Travel Sketches
Buildings may not move, but a city like Istanbul is in constant flux. This 30 minute sketch captures a morning view of Galata Tower, with the Turkish flags highlighted from across the city. Through pen, I discovered a snapshot of Istanbul’s stepped cityscape. Such an eclectic setting of historic structures overlaid with contemporary advertising defines the paradox of many thriving cities. Everything could change and yet the Galata Tower of 1348 A.D. still dominates the north ‘skyline’ view from the Golden Horn. Istanbul contradicts timelines and presents a compressed view of history that enriches the cities’ texture.
Istanbul Galata Tower Skyline. Ink. 30 minutes. -KK
Travel Sketches
Tips on capturing the moment
Live the Moment. Put away distractions (thoughts, cell phones, music, podcasts, etc.) and let yourself "be" in the moment and see what there is to see.
Take a Second, literally. Sketches can happen anytime and anywhere. Sketching while you wait for a walk signal is a lot more productive than cursing the technology that has stopped your day. Sketch for 2 minutes while your friend goes to the bathroom in Starbucks.
Be Flexible. Use portable materials that fit in your carry-on or backpack. If you use a sketchbook, it should fit in one hand. I like to use a heavier paper to keep my media options open.
Explore Media. Sketches are low commitment pieces of art. Test and play with different media, brushes, collages, or found materials (a dark beer is a valid watercolor substitute).
Change Perspective. Look at the world through a different lens - zoom in or out, look up or down, ignore the foreground or focus on your food in front of you.
Sketching can be done anywhere. If you can’t travel to exotic places, open your eyes and sketch anything you see: a toothbrush, the view out your window, your backyard, the sidewalk, or the neighbors dog. Sketching is about practice.
Istanbul Street. Ink. 45 seconds. -KK
