Specialty itineraries designed to enhance your creativity
Experience
Colour, Food, Textiles, Architecture, Markets, Living Culture & the Arts
Slow Travel with your host Anna Barnes
artist, chef & anthropologist
Sydney Travel Sketching Classes
The Rocks, Harbour, Botanic Gardens, Eastern Suburbs and Sydney CBD
Welcome to the world of Sketching. Enjoy a friendly class environment learning to Travel Sketch.
Classes are designed for complete beginners, and those who think they can’t draw. If you are an experienced sketcher and wish to join us, you are welcome to join. Anna can help progress you forward and provide plenty of inspiration and challenges for you.
Each week, Anna teaches skills that give you confidence and joy with your sketching.
We begin the classes in one of Sydneys delightful cafes in The Rocks area. A term program with locations will be provided upon request.
Record your daily life as you would in a diary or journal, and take your new skill travelling. Your sketchbook will have a beautiful record of your days. Share your delight with the worldwide online community of sketchers, or keep it to yourself as a personal record to enjoy.
Sydney Travel Sketching Classes
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We focus on the fundamentals of Sketching, each week learning new skills.
Introduction & Sketching Basics
Composition and Page Design
Colour wheel, palettes, swatches and play
Simple Perspective Techniques
Nature & Environment
People and Street Scapes
More Perspective
Vignettes & Story Telling
We focus on the fundamentals of Sketching.
Each week you learn a new skill.
After some practice your own unique style will begin to develop.
Gain the confidence to sketch wherever and whenever you please.
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We begin the classes in one of Sydneys delightful cafes in The Rocks area.
As classes progress through the term we venture out and the Sydney Harbour, CBD and surrounds.
Sydney is a beautiful and exciting place to learn Travel Sketching. Historic buildings, vibrant cultures, and our Magnificent harbour.
Anna generally chooses relaxed cafes, and outdoor areas with public seating. This helps to showcase the unique beauty of Sydney.
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8 week terms
Friday 10am-1pm
2025:
Term 4 - October 31st - December 19th
2026:
(loosely based on the NSW school terms)
Term 1: February 6th - March 27th
Term 2: May 1st - June 19th
Term 3: July 24th - Sept 11th
Term 4: October 9th - November 20th (short term 7 weeks)
*Casual attendance available for returning students, please contact Anna. Places strictly limited “first in basis”.
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$50 per class
8 week term $400
7 week term (term 4 2026) $350
10% discount for returning students who have completed a full term, when signing up for another full term.
Casual Class $50 (only for returning students)
*There is an expectation that you will spend an average of around $5-15 extra for a beverage and lunch each week. This allows us to sketch inside cafes and restaurants.
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You will need a basic sketch kit. Please see the list below:
Booking Form
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
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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)
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-Pack a practical and portable sketch kit.
Choose the perfect spot in a local café or market to sketch.
Sketch in busy markets without disrupting the flow of business.
Introduction & Travel Sketching Basics
Composition and Page Design
Colour wheel, palettes, swatches and play
Visual Anthropology
Simple Perspective Techniques
Foods - Ingredients, Meals & Beverages
People and Street Scapes
Capturing the Essence of the Culture
Vignettes & Story Telling
Journalling & Personal Style
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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
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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.
