Why are there artists in court

To tell the story — and to tell the whole thing. Contact us at letters time. By Jennifer Calfas. Courtroom sketch artist Christine Cornell captures disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein in court on Tuesday, June 5.

No usage without prior consent. All rights reserved. Christine Cornell's sketch of Bill Cosby in court in April. Jane Rosenberg captures Anthony Weiner at his sentencing in September Related Stories.

Already a print subscriber? Go here to link your subscription. This is mostly due to the fact that early cameras were ultimately ineffective at capturing movement. They were also large obtrusive contraptions that many key courtroom players — such as jury members and witnesses — found very distracting. By this time, cameras were much smaller and less distracting than previous models. Even with the advancements of modern photography, there is still a need for courtroom sketch artists.

Some jurisdictions, for example, still do not allow cameras of any kind in their courtrooms. In many jurisdictions, judges may decide to put a ban on cameras in the courtroom for nearly any reason. Cameras are sometimes banned from court trials of a particular nature, for instance, such as high profile cases or cases involving minors.

Simply put, a courtroom sketch artist draws courtrooms scenes during trials. In some cases, depending on the rules and regulations of a courtroom or jurisdiction, a courtroom sketch artist may need to get prior permission to do this type of work. A courtroom sketch artist will usually arrive several minutes before the start of a trial. Thinking ahead like this can allow the artist to get the best seat possible, with a clear view of all the action. In fact, some courtrooms even have designated seats for courtroom sketch artists.

Some trials may last a few days or less, while others may last as long as several months. In general, most courtroom artists should be prepared to attend every part of the trial in order to record as much of it as possible.

Some jurisdictions allow courtroom sketch artists to sketch while the trial is taking place. Instead, he will usually sketch more memorable scenes, such as particularly emotional witnesses or the jury foreman reading the verdict. In some jurisdictions, such as the UK, a courtroom artist is not allowed to sketch during the trial itself. He and other artists, working for other news outlets, would sit side by side, drawing boards in their laps at the front of the courtroom, surrounded by their art supplies, working quickly to capture all the action of the court proceedings within their allotted space on the courtroom bench.

Richard Tomlinson was well known for drawing in a small, confined area with a few materials in his pocket and a pair of binoculars next to him; others spread out onto every free area on the bench and floor. At the end of the proceedings, courtroom artists ran outside to waiting news photographers and cameramen, who would immediately shoot the drawings in natural light on the sidewalk.

Other times, artists lugged their drawings to Midtown newsrooms on the subway or sometimes by a speeding cab , where editors shuffled through them looking for the best shot to illustrate breaking news stories.

Now courtroom artists scan their drawings in their studios and email them to newsroom editors. Courtroom artists employ a range of materials to capture all the color, actions, and emotions of court proceedings quickly. Sometimes the court appearance of defendants and witnesses is so brief that only a quick sketch can be accomplished, which is later colored in with details added from memory.

The paper has to be the right size and texture to capture and hold the action as well as the drawing media, and it must stand up to possible rough handling. Everyone develops their own distinctive style, which could change over time, or with each trial. While pastels and charcoal can be messy and easily smudged, they are by far the most used medium because of their ease of use in rendering quick, colorful, and expressive drawings.

Richard Tomlinson often did a charcoal sketch that he then filled in with colored oil crayon, pencils, or watercolor onto a thin, smooth—but very durable—vellum paper. Other artist materials include markers, pens, and gouache in any combination, all of which must correctly interface with the paper. While courtroom artists are dwindling in number due to the widespread introduction of cameras in the courtroom, the Special Collections has a growing collection of courtroom art, launched by the Richard Tomlinson Collection and now supplemented with gifts of the Elizabeth Williams Collection and Aggie Kenny Collection.

Portions of all these collections will be on exhibit in the Shiva Art Gallery exhibit, opening on November