Welcome to my blog and the very first post.
You may think Christmas Eve is a strange day to start an art blog. I’ve been thinking about keeping a blog for a while, but I was waiting for the ‘right moment’; for the planets to align, get through all the unfinished tasks, basically for my life to be perfect. Then came 2020!
I chanced upon the concept of urban sketching in 2017 whilst browsing the art shelves in Foyles Bookshop in London. A quick flick through Urban Watercolour Sketching by the Berlin-based artist Felix Scheinberger was enough – why didn’t anyone tell me about urban sketching sooner?!
I’m a clinical biochemist by day, working for the NHS. It is an immensely fulfilling and interesting role, although apart from the occasional flow chart, requires little or no artistic skill. As a child growing up in Sri Lanka, my artistic adventures were limited to the token crayon drawing every young child creates; and as I got older, ‘real’ (insert sarcastic face) studies took over. It wasn’t until 5 years ago that I realised my mind needed a distraction; something that’s not biochemistry. Something to shift the fresh grief of my mother’s sudden death. I can’t remember how or why I chose watercolour, but I did. I started with a box of student-grade watercolour, couple of brushes and a sketchbook. I was mostly mixing ‘mud’ by the time I found Felix Scheinberger’s book in Foyles a couple of years later.
A quick Google search told me that urban sketching is a global phenomenon and there was a chapter right on my doorstep in London. I went along to my first Urban Sketchers (USk) London outing in December 2017, to the V&A in South Kensington.
There was no turning back – I’ve become an urban sketcher.
I was eager to learn more; I signed up to an online watercolour course by Liz Steel – a Sydney-based urban sketcher. She, not only taught me how to stop mixing ‘mud’, but also inspired me to deep dive into this amazing activity. I travelled to Porto, Portugal for my first USk symposium in 2018. Never before, have I met so many amazing and talented people in one place – such diversity, yet a single great passion – urban sketching. I learnt so much from amazing teachers like Matthew Brehm and Shari Blaukopf. I made so many friends and met sketchers I’ve been following on social media for a while before then; and Porto itself, a beautiful city full of character.
For me, the greatest ‘aha-moment’ along this journey has been the realisation that I’ll never again be bored of waiting, for anyone or anything (train/bus/airport/cafe/street-corner), as long as I carry my urban sketching kit with me.
Good to see your sketching journey detailed, Sasala, well done !
Wonderful to hear how your artistic journey started and I've so enjoyed seeing your sketches and paintings during this difficult time. I've enjoyed having a go myself with mixed results but Xmas has brought me art books inc one on urban sketching so here's hoping for great things to come. Xx
Wonderful to hear how your artistic journey started and I've so enjoyed seeing your sketches and paintings during this difficult time. I've enjoyed having a go myself with mixed results but Xmas has brought me art books inc one on urban sketching so here's hoping for great things to come. Xx
Thank you Linda! All the best with your artistic journey 🙂
Thank you Mark 🙂
Interesting to know how you came along this journey. Well done Sasala!
I have seen your paintings which were brilliant.
Look forward to see more urban sketches.
Thank you
Good work. Keep it up
Hi Sasala, I’m testing to see if my name appears rather than ‘Google Account’. If it doesn’t please could someone advise?! Glad to have found your blog. Your sketches are wonderful. May I ask how long you generally sketch for? I’m always trying to get quicker but I get carried away!
thanks
Thank you 🙂 The scketches I've posted have taken 1-2h, but really detailed one can take longer. It depends on how big the sketch is. I have become somewhat quicker over time but it's not something I think about too much.
Re. the name, it's working now. I think it's to do with having an associated account (google/gmail/email), because when I tried to reply to you from my phone it did the same to me.
Dear Sasala, may the fate of your blog be as bright as the Christmas stars! Looking forward to watching it grow. Keep those pencils sharp & good luck. Best, Christine
Thank you Christine 🙂
Very inspirational journey and thank you for detailing it in-depth and from scratch. Love your work and looking forward for more updates. Good luck!
Thank you Chathu