After my snooze at the airport in UAE I woke up with only a few hours to go before my flight, so I only managed this quick sketch at the gate, before boarding. This elderly couple appeared to be travelling the world together – they were wearing matching baggy trousers and had similarly coloured puffer jackets. What a fantastic moustache the guy had (my sketch is not an exaggeration)!
Wed-27-Nov-2024
You can tell my stay in Afghanistan was very short, because here is another #AirportSketch! I learnt a lot from my visit and experienced a warm welcome and so much generosity from my Afghan colleagues. After sketching this I had a very interesting chat with a fellow passenger who works for UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime) – particularly pertinent I thought. I sketched this against the light (again) so there was a lot of guesswork going on with the colours.
Tue-26-Nov-2024
Here is the first sketch I did on my way to Afghanistan (travelling there for work), late at night at the airport. All the passengers seemed to be wearing dark grey-blue clothing…only that red shirt and people’s faces stood out. This is the last but one sketch in sketchbook number 96 – done on an odd sheet of “Langton” paper made by Daler-Rowney…although I don’t like the texture, I love the way it takes the paint. I am still on the search for the perfect sketching paper…suggestions are welcome!
Fri-22-Nov-2024
This is the last sketch from our holiday and the last one in sketchbook No.92! Our journey home was uneventful and our layover in Dubai was just long enough for me to sketch this. The teardrop shaped windows (which curve up to a peak) are covered with what seems to be an adhesive screen or mesh, which I guess is supposed to block the sunlight and keep the concourse cooler…it took me ages to copy the pattern!
Wed-21-Aug-2024
On our last day in Barcelona a friend was kind enough to pick us up and take us to see the Tibidabo (a hill overlooking the city) and the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). After that we had lunch at the “7 Portes” restaurant (where Picasso used to eat…I sat briefly in his spot) and then went to the airport where I sketched this.
Tue-20-Aug-2024
On Tuesday 13 August we left Scotland and headed to Spain – taking the tram to the airport (very easy to get there). We didn’t have a great experience arriving in Barcelona though – we had a mad rush through Schiphol airport (which is absolutely massive) to make our connecting flight (thanks KLM) and then our bags got left behind so we had to wait for them in Barcelona. In the end we arrived pretty tired at the apartment we had rented.
Tue-13-Aug-2024
On my way back from Türkiye I had a very long layover (9 hours) in Doha. I started with this sketch (a huge wooden sculpture)…then slept in one of their ‘quiet rooms’. According to the blurb on a little sign this sculpture draws inspiration from pop culture and animations and is an exploration of humanity) Apparently it used to be installed at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park UK, Frieze Sculpture Park and Regent’s Park London, before it ended up here.
Sat-17-June-2023