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Hello, my name is Noor Huda Bastomi, you can call me Bastomi, I’m proud to have Javanese name! I live in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. This place is known to be the capital region of Central Java. You can find many old colonial architecture buildings and a Chinatown here. I’m 23 years old and I work in a hotel. Drawing is a part of my hobby, but lately, I’m just getting serious with it. Yes, I’m not an artist yet, I don’t know why. Thanks to Charlie who encouraged me to be a guest artist and should be confident with my artwork. Thanks Charlie!
I’ve liked to draw ever since I was child, even though no one in my family was working in art or the creative industry. I just started to use watercolor last year after surfing on Instagram and saw a new trend of drawing in the form of sketching. It came in different styles, but I liked most the sketchers who use watercolor as a media to color their sketches.
From there, I also saw sketchers doing live sketching, forming a group for a sketch gathering and the Urban Sketchers community. After a couple of months sketching alone, I decided to move to Semarang and join their Urban Sketcher community called “Semarang Sketchwalk”, to get more experience and new friends, of course.
For the media I use, usually, I’m using fountain pens or twig and chinese ink for the line art, then wash it with watercolor, mixed between Sakura Koi and Winsor & Newton.
I don’t have any special technique to do, the key of my sketch is “You have to enjoy it first”. I don’t really care about the result, as long as I’m enjoying the process, because in live sketching you have to express what you feel on that place at that time. Feel the atmosphere, hear the bird voice, and having conversations about art with strangers in public, it’s such a pleasure for me. I have all those elements to put in my sketch.
When I’m back from work, I practice through YouTube channel tutorials, and I’m currently watching Alvaro Castagnet as role model. He is such an amazing artist! I’m still far, far from him. But when we do a sketch gathering event, we like to share with each other to improve our sketch and watercolor skills.
Doing live sketching is also like meditation for me. When I’m tired of working, I just need to sit down on the sidewalk, grab a sketchbook and start doodling. It’s a little bit different than painting, as sketching shows spontaneous strokes, dynamic value and is so eye catchy. Moreover, when it’s washed with watercolor, it magically turn into atmospheric pieces.
I don’t need big things as an object, sometimes even small ugly things can be turned into beautiful things, if we see it in a positive way. We should be grateful to God who has created this beautiful world for us to live in! Happy Sketching!
Noor Huda Bastomi
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Wow, amazing artwork!
Thank you very much for your appreciation! 🙂
That’s impressive! Beautifully lively!
Thanks to watercolor’s magic who made it lively! thank you very much 🙂
Wonderfully expressive art work – it reflects your free spirit and love of God and the world around you. BRAVO!
Because I’m young and full of spirits! And I want to share these spirits to everyone through my sketch.. thanks anyway 🙂
I love the balance of precision line work, angles, and perspective with the energetic mark making and dynamic bursts of colour.
it’s influenced by awesome friends i met, they are architecture, watercolorist and many more. I adopt their styles and mix to create my own styles (which is i enjoy to do).. anyway thanks you very much 🙂
Wonderful article , I love your fresh sketches. I so agree you need to sketch and paint what you love and love what you paint . God had indeed given us all the beauty of His creation . So much to sketch and paint , so little time ( well I am much older than you ) Love every minute of your sketching journey , you aremwell on your way . Thank you so much for sharing .
No one can paint as good as God creation, but we can interpreted it with positive vibes and warm feelings then share what we thought through strokes.. Thank you very much 🙂
Love the energy in your work!!
Thanks! that’s energy from my surroundings 🙂
Wonderful! I like the free-looking atmosphere to your paintings and thank you for showing us the actual buildings you used in the background.
Well done, Bastomi! Nice work and lovely attitude!
! thank you very much 🙂
Your sketches of building are terrific!