It was one of those spring days, when nature blooms in full colors… where greens are lush, yellows are joyful, and whites are pure. The blue sky above made the whole scene so peaceful.
We were walking around the Shoul valley by the dam, the lake catching the light beside us.
My friend had her little girl with her, a two-year old tiny human. Every few steps, the little one would stop. A snack, a question, a small protest. And every time, my friend would lean down, patient, and meet her right there on the trail.
I happened to be a few steps ahead. I turned around, and there it was: the two of them, small against the path, and behind them the valley opening up.. the trail disappearing into it, and above it all, electrical wires cutting a quiet, almost accidental line across the blue sky.
Back home, I sketched 2 scenes using watercolor brush pens.. I quickly sketched the basic shapes and colors; fast, loose, just enough to hold the moment before it faded. The plan was always to go back in with colored pencils and finish it properly.
That “going back in” took five months. Not because I forgot. I think some pieces just aren’t ready until they’re ready, and this one sat quietly in the sketchbook waiting its turn. Especially for someone who works on multiple sketchbooks at the same time.. It mostly comes down to mood and vibes 😀
The sketchbook is made of 100% cotton watercolor paper, and its texture came through everywhere the brush pen background was light.. every fiber of the paper visible, nothing smooth about it. I lean toward blending, toward softening edges until things feel seamless. This paper had other ideas.
I pushed through anyway. It’s not fully “me” yet.. I’m still learning to work with that texture instead of against it, last time I used water-soluble crayons to smooth the texture out as much as I could.. this time I decided to work with it and it turned into something I’m genuinely happy with.
These pieces are becoming postcards.. the valley, the wires, the tiny human pause on a big trail. A voyage outside, carried home on paper, the way it always goes.
This hike was organized by Houria Travel and events
