Vietnam Laos Sri Lanka India Australia

Art, Food & Culture Experiences with Anna Barnes

artist, chef & anthropologist

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Art, Food & Culture Classes Sydney

  • Unleash Your Artistic Adventure! Dive into sketching and capture the soul of Sydney.

  • Sketch Beyond the Surface: Discover the rich tapestry of local cultures through food, festivals, and everyday life.

  • Each week: you will be given a new recipe, try the foods, buy the ingredients and shop for specialty equipment.

  • Connect Through Creativity: Share stories and experiences with fellow sketchers, building lasting friendships.

  • Taste the Culture, Sketch the Moment: Immerse yourself in authentic flavours and translate them into vibrant sketches.

  • Anna Barnes, Your Cultural Compass: Learn to see the world with new eyes and capture the essence of each location.

  • From Market to Masterpiece: Explore bustling markets, savor local delicacies, and transform them into unique works of art.

  • Craft Your Visual Story: Create a personal sketchbook that reflects your journey and connections with the community.

  • Explore Sydney's Hidden Gems! Sketch your way through buzzing markets and unique cafes.

  • Field Work in your Own City: We travel, explore and learn about our city in ways we have not done before.

  • Join a Global Community, Connect Locally: Share your sketches online and build bridges with artists worldwide, while grounding your art in your local experience.

  • Join Anna’s private WhatsApp group for support and community.

  • Celebrate Diversity Through Art: Each sketch becomes a celebration of Sydney's unique cultural blend.

  • More than just drawing, it's about belonging: Find your place through creative expression.

Art, Food & Culture Class Details

    • Introduction & Sketching Basics

    • Composition and Page Design

    • Colour wheel, palettes, swatches and play

    • Simple Perspective Techniques

    • Nature & Environment

    • People and Street Scapes

    • Vignettes & Story Telling

    • Recipes, try the foods, buy the ingredients and shop for specialty equipment.

    • Learn about the gastronomy and vibrant cultures of Western Sydney.

    • Challenge your cultural biases.

    • Discuss the foods of migrated cultures and its diaspora in Sydney.

    • All students begin with the “Essentials Class”. Experienced sketchers or complete beginners welcome. We cover much more that art skills & techniques. You learn how to “Art, Food & Culture”.

  • ESSENTIALS CLASS:

    Cabramatta 2166.

    Cafes, restaurants and food markets. We will explore the vibrant cultures of Cabramatta shopping district and surrounds.

    We sketch on location both in the urban environment as well as in restaurants and cafes.

    PROGRESSIONS CLASS:

    Different locations each week. For students who have completed at least one term of the Essentials Class.

    • Cabramatta – South Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian, North Vietnamese

    • Harris Park – Indian

    • Eastwood – Korean

    • Burwood – Chinese

    • Toongabbie – Sri Lankan

    • Merrylands – Persian

    • Blacktown – Afghan

    • Auburn - Lebanese

    • Bankstown – North Vietnamese

    • Sydney Fish markets - Japanese

    • Sydney Chinatown - Cantonese,

    • …and the list goes on!

  • 2026 Term Classes

    8 week terms. Meet once each week for 3 hour sessions.

    (loosely based on the NSW school terms)

    ESSENTIALS CLASS:

    Wednesday 11am - 2pm

    Term 3: July 29th - Sept 16th

    Term 4: TBC

    PROGRESSIONS CLASS:

    Friday 10am - 1pm

    Term 1: February 6th - March 27th

    Term 2: May 1st - June 19th

    Term 3: July 24th - Sept 11th

    Term 4: TBC

    *Casual attendance sometimes available for returning students, please contact Anna.

  • 8 week term $400

    8 × 3hr sessions

    *There is an expectation that you will spend an average of around $10-15 extra for a beverage and lunch each week. This allows us to sketch inside cafes and restaurants

    *Casual attendance and 10% discount for students who have completed an 8 week term only. Please get in touch.

  • You will need a basic sketch kit. Please see the list below:

    ART SUPPLIES


To join in any of our classes, please fill out the booking form. We always answer every email, so please check your spam or contact us another way (see “about” section) if you have not heard back from us within a few days.

Anna Barnes

  • 2004 MDSc (Master of Design Science, Digital Media) - The University of Sydney.

    2004 Dean's Honour Award - The University of Sydney.

    1997 Executive Chef "Best Specialty Restaurant" winner Sydney.

    1996 2nd Chef “Best Specialty Restaurant” winner.

    1989-1999 Chef (Sydney Restaurants-specialty cuisines).

    1992 BA (Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts and Social Anthropology- The University of Sydney)

  • -Navigating the challenges of sketching in a new country.

    -Pack a practical and portable sketch kit.

    -Quickly set up and sketch scenes in various settings.

    -Approach strangers and sketch them in their environment.

    -Choose the perfect spot in a local café or market to sketch.

    -Capture the essence of rural landscapes, such as rice fields.

    -Feel confident sketching anywhere, anytime.

    -Sketch in busy markets without disrupting the flow of business.

    -Understand what you see by capturing the shapes and movements in your sketchbook.

  • your favourite sketchbook

    a small travel palette with a few watercolour 1/2 pans (yellow, red and blue minimum)

    a few watercolour (aquarelle) pencils

    a black waterproof pigment pen

    a size 4 or 6 paintbrush (or water brush)

    small water container with screw top lid

    Please avoid cheap office supply shop brands. Especially Montmartre, Jasart, and Born brands. If you are unsure, see the more detailed list with links HERE

  • Meet the founder of Art Food Culture

    I am Anna Barnes founder of Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experiences. I am an artist, chef and anthropologist. I am also a long-time traveller to Vietnam.

    I design and host Creative Experiences in Vietnam. I aim to help people connect, transform, recover, and thrive through art, food, and cultural experiences. My love and passion for Vietnam, the people, the culture and the food has brought me to a deep desire to share it with you. I believe that with the right guides, your experiences are enhanced, and you feel confident to take that corner, sit in that eatery, and strike up that connection with that grandma who invites you in for tea. You come away having had the time of your life!

    My goal is to share with you the incredible beauty of the culture beyond the service and hospitality industries, beyond simply looking at pretty scenery, and beyond eating the easily accessible foods of the high ranking tourist restaurants.

    We go on creative and sensory journeys, coming together in small groups in safe & exciting locations, provoking life long curiosity and connections.

    I design slow travel experiences with the emphasis being connecting with local people, nature, food, art, music, stories and the history of the places we go. We learn to travel sketch or keep a travel journal and are curious eaters and foodies. We go out of our comfort zone a little to go off the beaten track and experience grassroots culture.

    We remain sustainable for local communities, the local environment, ourselves and our creative lives.