Art major Audie Pope sketched images of a murder trial for KRBC last week because cameras were prohibited in the courtroom.

Pope, junior art major from Bedford, was hired by the television station to sketch key witnesses and the judge during the trial for the murder of Abilene police Officer Don Allen. KRBC emailed Pope the week before the trial after Jack Maxwell, professor of art and design, recommended her. Pope said she was surprised, especially because the first word she read in the email was “murder.”

“It was the most random thing,” Pope said. “I didn’t know that they did that.”

Because cameras were not permitted in the courtroom, Pope attended the trial Tuesday night, sketched images of the scene and sent photos of the sketches to  KRBC. She said she thinks criminal justice and the detective process is interesting and thought it would be cool to sketch the trial. Although she said she would do it again if asked, she doesn’t see the job as a future career.

“It’s not as appealing now that I’ve done it,” Pope said. “It’s like jury duty, but just drawing instead.”

Pope participated in on-site drawing competitions called through the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) in high school and got second place in a regional competition. In Maxwell’s figure drawing class, she practiced sketching scenes in just ten minutes. In the courtroom she said she starts her drawings with the position of the person, including whether they are leaning forward or sitting still, then draws the background of the scene last.

Pope said the experience will be good for her resume and after graduation she plans to do freelance or studio work.