Sometimes I think that being on a research cruise is similar to being a firefighter, without the risk of loss of life and limb. Because, like firefighters, our days often alternate between periods of intense, focused activity and long spans of time waiting. Standing by as we steam to the next station, waiting for a storm to blow through, or killing time during the transits to and from port. There are many ways we occupy these periods of downtime: reading, snacking, playing cards, chatting, entering data and watching movies. I like to draw. I recently took up drawing, taking a few evening classes and learning from books and YouTube videos. I love the way drawing focuses my eye and absorbs my attention. Drawing is a way for my analytic, linear science mind to stretch in another direction. And the feeling of having created something where before there was nothing is deeply satisfying. So I have been taking advantage of the quiet times during this survey to do drawing exercises and to sketch the people and objects around me. Here is a quick sketch of Captain Pete Hall in the wheelhouse.
A sketch of Captain Pete Hall of the R/V Ocean Starr by Libby Logerwell.