In the Canadian legal system, cameras are not allowed into the courtroom. Working as a freelance courtroom artist for Global Television or CBC is a test of both my confidence and draughtsmanship - to capture a likeness under severe time contraints constitutes a challenge. The accused may appear for fifteen seconds, five minutes or, if I'm lucky, an hour. I must be prepared to create a sketch under any of these circumstances. If court is adjourned hurriedly, I complete my sketch in the lobby with the image still fresh in my mind before delivering it to the television studio.
I favour drawing the jury over the accused, they represent a more varied and colourful group of people and I'm assured of at least an hour or two of sketching time as the trial unfolds.