Reviews

““ I was worried about retirement (or re-wirement) but friends told me the answer was to find something that makes my heart sing and I might just have found something: Sketching.
The tutor Erin Hill, based in Sydney, runs several European tours a year and has classes in France and USA.
She is amazing and a great teacher even for a klutz like me.
In Tangier, at a hotel where Matisse once stayed, the hotel manager, looking at my simple drawing, said I was even better than Matisse - there is hope for me yet!”
”

“Hi Erin
I want to thank you for changing my sketching life.
You taught me how to travel light and have a light touch in sketching.
Dina USk New York”

“It is a joy to look at artwork that expresses the happiness and joy of its creator. I’ve always been drawn to Erin’s work, even before meeting her. Is it her colors? Is it how she simplifies her subjects? Is it her use of lights and darks?

And then when you meet Erin you realize that her personality is mirrored by her artwork. It’s fascinating and I think it’s part of what has made Erin such a successful instructor.”

“I spent 5 days with Erin in Trausse, France, sketching in the local villages. I learned a great deal and feel so much more confident about my sketching. I can even sketch in public! The area is beautiful - so much to see, do and sketch. Erin’s approach put me at ease and set me up for success. She gave me technical pointers and regularly asked how I was feeling about the process. Each day we sketched different subjects and locations, always with the same relaxed and fun approach. Knowing I was traveling alone, she & her husband Milton regularly checked in during ‘off hours’. I returned from my vacation with a sketchbook full of colorful memories, and I am already planning my next trip with Erin. Erin and Milton are lovely people who are passionate about showing others that sketching can be fun and uncomplicated. Thank you Erin, for showing me a new way of seeing and traveling! ”

“So I spent some time this morning on my first online Email class ‘the kitchen windowsill’ project.
You made things so understandable in the lesson I received and I am pleasantly surprised with the outcome of my sketch.
I know I went a little heavy on the white wax pencil, but I understand there is a learning curve involved with every new project.
I look forward to hearing your views on my first sketch.

Thank you for this marvelous journey!”

“I learned more in 3 hrs in your sketch workshop than in any other art course I’ve done. Can’t wait for you to be back in New York”

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for such a brilliant afternoon. I honestly loved every single second. I love learning new things and it’s been ages since I’ve taken the time to do so! I’ve learnt so much today that my head is buzzing, in a good way and I can’t wait to explore the techniques further on my own.
Mum and I came away feeling inspired! I know we’ll both be picking up the paintbrush tomorrow to finish off our still life!
Thanks once again - I’m sure we’ll be in-touch after the summer holidays!
Best wishes, Mel”

“I’m so excited!  I’m coming to Trausse to sketch with you.  As a matter of fact, in my last watercolour course at Emily Carr University, we were asked to bring in to class, an artist we admired and then paint the still life in that persons style, so I chose you!!! I painted a wine bottle, fruit etc and added French bits and pieces.  I seem to change Vancouver scenes into French looking scenes! I love France”

“A quick email to let you know how very much I enjoyed my 6 weeks of Intro to Sketching.

Saturdays with Kirsten quickly became the highlight of my week. Kirsten was a brilliant teacher and we all easily progressed in our sketching abilities with the “Erin Hill” style of urban sketching. It was a fun and memorable time for us all.”

“Yesterday was the last day of my introduction to Erin Hill Sketching course lead by Gaye Pitt in her delightful villa in Moss Vale. I want to say thank you to Gaye for her supportive and patient teaching. Her encouragement and scaffolding of the various techniques has been a tremendous help. I have enjoyed our classes and I have been delighted with the outcome. This course was the first time I have ever lifted a paint brush to create. I will be back for more. Such fun, thanks to Gaye.”

“What a fabulous workshop again Kirsty.
Thank you for your guidance, enthusiasm and encouragement.
There is so much to take in but you break it down in achievable tasks and I thoroughly enjoy witnessing my progress thanks to you ”

“Erin. This is your characteristic, magnificent vision. And I will never forget all I learned from you one day in Philadelphia, when you generously took me aside and used your sketching time to make mine better. You are a great lady, an exquisite teacher, and a wonderful artist. Thank you.”

“I really enjoyed the art session but then I do love drawing people! I found the ‘rules for proportions’ very helpful as I tend to get the dimensions wrong. Great setting and very good company!
Thanks, and looking forward to the next one.”

“‘I was worried about retirement (or re-wirement) but friends told me the answer was to find something that makes my heart sing and I might just have found something: Sketching.I reluctantly agreed to go with my wife on a sketching tour to Spain and Morocco and had no intention of sketching.But once we got to Granada and I saw the group sketching, I changed tack and joined them.Although I had never drawn before, it was fun.The tutor Erin Hill, based in Sydney, runs several European tours a year and has classes in France and USA.She is amazing and a great teacher even for a klutz like me.In Tangier, at a hotel where Matisse once stayed, the hotel manager, looking at my simple drawing, said I was even better than Matisse - there is hope for me yet!”

