What does Everest Base Camp have to do with sketching?
A decision to trek to Everest Base Camp in April 2013 was the inspiration for the beginning of my art journey. I decided in July 2012 that I would fulfill a trekking dream of mine. Because I was somewhat unfit I started my physical training immediately. I needed to be fit if I was to trek through Nepal at high altitudes, and with my little legs I had to work harder!.
A sketchy thought……
As time passed I thought it would be a great idea to journal my trek not just by writing about it and taking photos but to document it through sketches. So I signed up for the Drawing for Non-Drawers course . We didn’t learn to draw in this course because we ended up with a relief teacher, who taught us other arty things instead, which was cool.
So, I ended up teaching myself how to draw and sketch. But that wasn’t until 2014. Before that, I got caught up with experimenting with paints and mixed media because art was new to me and I was having so much fun just playing and getting messy at workshops I enrolled in.
All the while I kept thinking about travel sketching and not knowing where to begin, then one day I`stumbled across Michael Nobbs’ Sustainably Creavitve website and books. The best advice I read was to just start and “draw bad!!” …….and so I did! I drew bad everyday!
Urban Sketching
I didn’t care how or what I sketched, just as long as I was doing it. I surfed the internet for images of travel sketches, and in search of people who travel sketch. ….then jackpot!!! I discovered the Urban Sketchers community. A world wide community of artists (professional and amateur) who sketch on location.
I found my home!
I’m yet to attend a symposium. The very first symposium I read about happened to fall on my birthday and was held in Brazil. I desperately wanted to go.
2015’s symposium is in Singapore (my home country) and so close too but again I can’t attend. I have other prior commitments.
Oh well, 2016 will be my symposium year and who knows where in the world it will be. I can’t wait!
Never leave home without it!!
My travel sketch kit is almost always with me. I very rarely leave home without it. I have more than enough travel palettes and this (above) is my favourite DIY kit.
Interpreting the world and my world as I see it through my sketches is therapeutic and but mostly fun!
Come join me on my sketchventures as I explore more of Perth and anywhere else I happen to be (you may even see sketches of my meals – another favourite past time of mine), and random everyday life sketches.
I’m Aggie the happy sketcher!! 😉
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