Last weekend I had a flying visit to Brisbane (a 1 hour 45 minute plane journey from Melbourne) and did many sketches in the 48 hours of my time away.
Sketching on the bus to and from the airport, at the airport and on the plane are almost second nature to me now. I enjoy creating a record of events in my life, whether they are everyday happenings or more exciting times. Sketching fills in the time ( I usually arrive early) and it is very relaxing.
On the bus to the airport . a captive scene for the 45 min ride. 
There is SO much to sketch at the airport – but planes come and go 
ink sketch of my Snack 
on the plane
At Brisbane Airport I sketched this while waiting to be collected. The people were coming and going and moving quickly. However the buildings stayed, so I could use them to give context and a measure for the height of people as they moved towards and away from me.
Relaxing with a view, looking out to Mount Cootha …. this was completed in two sittings
At the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art to view the Asia Pacific Triennial . An excellent exhibition with many interesting installations and art. I did two very quick sketches there. I usually don’t sketch the art at art galleries, instead focusing on the people . Art galleries and museums often have very strict rules about what mediums can be used when visiting and it it worth looking at the policies on their website. Sometimes it is dry material only, or graphite only.
Customs House Brisbane
I had contacted Brisbane Urban Sketchers and they had kindly arranged an event at Riverside for the Sunday morning. About 30 people turned up ! I sketched with a few different people and met others at the 11.30 throw down/pass around of sketchbooks. Wow – what an amazing variety of styles and medium.
“Urban Sketchers is an international nonprofit dedicated to fostering a global community of artists who practice on-location drawing… We maintain a network of blogs and online groups where urban sketchers can share their drawings and stories and interact with each other.”
Urban Sketchers is also an excellent way of connecting with local sketchers and meeting local people when you travel. I sketched with London. Bristol and Edinburgh Urban sketchers when on holiday last September in the UK, and have plans for Sydney this year. Often you get to sketch places that are only known to locals. These moments have often been a highlight of a holiday. Most of the sharing and posting of events is on facebook regional groups, as well as website for lots of other information.
A composite sketch at the airport. My plane ready for boarding. And then on the plane – the passengers opposite me. Sometimes I sketch with my Lamy Sarafi ink pen and leave the page uncoloured, othertimes I add watercolour pencil to areas on the page. This time I decided to only use my watercolour pencils. It often just depends on how I feel on the day !
I arrived home very pleased with my record of events.
What an excellent commentary added to your wonderful sketches. I felt like I was there with you.
Thank you ! You could have sketched along with me !