“What a good excuse to come to Sydney, not only to see my son and his family, but to sketch with Erin. I met Erin in France, and was so taken with her impressionistic style, I had to have a go. So I joined the Travel Sketch Workshop on Sunday, and I was thrilled to be given permission to ” be free” Free from the prescribed way of drawing and painting. So I ended up with something that has life and energy to it, and now I can see possibilities in everything I look at, as colour and a ‘jigsaw’
Erin is a great teacher, no fancy terms, just, ” this is what it is”, so easy to follow.
Thank you to a lovely group of people, a great Cafe for lunch, and a wonderful ferry ride to Manly for school.
Erin, many thanks, and maybe catch up in France.”

“Kirsten, I absolutely love our sketching group. The ladies you have have attracted to our/your group are really special .... and it is an absolute pleasure to be involved in such a way. I love the lessons you teach and I absolutely love our social activities. (And the food is a definite plus!)
Kirsten, thank you!”

“Hi Erin, I love your ‘pep’ talk. It’s so true- sketching is my therapy- it has changed my life- the way I look at things- the people I’ve met- the places I’ve been. I can’t thank you enough for introducing me to my new life, a life I didn’t know existed until about 18 months ago.Can’t wait to start this term!”

“Dear Erin,What a fantastic day we all had on Saturday at the Pegasus Hotel. Due to the rain we didn’t venture outside – except to take photos – but that didn’t deter any of us, we just kept our heads down and sketched – ah bliss! You are so encouraging in telling us we can draw when we sometimes think we cant. I found it very interesting only using three colours whereas I would normally have a box full. I must remember to put my phone/camera away and just use my eyes to see objects before putting lines on a blank page. I am so pleased I was able to participate in this class with a wonderful group of ladies. Even managed to finish my lunch time sketch of my wrap and latte on the train on the way home. I was so engrossed with what I was doing I didn’t notice if anyone was watching. Looking forward to your next venture down south. ”

“I was on a yoga retreat when fate introduced me to Erin and sketching. I am now hooked and passionate about it, because it adds a new dimension to my life, allowing me to enjoy the things I love, the outdoors and people watching, while busy focussing on colours and shapes and life! A sketch to me is more than a photograph because it captures a moment in time that is mine and does not have to be perfect! As a single women I no longer feel alone in cafes or parks or on the beach, because my sketchbook is my companion!”

“Things like waiting in a queue at the airport, riding the bus to work, even waiting in a grocery store checkout queue are all now sketching opportunities instead of tedious time wasters! I’ve been taking Erin’s travel sketching classes and she’s taught me how to see and quickly sketch the world around us! Love the class. Highly recommend it!”

“Erin’s teaching technique is to encourage even the most reticent of sketchers.  With this she creates an atmosphere of fun and relaxation. It’s as much about the act of creation and concentration as the final product. We really do enjoy our sketching time together, whether touring the streets and cafes of Sydney or trips away to explore the bush, the beaches and waterways in other places.”

“Dear Erin,
Thank you for including me in your fantastic week of sketching at Daku Resort, Savusavu, Fiji. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to learn with you, and what can be achieved by putting pen to paper. I didn’t envisage the results I got – amazing. This week has been a very special time for me. So thank you Erin for your time, patience and zest.Vinaka vaka levu.”

“Dear Erin
I am so happy to be receiving your emails about the classes I am sadly missing. However as we cruise the rivers of Europe I am excited to be sketching away and look forward  to sharing my humble works with you when we return. I was so interested to see the jacaranda class and was transported to the very same class last year and can recall my efforts at that time. I guess I am becoming a true sketcher thanks to you. Please pass on my regards to the girls and tell them I look forward to joining my Saturday group if not this year then next. Once again thank you for enabling me to add another dimension to my enjoyment of travelling through sketching. It is a really fun thing to do and a priceless way of recording my experiences. Dave is still the best judge of when I should ” step away””

“I’m so excited!  I’m coming to Trausse to sketch with you.  As a matter of fact, in my last watercolour course at Emily Carr University, we were asked to bring in to class, an artist we admired and then paint the still life in that persons style, so I chose you!!! I painted a wine bottle, fruit etc and added French bits and pieces.  I seem to change Vancouver scenes into French looking scenes! I love France ”

“Fiji and the Daku Resort was wonderful, relaxed, welcoming, great accommodation with excellent food, what else would you want? Yes, we had it all, a great teacher who imparted her knowledge so freely and with so much fun!! Thank you Erin you are “tops” and that delightful man of yours, Milton for his care and support. I had a wonderful holiday and looking forward to doing it again…Oops!! and the lovely group of “girls” a fun bunch of people.”

“Hi Erin,Thank you for a great week out and about Sketching in Manly. I thoroughly enjoyed my time learning to sketch quickly , which is something different and also experiencing Manly with a local , The highlight of course, my ferry ride to  sketch the Opera House and the Bridge. I will be able to put these new skills to good use wherever and whenever  I travel being able to easily carry my visual diary and my paints, pens and colored pencils with me in my bag. A big thank  you to all the friendly students I joined in the classes and our many visits to the varied coffee shops in and about Manly it was an extremely enjoyable and relaxing time. I will certainly come back soon to join in your sketching Out and About Manly and recommend to others as a rewarding experience.”