Adventures with my sketchbook IRL

This summer I knew I wanted to take a break from social media. My workshops are all about being present and mindful, and yet, like many people who are self employed I've struggled to maintain a good online/offline balance, feeling that I constantly had to share my work online to feel productive. So a few months ago I decided to do much, much, more sketching while I've been out and about - by the beach, in the pub, in cafes, in galleries, in the woods. And it's been transformative. I've had lovely conversations prompted by sitting in interesting places with real people who have interacted in a human way with my artwork. I can't not do social media completely, but the valuable lessons I've learned from being present and connecting with people and place in real life will change what I do in the future.