No. 31: Circles of Women and Travel
Reflections on a week away with eight women artists
There is so much to write about my week in Oaxaca. Wandering, discovering, drawing, painting, photographing, looking, and exploring alongside seven other female artists. I wasn’t sure about leaving New York because I get so wrapped up in the normal everyday routine, and the thought of a whole week away felt too indulgent and disruptive. It’s always hard for me to pack up and leave, especially by myself, for a whole week. But once I arrived and settled in, and my eyes started adjusting to all the color and life in southern Mexico, I fully embraced my time alone and the luxury of being able to do what I do for a living. And the best part was I was able to do my thing alongside women who do all the little quirky things I do when I’m wandering around new places.
We were stopping at every corner to look and take photos. A bunch of us couldn’t sleep well, so we got out of bed before sunrise to stroll around. I knew half of the women on the trip, and half of them I met for the first time, but we were immediate friends and we understood each other the way women do. There was a thirty-year range in age between the youngest and oldest in the group, but that didn’t matter because it was the passion and desire to create our artwork that connected us and made us ageless. I could tell them about my inability to get a good night’s sleep when traveling, the various vitamins I’m taking, the foods that upset my stomach, and other things women understand. I could boast about my kids and have my eccentricities understood, and I could take photos of cracks in the sidewalk, and they would wait for me patiently because they, too, were finding little curious things to take photos of. We were all so different but also so similar, and it felt good and comforting to explore a new place with like-minded women.
It took me a few days to get into a groove with my drawing, but once I did, I filled my sketchbook pages just like I did back in 2016, 2017, and 2018, when I was filling a page a day with such enthusiasm that even my kids couldn’t break me away from my work. This time, I covered seventeen pages in seven days, which is a lot more in a short period of time than I’ve created in months. And now that I’m back in New York, I want to keep drawing. Even though I was initially reluctant to leave the comfort of home and explore with strangers, the trip revived something in me that really needed to be awakened again, especially as I continue to write a new book about exploring. This week while back at home, I have stopped in my tracks twice to record voice notes as I spontaneously had ideas pop into my head to add to the book. So not only did the trip get me drawing a lot, it also got me thinking of new ideas and creative prompts.
Oaxaca is stunning, especially if you like unusual buildings with murals painted on them, amazing-looking locals wearing traditional Mexican clothing and holding baskets on the top of their heads, little Chihuahuas in pink doggy dresses, and markets filled with colors and colors of fruits, plastic woven tote bags, dresses, belts, shoes, and everything else you can imagine (and I drew all of it).
The people were so nice. However, nobody spoke English, so I had to pull out my phone and open Google Translate in order to communicate with people in the markets and cafés. This added to the experience, as I am way too comfortable forcing others to accommodate me in English, and in Oaxaca this was not an option. All good for the brain!
It was crisp and cool in the mornings and hot in the afternoons, and the sun was so bright that the shadows on the ground and projected onto the sides of buildings were so dramatic that they were begging for all of us to paint and photograph. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that the food was delicious! I have heard that many people make a pilgrimage to Oaxaca for the food alone.
But the best part was the women I was with. I’m a mom of boys, and sometimes I crave the female support and energy that I don’t get at home. My boys try, but it’s not the same. These women are all amazing, and you should check out their work if you are not familiar already:
Lori Siebert is the kindest, most generous and thoughtful person, always positive and encouraging, and she created sketchbook pieces with such intricate patterns inspired by the colors and art she absorbed.
