230. At the Intersection of Worlds
being present in places where sneaky art is found.
Dear reader,
It is a 12-minute ride on the SeaBus across the Burrard Inlet, connecting downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver. After disembarking, you shuffle along with the other passengers to exit at Lonsdale Quay. There is a bus-stop right there if you want to go up to Whistler, one of the most famous ski locations in the world. On winter weekends many people skip the drive to take advantage of this public transit connection all the way from sea to mountain.
As a resident, I love to use public transit. It is a way to connect with my city and the people with whom I share it. As an artist, I love to use public transit because of all the sneaky art I find on it. Wherever different people come together, worlds collide. Sneaky Art is found at the intersection of worlds.
The SneakyArt Post is a weekly publication of secretly drawn art of the world. I draw scenes of the city from observation in public spaces, and share with you my best lines and best words as an artist and writer.
Remember when email was not just for business and marketing and Zoom appointments and spam? The internet was a big, unexplored space, and we were intrepid explorers of the unknown. When we found something cool, we emailed it to everyone else who might like it. If you like having my work in your inbox, help me make the internet great again. Share this post with another person who might like it too.
I got off the SeaBus and walked past the bus-stop because I wasn’t going to Whistler. I was there to see someone about a pop-up stall at Lonsdale Public Market. This summer, I look forward to selling art in person again.
Digital relationships in digital spaces have helped me build an audience for my work. Back when I did not know if my art was of any value, back when I was an outsider in my physical environment, I put time and energy into social media. It was magical. I could share drawings across the world, and connect with people who liked them. I was freed of my geographical limitations. But the promise of social media has been broken. And I realize I must re-invest in my physical environment - real people, real community, real places, and real conversations.
The world used to be very large, and we have turned it into a very small place. Broadly speaking, it needs to become large (and mysterious) again... [continue reading]
Many lives intersected on the SeaBus that day, just like they do every day. Strangers sat beside strangers. Conversations mingled in the air. Different in so many ways, but united by the common goal of going from downtown to North Van.
So many of us pass through this world ensconced inside our private bubbles - of media, screens, and noise-cancellation devices - without awareness of the commonalities we share with others around us. Maybe it is language, or ethnicity, or neighbourhood, or profession. Maybe it is hobbies, or favourite TV shows. Maybe it is something as simple as a common destination. We take many things for granted while moving through our complicated, busy worlds. But it is the job of the sneaky artist to not take common things for granted, because the art is often found in places like these. A sneaky artist must be alert. The art is hidden in plain sight.
I made this quick drawing in my sketchpad before the moment was lost forever.
💻 Workshop!
This Sunday, I am leading a new workshop designed to help you build a 5-minute sketchbook habit. What do you need to start and finish a drawing inside five minutes? This workshop will equip you with the tricks, tips, and techniques that will allow you to capture something on ordinary days, in ordinary places, while even while you are doing an ordinary thing - such as waiting in a queue, or boarding a flight, or sitting in a ferry to cross a narrow channel of water.
Tap the link to learn more, and use code [SNEAKYREADER] to grab a reader-discount on your seat!
Last week, I released two new prints on the store. Add SneakyArt to your walls using the code [SNEAKYREADER] for a special discount.
Thank you for your time and attention. I am glad to have a space in your inbox!
How fabulous! Baby Rohan is going out in the physical world and it's HUGE.
Public transit provides connectivity in so many unseen ways -- I get a thrill of delight whenever I see someone relating to their transportation experience this way. Thank you!