I know just how you feel! I lived in Bruges for a year but could never do it justice in my sketchbook and totally gave up trying. I love how you have combine photos and memory - I want to go back now with my bicycle and sketchbook and camera!
oooh I hope you get to go back! What a place to have lived... I visited Bruges for a day and it was glorious... I took photos but made no drawings, maybe I should try to revisit from my photos :)
Yessss! Gosh this resonates so much with me. I too went to Netherlands, in awe of so many beautiful streets and buildings. Dying to pull out a sketchbook or canvas to paint what I saw, yet I was so busy being enthralled by the scenes and feeling so guilty at the same time. Because I just wanted to take it all in. I knew when I got back I would be inspired by all my memories and all my photos that I would create the best paintings. Did I? No! I just couldn’t find my inspiration from them, regretting it now so much.
It's not too late! You can still make lovely paintings mixing photos and memories :) And so lovely to hear it resonated with you! It's always such a dilemma - to soak it in and enjoy, or try and fit the art in too!
Ah I really struggle with urban sketching. I feel the pressure to create something worthy or else it's a waste of time. Then of course the pressure of someone watching. Did you meet up with Ema or any other Dutch illustrators whilst out there?
Hi Clair and thanks for the comment! I love urban sketching but it’s definitely hard sometimes - particularly when travelling with people who aren’t into drawing! Hard to manage the time. I only had such a small amount of time while there so didn’t meet up with anyone :) I know who Ema is and adore her work but don’t know her personally! Maybe one day 😊
It's so interesting you should say this. I always get excited when I'm going away to a new place. I pack my sketchbook, all my supplies and very often come away with nothing or nothing I like anyway, for much the same reasons as you've said - glad to know it's not just me and i'll definitely give the photo/memory idea a shot next time :)
It's such the dilemma isn't it! so hard to do all the things at once :) I think photos can be hard but also amazing! And sometimes I think I make things I like more from the photos - just different I guess. Thanks for the lovely comment! And sorry for the slow reply, I've been on holidays.
Yes, I suppose you have longer to tweak things. I think drawing from life is great for capturing a sense of a place and its people but not necessarily great for capturing the little accurate details - well that's the case for me anyway! Thank you for your reply :)
Beautiful drawings - including the ones you did on site! I’m very inspired to return to the Netherlands now - you’re not the only sketcher to have reported back from there this summer! I’ve not had the chance to venture beyond Amsterdam before as there’s always so much to see there in the time available.
My strongest art medium is definitely photography itself--it would be such a treat to see how different photos could combine into an illustration! Thanks for this lovely, thought-provoking letter.
Anna! Thank you so much for this! It is perfect! I have past photos and memories of Europe. I want to go back and relive it all, while I create a sketchbook, but I just wasn’t sure how to accomplish it. You have totally inspired me!! Since you explained so much, it also helps me to understand where the depth of your sketches come from and how you achieved it. Thank you sooooo much! Donna
Thank you so much for addressing this issue! I have so many photos from travels and have never used them because of the "thou shalt not", but now I feel there is permission to try!
Hi Nancy and thank you so much! It's weird how strong the "thou shalt not" vibe can be... but I think it's perhaps just a different skill and so worth trying! Enjoy and good luck :)
Thank you so much for addressing this issue! I have so many photos from travels and have never used them because of the "thou shalt not", but now I feel there is permission to try!
I relate to this dilemma so much, the ‘must do all the things’ but also want to do them ‘properly’ 🙃 Never mind what to do with a non-drawing travel companion.
I think you’ve found a magical compromise, and created some gorgeous scenes. Love it!
Hi Sonia! It's such a dilemma isn't it :) What a treat it would be to actually travel with a drawing companion - I've never done that but it would be such luxury! Thanks for the lovely comment
I know just how you feel! I lived in Bruges for a year but could never do it justice in my sketchbook and totally gave up trying. I love how you have combine photos and memory - I want to go back now with my bicycle and sketchbook and camera!
oooh I hope you get to go back! What a place to have lived... I visited Bruges for a day and it was glorious... I took photos but made no drawings, maybe I should try to revisit from my photos :)
Your artwork is just so whimsical and charming. All of the texture and details. ❤️
I’m so glad you shared how you came to terms with using your photos. 😊
Thank you Holly! I'm so pleased you like it - and found it interesting :)
Yessss! Gosh this resonates so much with me. I too went to Netherlands, in awe of so many beautiful streets and buildings. Dying to pull out a sketchbook or canvas to paint what I saw, yet I was so busy being enthralled by the scenes and feeling so guilty at the same time. Because I just wanted to take it all in. I knew when I got back I would be inspired by all my memories and all my photos that I would create the best paintings. Did I? No! I just couldn’t find my inspiration from them, regretting it now so much.
