Tsarnaev sketch artist talks with ABC6
By Samantha Lavien
The images in the trial of convicted Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are largely shown to the public in the form of sketches because cameras are not allowed inside of Federal court.
A small group of sketch artists are working on this trial essentially serving as the public’s eyes into the courtroom.
ABC 6 News sat down with one of those artists who has been covering the trial from the beginning. Her name is Jane Collins.
“A lot of people can draw pictures and get a very good likeness of lots people,” said Collins. “But, at times (as a sketch artist) you have to be fast and you have to be able to get the correct gestures. You have to understand what is happening at the time. On top of the artwork is all of these considerations.”
Collins’ drawings are sold to media outlets that use them on TV or in print to give you a sense of what it’s like in the courtroom. She describes for us what it is like to sketch the convicted bomber.
“He never turns around, he never shows any reaction at all that I can see,” said Collins. “So, we always just do the back of his head or if he turns slightly.”
Collins explains she only has a view of the back of Tsarnaev’s head in the courtroom unless she chooses to watch from one of the media overflow rooms that display the trial on TV screens.
“He’s quite easy,” Collins says of sketching Tsarnaev. “I told you, I don’t have a particularly good view of him, but will all that hair you just can’t miss.”
Because there are usually multiple witnesses called each day, Collins says the number of sketches she draws varies. She says the most she’s done so far this trial in a day is probably around 8.
“I have done many sketches in a day and none of them are very complete,” said Collins. “If you give me some time I really like to produce something worth while.”
Collins began sketching a young child. She’s worked as a courtroom sketch artist for decades.
Through the years she’s covered many notable cases including the Whitey Bulger and Shoe Bomber trials.
© WLNE-TV 2015
