There are so many ways at the moment to be social online and so many groups to become involved with. On Saturday I “met” with three sketching friends: Angela, Helen, and Jodi. We have been working on a project together and had originally planned a weekend of on-location sketching in Port Fairy, ( 4 hours from Melbourne) that would culminate later in the year in an exhibition at Blarney Books & Art. These plans are on hold til next year.

Today decided to “meet” with a Zoom meeting (on one screen) and all “sit” in the same place using Google street map (on another screen) and sketch. Below is my desk set up. The only change is that I did not use the long sheet of paper, but single pieces instead.

We were online for about two hours. There was a fair bit of catching up to do and chatting, but we are all very good at talking while we sketch. Below is our first sketching stop. It is in the middle of the crossroads of James and Bank Street, Port Fairy. We each choose a slightly different viewpoint, but we all sketched in our usual style and with our usual sketch gear. Of course, mine is watercolour pencils, and Jodi, Helen and Angela all use watercolour paints, but each of them will have a different range of brands and colour that make up their paint palette,

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We sketched for about 45 minutes before “moving on” to our next stop.

We then “visited” our favourite shop in Port Fairy, Blarney Books & Art. As Google maps do not go inside buildings, we chose some Instagram images. We have a wonderful relationship with Jo at Blarney. We have each (except Helen) had exhibitions there and been involved with the annual BiblioArt Prize. AND it is the best secondhand and new bookshop AND is so involved with the community of Port Fairy, hosting amazing literary, music and arts events.

Here are my blogposts about my exhibition “You Can’t Draw in Books” in 2017 , and my BiblioArt entries in 2018 and 2019

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Sketching from photos and Google maps is a very different experience from sketching on location. When on location there is a sense of immediacy, being in and interacting with your surroundings. This includes the weather, where you sit /stand/squat or lean. The people you meet. Sketching becomes part of your life experience. Looking back at the page, months or years later brings back memories of that particular time and place.