Yellow walls and silk lanterns

It was a rough transition from the long Montreal winter to the heat of Vietnam but on our first morning in Hoi An (after a 36 hour journey and good night’s sleep) I was eager to do my first sketch. I joined sketching friends who were already set up at the entrance to the central market in the Ancient Town.

I was exhausted and jet lagged but being there reminded me of what I love best about urban sketching: being in the middle of some sort of chaos and trying to make sense of it in my sketchbook. I chose a view across the way where a family had set up their parasols and were selling jars and bags of herbs and spices. It was my first introduction to this very vibrant and colourful city where yellow shop house walls and hanging lanterns are the backdrop to every sketch and photo that I brought back with me. It’s a messy sketch but looking at it now, it brings back all the joy of that hour chatting with friends and watching the world go by on the busy corner.