It's not too late! You can still make lovely paintings mixing photos and memories :) And so lovely to hear it resonated with you! It's always such a dilemma - to soak it in and enjoy, or try and fit the art in too!
Ah I really struggle with urban sketching. I feel the pressure to create something worthy or else it's a waste of time. Then of course the pressure of someone watching. Did you meet up with Ema or any other Dutch illustrators whilst out there?
Hi Clair and thanks for the comment! I love urban sketching but it’s definitely hard sometimes - particularly when travelling with people who aren’t into drawing! Hard to manage the time. I only had such a small amount of time while there so didn’t meet up with anyone :) I know who Ema is and adore her work but don’t know her personally! Maybe one day 😊
It's so interesting you should say this. I always get excited when I'm going away to a new place. I pack my sketchbook, all my supplies and very often come away with nothing or nothing I like anyway, for much the same reasons as you've said - glad to know it's not just me and i'll definitely give the photo/memory idea a shot next time :)
It's such the dilemma isn't it! so hard to do all the things at once :) I think photos can be hard but also amazing! And sometimes I think I make things I like more from the photos - just different I guess. Thanks for the lovely comment! And sorry for the slow reply, I've been on holidays.
Yes, I suppose you have longer to tweak things. I think drawing from life is great for capturing a sense of a place and its people but not necessarily great for capturing the little accurate details - well that's the case for me anyway! Thank you for your reply :)
Yeah I agree! It is lovely for capturing the vibe of something - and also I think creating memories. I remember so well the places I draw on location!
Beautiful drawings - including the ones you did on site! I’m very inspired to return to the Netherlands now - you’re not the only sketcher to have reported back from there this summer! I’ve not had the chance to venture beyond Amsterdam before as there’s always so much to see there in the time available.
Thanks so much Marta! The Netherlands is such a treat - I hope you get back there!
My strongest art medium is definitely photography itself--it would be such a treat to see how different photos could combine into an illustration! Thanks for this lovely, thought-provoking letter.
So pleased you enjoyed it! And thank you for telling me - that means a lot!
What a delight to open up your email! So full of joy and inspiration- a real pleasure to read.
Thanks so much Patricia! That is so lovely to hear - so pleased you enjoyed it :)
Anna! Thank you so much for this! It is perfect! I have past photos and memories of Europe. I want to go back and relive it all, while I create a sketchbook, but I just wasn’t sure how to accomplish it. You have totally inspired me!! Since you explained so much, it also helps me to understand where the depth of your sketches come from and how you achieved it. Thank you sooooo much! Donna
Hi Donna! Thank you and yay! I hope you manage to merge them all together and create some pieces of your trip that you really love.
Best wishes, Anna
Thank you so much for addressing this issue! I have so many photos from travels and have never used them because of the "thou shalt not", but now I feel there is permission to try!
Hi Nancy and thank you so much! It's weird how strong the "thou shalt not" vibe can be... but I think it's perhaps just a different skill and so worth trying! Enjoy and good luck :)
Thank you so much for addressing this issue! I have so many photos from travels and have never used them because of the "thou shalt not", but now I feel there is permission to try!
Hello Nancy! Somehow I missed your comment earlier - def try! 😊
I relate to this dilemma so much, the ‘must do all the things’ but also want to do them ‘properly’ 🙃 Never mind what to do with a non-drawing travel companion.
I think you’ve found a magical compromise, and created some gorgeous scenes. Love it!
Hi Sonia! It's such a dilemma isn't it :) What a treat it would be to actually travel with a drawing companion - I've never done that but it would be such luxury! Thanks for the lovely comment
Charming illustrations! You would never know that they weren't painted on the spot from life.
Thanks so much Vicki! I'm so pleased you like them... It's taken me so long to work out how to do this :)