Richard Haines is a man who uses great use of his free time. Richards is one of New York’s most talented dwellers, he run’s a site “What I Saw Today?” where he walks the streets of Gotham City and sketches the many looks of our fashion warriors. We got a chance to speak to Richard and find out what are his favorite locations to sketch and his plans on having a book of series of sketches from different cities.
Where’s the best place in the city to watch people? Where do you find individuals with the best style? the coolest looks? Does that normally follow money lines?
New york has so many different places to people watch – I moved to Bushwick a few months ago and there is so much to look at between my neighborhood and places like Williamsburg. I love the Lower East Side too – and usually art openings are great for people watching.
I find the less money involved, the better the people watching. There’s an empty lot a few blocks from where I live and there were bands that played there all weekend – the cover for the whole thing was $10 and I saw the most amazing looks there – I was in heaven!
Biggest challenge raising a daughter?
Wow, that’s a great question. Kids in NYC grow up very quickly – it was always a dream of mine to grow up here so sometimes I think I’m projecting my wishes on her. But I think the big challenges are the same for raising kids anywhere: teaching respect for other people, being courteous, realizing that actions have consequences. I think a lot of how a child is raised is just from watching their parents interact with other people, and it’s formed early on. She’ll be starting 7th grade in a few weeks, and the change is dramatic – check in with me in a few months for an update!
As you sketch the men walking down New York City, do you listen to music? If so, what type of music?
Music has always been inspiring, and been a big part of my life. my taste these days is pretty eclectic – I think ‘pandora’ is  amazing – I listen to streaming music based on everyone from the Grizzly Bears to James Brown. I love ‘Shazam’ on my iPhone, so I can find out the artist no matter where I am, that got me on a big ‘Lil Wayne’ binge lately.
What must you bring whenever you leave your apartment/home?
I carry my J. Crew cotton bag (with my illustration printed on it!) and always need the following: my iPhone in case I want to take a photo, pencils and a small sketch pad, business cards so if I stop someone to sketch they know I’m legit and not some crazy person who randomly stops people on the street!
Does living in NYC ever make you feel jaded? Have you ever felt completely uninspired by the individuals around you?
Never! not for a minute. I’ve lived here for over 30 years and New York never ceases to amaze and inspire me. The dynamic energy of the streets is endless. Of course it’s a very different place than when I first moved here, but the change is part of the beauty of the city.
If you could take What I Saw Today and relocate, where would you go?
That’s a tough question to answer. I would love to spend time sketching in cities like Paris, London, Tokyo, but I think the layout of New York gives it the energy that I thrive on. A group of students at Parsons interviewed me last year-they were looking for people who have a special interaction with the streets of New York, and I was one of their choices. talking to them made me realize New York is laid out in a very democratic grid-it seems to encourage fluidity and movement.
Where do you believe the most liberated city is and why?
There are different kinds of liberation-liberation from what! 30 years ago New York was much crazier when it was less of a magnet for money and real estate-in some ways it’s more conservative now. Places like Amsterdam are more liberated in terms of sex and drugs-but when it comes to the mix of creativity, social freedom, and a dose of sexual liberation, I still think New York has it.
Ever thought about doing a series of cities and sketches to capture the fashion of certain locations?
Yes! I am dying to do a series of sketches from different cities – Paris, London, Beijing etc. and publish them in a series of books. Book agents and publishers, are you reading this??
Be sure to check out Richard Haines site: What I Saw Today
