While walking, I noticed a group of people in chairs, scattered along the riverside. They were sketching and even before I could see their work, I felt the atmosphere of peace they created. Impressed, I approached one of the girls to ask about the group but she covered her work and urged me to talk to someone else. I understood her reaction yet couldn’t bring myself to disturb those so engrossed in rendering the scene. 

Ever since, I’ve longed to sketch with others. I’ve been sketching on location by myself over the past year, like I did for Aloe in the Window, or sketching in the subway while running errands. Creating is a vulnerable experience and to have people watching makes it even more vulnerable.  I’ve gotten used to people looking at my work, seeing me make mistakes.

I figured those who stopped to watch would never see me again, so it didn’t matter if they disapproved. But ever since passing the sketching group, I’ve longed to go out with others. This felt even more intimidating. I had this idea that if I invited others to sketch with me, my artwork wouldn’t meet their expectations. But you know what it’s like when a dream takes hold in your heart, right? I couldn’t let it go.

I didn’t know if anyone would even want to join me – everyone I know seems so busy, but as my birthday approached and I tossed up ideas of how to celebrate, I realized it was the perfect time to initiate. I invited a few friends to go sketching and then out for Mexican food. I figured at least someone would come – it was my birthday, after all. 

Each one agreed – I was thrilled. And we met at this park with huge lotus flowers just starting to bloom. 

A crowd quickly formed around us, but as they milled back and forth we agreed it wasn’t as intimidating as if all of the attention was on just one of us. 

One guy hung around for a while, asking questions and taking pictures, including one where he posed with me. Wrapping up, we admired each other’s work and I remembered how wonderful my friends are – I never needed to worry about them being critical. Just as we were packing up, a wind picked up and blew a friend’s drawing through a hole in the fence and onto the lily pads. For a moment, we all sat in surprise, groaning at the loss. But the day had been so perfect, I couldn’t let it end this way – I jumped over the fence and stuck my foot out, successfully stopping the paper from blowing any farther. Then I stretched to pick it up, but it was too far. The guy who had taken my picture hopped over too, and rescued the lily pad drawing. 

My sketch didn’t come close to capturing the beauty I saw, yet it was extra special for me.

It reminds me of the day I replaced a longing with a memory. 

I wondered if my friends joined only because it was my birthday, but when I said I’d like to go one more time while the lotus flowers are in bloom, they all agreed they would like to, too. We now have plans to meet once a month, so now I know my birthday field sketching was a true success.