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Renaud drew fashion illustrations for Marshall Field's commercials into the
'90s but lost that job when the department store starting relying on photographers. That led her to courtroom drawing. Artists sometime get to court early and sketch the empty room. But coming in with a drawing fully finished in advance is seen as unethical. Some artists use charcoal, water colors or pungent markers, which can leave those sitting nearby queasy. Most start with a quick pencil sketch, then fill it in. Austin draws right off the bat with her color pencils. "If I overthink it, I get lost," she said. "I have a visceral reaction. I just hope what I feel is conveyed to my pen." These days, Chukman and Renaud fear for their livelihoods. They make the bulk of their annual income off their court work. Working for a TV station or a newspaper can bring in about $300 a day. A trial lasting a month can mean a $6,000 paycheck. Chukman does other work on the side, including drawing caricatures as gifts. Austin is semiretired and so she says she worries less. She also notes that federal courts
-- where some of the most notorious trials take place, like the two corruption trials of impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich
-- seem more adamant about not allowing cameras. Still, though Rule 53 remains in place, federal courts are experimenting with cameras in very limited cases. "If federal courts do follow, that will be the end of us," Austin said. Renaud holds out hope that, even if the worst happens, there will still be demand from lawyers for courtroom drawings they can hang in their offices. Lien plans to bolster his income by launching a website selling work from historic trials he covered, including of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Chukman, a courtroom artist for around 30 years, jokes that if asked for his opinion, he'd have told state-court authorities to keep the ban in place a few more years until he retires. "I recognize my profession exists simply because of gaps in the law
-- and I've been grateful for them," he said wistfully. "This line of work has been good to me."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated
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