If WTMJ’s Vince Vitrano and Erik Bilstad are ever facing federal indictments, we’ve got the courtroom sketch art!
Cameras are prohibited from being used in most United States federal courtrooms, therefore sketch artists are often hired to ‘tell the story’ of what happened in court.
In the past year, sketch art has been utilized multiple times for former President Donald Trump, who has been in court for lawsuits and indictments.
“You are not quite as obliged to make a perfect portrait, but you are obliged to tell the story,” sketch artist Jim McKiernan told Wisconsin’s Morning News on Tuesday. “It’s body language. Who’s being accused and what’s their reaction?”
McKiernan, of Madison, admitted he’s been urged to help his ‘subjects’ look better.
“Almost always,” he said. “The attorneys will ask ‘Can you fill out the bald spot in the back of my head?'”
The Wis. Morning News crew asked McKiernan to create a courtroom sketch of WTMJ’s Vince Vitrano and Erik Bilstad.
“Vince was easier to draw,” he laughed. “Vince has a much more ‘angular’ head. It makes it easier to capture.”
As for Erik, McKiernan appreciated the hair.
“A quaff like that is pretty great to have.”
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