I came down with some slight cough and sore throat towards the end of March and was ordered to stay home for 5 days. If I was caught going out, I could have been issued a $10,000 fine. So I started drawing a comic a day, expecting to just do 5 days' worth of comics.
Then the Circuit Breaker happened. We were on semi-lockdown for a month. So the comics continued.
For this artist feature, we have my urban sketching friend, Alice Lim! Not too long ago shestarted creating videos about her sketching journey and they've been very interesting! She's quite prolific too! I got to know her when she first joined one of our sketchwalks at Punggol waterfront several years ago and we have traveled to several sketching events over the years with other sketcher friends. So without further ado, here is Eurekawanders Alice Lim!
Tell us a bit about yourself
Hello, I am Alice. I work full time as a regulatory inspector and an urban sketcher on weekends.
When and how did you start travel sketching?
I did my first travel sketch during my trip to Vienna and Prague in 2014. I was already urban sketching then and I didn’t want to stop so I brought my gear over.
It’s a good way to make full use of my waiting time and when I sketched a place I remembered it better than when I just take a photo.
Where have you traveled to sketch before?
Sketching trip: I have attended the Penang sketchwalk, all the asialinks (Bangkok, Kuching, Taichung, Hanoi) and there was also Amaravati.
Which country was your favourite to sketch and why?
For sketching subject I would say Hanoi cos the architecture was interesting with the different building levels built on top of each other in an unexpected way. For sketching experience it would be Taichung cos the food was great and people were friendly.
Where would you like to visit in future to sketchpack and why?
Any temperate countries in spring or autumn. Cool weather, beautiful flowers and colourful foliages. What’s not to like!
What is in your travel sketching kit?
Vacation sketching: moleskine sketchbook from 2015 USK symposium, 6 colour watercolour palette, pen, pencil and waterbrush
Sketching trip: full watercolour palette, watercolour paper (mainly Arches or Saunders), sketching stool, pens, pencil, brushes, water container, rag
Alice's travel kit
What is your usual process?
I normally do a pencil draft to make sure the perspective and composition is ok before inking. Then a quick watercolour wash.
How do you sketch when traveling with other people or on tour?
I have shared some tips in my YouTube video (https://youtu.be/ma0xExiIVTQ). Generally if it’s a tour or if my friends have planned the itinerary then I wouldn’t be so hard on myself if I don’t sketch. If I plan the trip I will sneak in a lot of cafe breaks at scenic places. I do get a lot of sketching done from around the hotels that I stayed in.
Can you share one memorable experience with us?
I can’t think of a specific one. I have made friends with people who stopped by to watch me sketch and I have received appreciation in a form of cookies and drinks.
Do you have any advice or tips for people who want to try travel sketching?
Start small with a A6 sketchbook and pen. Bring the kit with you in your carry on bag. Keep yourself inconspicuous (like while sitting in a cafe or park bench) and sketch. Remember to write down the location, sign and date your work to help you remember when you look back at your old sketches.