Michelle Allen is so much fun, even running on only a few hours’ sleep, her hair and style are amazing, and her colorful work motivates me to work more in my abstract style.
has so much knowledge so was a little bit bombarded with questions, and was so patient about it, not only because she had already been in Oaxaca for a week before we arrived, but also from her past business, her writing, and all of the things she is involved with. is such a supportive friend to all of us, she was our ringleader and responsible for making the trip become a reality.Mokshini was the baby of the group, my travel partner, and a muse to all of us with her infectious smile, her amazing coif, and the large-scale masterpiece she created in her room on a piece of canvas that she brought from home.
is also a great friend to all of us, she has a calm energy that makes you want to be in her company, and her work inspires everyone.And finally
, who was the recipient of all of our most enthusiastic oohs and aahs as we watched her effortlessly create portraits before our eyes.These descriptions do not say enough, but they are a tiny introduction to the whole world that lives within each of these women and the art they create.
Just as Gloria Steinem stated in the quote above, I am reminded that community and support are everything when you work for yourself and battle the insecurities of being an artist. We all struggle in similar ways, and knowing we are not alone makes all the difference. I recommend gathering a group of like-minded people together. You don’t have to rent an Airbnb in Mexico, you can just simply meet in the park and chat. Share tricks of your trades, support one another in your processes, complain, inspire, and just be in each other’s company.
I wish I could share more of the drawings I created, but I need to save unseen content for my book. This trip was perfectly timed so that I could create travel illustrations and put into practice some of the ideas I’ve been writing about. My deadline for the first batch of material is April 1. There will be time to make changes and additions, but that’s when I have to get the bulk of text and illustrations to my editor. Before then I have two more trips planned, plus my everyday adventures in New York City, so I am really hoping that the energy created in Oaxaca will carry me through to the deadline. Once I assign drawings to chapters, I will know what I can and cannot share. It’s tricky to figure out, when I am so used to showing people the work I create on a regular basis!
A Few Announcements
I am currently hosting a Draw Your World Challenge this week through Valentine’s Day. All communication has been sent to paid subscribers only, in order to avoid loading free subscribers’ inboxes. It has been so much fun to see all of the various interpretations of the five prompts I have provided. It is not too late to join us for this challenge, and more will be following soon! Our next meet-up is on Tuesday. If you upgrade your subscription, all information will be sent to you.
My newest Skillshare class is now available to watch!
Drawing Everyday: Using Shape & Light to Paint Everyday Subjects
This class is designed to help you think differently about “harder” subjects, and help you see that anything you decide to draw can be broken down into simple shape and form in order to get you started and less afraid. We start with a few technical exercises, and then by sharing some examples of my work as well as other artists work, we will discuss how to break everyday subjects down first by using some tracing paper, and then by using pencil and paint. By the end you will see your subjects with new eyes, and hopefully with less fear, and ultimately be able to create some beautiful pieces of art with more confidence.
You can now join Skillshare month-to-month or yearly. Check out the newest class here!
Please share projects to the project gallery and kindly leave reviews. The more positive feedback my classes receive, the more of them I can make. I appreciate it!
My next class with Derwent is on February 16th, at 2pmEST
Fill Your Pages From Edge-to-Edge with Derwent
In this 1-hour free class, we will be planning and filling a full spread in your sketchbook with objects and drawings. With uniform space between the items, the drawings will cover each page in a fluid and eye-pleasing composition. We will discuss the process of working from the outside in. Bring along a pencil to loosely plan the pages, and your Derwent Inktense paints to pull it all together. Sample images do not exactly reflect what will be drawn in the class. The objects that Samantha will be drawing will be winter-themed. Feel free to follow along or just watch for inspiration! Register here.
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Beautiful description of our week Sam!
So honest and authentic
I’m so grateful to have had this week with you and the rest of our amazing group
I’ve never drawn and painted (my own personal work) this much in a week - possibly in my life! Drawing in my sketchbook at every meal, every coffee -with others who get it and do the same !?
So inspiring and fun!
As a teacher of weeklong worships (with jennifer) it was so good for me to be on the’ other side’ and really understand in a whole new way why women love to go on painting retreats so much
😊
This is beautiful Sam, It captures the week so fully! I also have never drawn and painted so much in a week, it was thrilling and intimate and so special. Glad to have spent the week with you!