Beate

Netherlands

4-week Charcoal journey in Southeast Asia…

Beate, an aspiring architect, came to us one Sunday and wasted no time diving into exploring a very interesting material: charcoal.

For Beate, it was a perfect combination of traveling and learning something new. It started with one life drawing session, followed by several mornings per week, amidst her explorations in Hanoi and other provinces of North Vietnam. To us, it was a refreshing experience to see someone with so much patience and determination.

At some point, we thought traveling around before picking up charcoal gave her even more energy and feelings to utilize the power of this medium. Charcoal is a material that gives you a sense of freedom, and Beate quickly grasped the opportunity.

On her final lesson with us, it was raining. She gave us fresh lilies as a token of gratitude and left with just a plastic raincoat, which, to her, was “fashionable.” We had a good laugh. With her drawings rolled in a cylinder tube case worn on her back, she set off for other adventures!