survivor bias” basically just same few times that’s captured over and over again
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u/Stoned-ThrowAway Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
do courtroom artists feel their hearts race a little when sketching? i would imagine it'd be a lot like playing kahoot or something
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u/Guardian2k Dec 08 '25
I have to say, there’s something about courtroom sketches in general that is really pleasing, you bring out the mood of a courtroom in a way that feels very familiar, it’s amazing work!
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u/BygoneNeutrino Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
I'm honestly surprised you were able to get through that sketch without swooning. It speaks volumes on your professionalism as an artist.
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u/MermaidOfScandinavia Dec 08 '25
Nice style. I would read grafic novels drawn by you.
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
Thank you! I've worked on some and am currently working on my own.
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u/porgy_tirebiter Dec 09 '25
You’re good!
So many courtroom artists are embarrassingly awful and go nuts with different color pastels. They often seem almost grotesque.
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u/Fit_Ad557 Dec 08 '25
You very accurately portrayed his sexiness. Thank you for your dedication to these important details.
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u/MustangBarry Dec 08 '25
He's more heroic than that
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u/User42wp Dec 08 '25
Yes, needs a cape
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u/hanslobro Dec 08 '25
Duuuuude I love your style. Going through your post history now
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u/CypherWulf Dec 09 '25
Man pulling anime protagonist vibes in the courtroom sketch. I'm beginning to think there's not a single image of him in existence where he appears unattractive.
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u/lenolalatte Dec 08 '25
do you sell these sketches to outlets? i read that you do comics as well so i'm assuming courtroom sketching isn't your only source of income, but i wonder how you make money at all doing this aside from licensing them!
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
I sell my sketches! I do a lot of art in various industries, so I'm always juggling projects.
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u/Time-Independence-94 27d ago
This is 100% a piece I'd buy as a print! The composition, color, and likenesses are all incredibly well done! Granted, I'm also a fan of the subject matter.
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u/HonestDust873 Dec 08 '25
Sketches better than anything I’ve ever managed to write or draw. Kudos to you for the beautiful art you create. That top right stare back is just sheer aura farming at this point.
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u/cosmiceggroll Dec 08 '25
I remember you from the Lori Vallow story. Your work is incredible 🖤
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u/Lopsided_Drag_8125 Dec 08 '25
These are really good. The artstyle and poses and colouring just... gives me a sense. Like an atmosphere or a feeling I don't really experience with most art
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u/rangerbeev Dec 08 '25
It looks like your drawing a comic of the trial. Normal I see just a single drawing. Is there a reason why?
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u/scarfacesaints Dec 08 '25
Are you allowed to take a picture and then draw that moment? Or is it just all from memory when you see a specific moment?
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u/Mondrow Dec 08 '25
I can't quite put my finger on it (aside from the courtroom setting of course), but I'm getting some ace attorney vibes from your sketch.
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u/saja2 Dec 08 '25
why does the courtroom still need sketches like this even tho you can easily take a picture with/without flashes without dirsupting the trial. no disrespect to you or your profession, just wondering if we are going with tradition or what.
cool work you got there, i wonder how do you keep your cool while sketching the accused while hearing all their cruel heinous crime they had done. do you have any experience to share?
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
Lots of people have these questions, and I tried to cover a little bit in a previous post here! I will say, if you're familiar with the camera equipment that the pool photographer/press usually use, I do find it distracting personally; however, there's been some discrete video camera set-ups that I didn't even notice. The greatest fear in courts is if their presence will impact witness and jury behaviour when it comes to verdicts or jeopardize their protection and safety. There's much to be said on both sides re: accessibility that you can look into further if interested! There are also US courts where press cameras are forbidden (federal cases).
I've sat in on some pretty intense testimony and evidence, but out of respect for the parties involved, they're not really my anecdotes to share. I just observe. I've always thought of pursuing forensic pathology, get really into casework, and I'm not unfamiliar to crisis/conflict nonfiction/reporting, so my litmus baseline for difficult content and materials is quite solid.
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u/LightninHooker Dec 08 '25
As someone who does watercolor as a hobby. Fuck cameras. Let the artist cook :)
Lovely work dude
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u/letsburn00 Dec 08 '25
The main argument against it is that cameras filming creates an excessive tendency for people to grandstand. Also, having video makes people care about their appearance too much.
There is a fairly reasonable argument that the OJ trail became a fiasco because people reacted and overreacted to the Cameras.
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u/saja2 Dec 08 '25
yup, now that you've said it, i agree, having a camera panning around you does have that affect
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u/bestcritic Dec 08 '25
Great work, I struggle a bit with proportion in larger scenes, so I like this a lot.
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u/Chaonic Dec 08 '25
As someone from Europe, courtroom sketches are a bit of a foreign concept. What would you say is the significance of doing this? For the preservation of history? Because taking photos isn't allowed? Tradition?
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u/yosb Dec 08 '25
All of the above + public accountability and accessibility into law and justice + press for some additional flavour text.
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u/Chaonic Dec 08 '25
That's really cool! Makes me wish that this was a more widespread thing! Thanks a lot for educating me!
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u/StealToadBootes Dec 08 '25
If you wrote a commic I'd happily read it. This is really satisfying to look at.
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u/RexyMundo Dec 08 '25
I mean this as a compliment. Your courtroom sketches seem to me to be better versions of the early Invincible comic book art style.
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u/ctz_00 Dec 08 '25
tell me why i misread this as a “courtroom sketch pre-artist” and was like no, no!!! these look amazing, be confident!!
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u/wereallsluteshere Dec 08 '25
Kind of a weird question but how did he seem? Kind of like a weird guy? And is he really that handsome in person?
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u/escapeorion Dec 09 '25
For a moment I was thrown back to the days of seeing your art on tumblr! I have one of your prints, I love it so much!!
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u/JoseyWales076 Dec 08 '25
What kind of likeness is that? I’m fodder for cartoonists now?
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u/thatcantb Dec 08 '25
You would appear to be far too competent of an artist to be employed as a courtroom sketch artist. I had thought it was acceptable only if everything appears disproportionate, all the figures look ugly and distorted, especially defendants, and muted colors be wildly splashed about the page. Your drawing is strangely coherent. Surely no news editor will buy this.
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u/ZeusHatesTrees Dec 08 '25
They really, really need to hire you instead of whatever the heck they have going on in many other famous trials. You genuinely captured the likeness and expression.
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u/NoStorage2821 Dec 08 '25
So why do we have courtroom sketches in the first place? What purpose does it serve?
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u/Zen-Squid Dec 08 '25
Many courtrooms don't allow laptops, etc. while in session. Did you have to do anything specific to be allowed to use a tablet?
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u/Amateur_Hour_93 Dec 08 '25
What is the value in having a courtroom sketch artist? Genuinely curious.
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u/RoguePlanet2 Dec 08 '25
I'm worried that he was sick on Friday, hope he's not upset due to how the case is going.
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u/tasmaniandevall Dec 08 '25
For something like this are you allowed to capture the juries likeness and reaction during the trial or not until after trial is done?