Travel Drawings from Sketching in Colombia

I traveled to Colombia on four separate occasions. First, I arrived hitchhiking a boat from Panama in October 2010. I returned again in March 2011, then again via Venezuela in September 2012, and one final time in February 2013. These travel drawings represent movement from Cartagena to Medellin, Popyan, Bogota, San Agustin, the border with Ecuador, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla and others. I found myself sketching quite often in Colombia, and it is where I began using Faber Castell Pitt Pens in 2013.

Travel Drawing in Colombia 2010-2012

Travel drawing from Bello, Medellin, Colombia — I stayed with Samuel in Bello, Medellin, and made this travel drawing in the city’s square.

Travel drawing from Cartagena Colombia — Beautiful, colonial Cartagena Colimbia was a wonderful locale to travel and draw.

Travel sketch from the Colombia Andes — A quick drawing from walking along a winding mountain road in the Colombian Andes.

Fake boobs drawing in Medellin, Colombia — Medellin, Colombia is famous for plastic surgery. I drew this women because her breasts were clearly fake.

Drawing of a Colombian Woman — Vanessa hosted me in her country home in Rio Nego, above Medellin. She was a pretty Colombia woman I wanted to draw.

Travel drawing of gas station attendant in Colombia — At a gas station arriving to Medellin, in the giant sleeping giants of mountains, this attendant had the perfect solution to the heat rays.

Portrait of a Colombian woman — Portrait of a Colombian woman. This is Maria-Isabel, my lovely host in Medellin. She allowed me to draw her.

Sketching a vendor in Medellin, Colombia — A quick sketch from my pocket notebook of an ice cream vendor in Medellin, Colombia

Drawing of faces — A random drawing of faces inspired by a plaza in Medellin.

Drawing of Medellin, Colombia — A collection of faces inspired by the Museum of Antioquia, and the central plaza of Medellin.

Travel drawing in Antioquia Medellin Colombia — Medellin is located in Antioquia. On a hill of the city there is a reconstruction of a typical Antioquian pueblo, so I drew it.

Bantu student bar travel drawing in Medellin — Medellin has a vibrant student nightlife. Maria-Isabel lived behind the Bantu bar, where I went to draw the young students in their debates.

Travel drawing of downtown Medellin, Colombia — From the Antioquia Pueblo hill, I drew the building of downtown Medellin, Colombia.

Travel sketch in Nieva Colombia — Hitchhiking to San Agustin, I stopped to make this travel sketch of a statue in boiling Nieva.

Plaza Botero in Medellin, Colombia — The Plaza Botero in Medellin. Botero’s plump figures come to life in the form of huge statues.

Travel drawing of Popoyan statues — I slept in the bus station in Popoyan, Colombia, and drew the statues in the center.

Travel drawing in San Agustin Colombia — Finally arriving to San Agustin, I’d meet my French friend Lucas, draw the church, and hike.

Travel drawing of an old statue in San Agustin, Colombia — San Agustin was once dangerous for the FARC, and remains so. Regardless, tourists are arriving. Here’s a travel drawing of a statue.

Travel sketch of Bogota plaza — A quick sketch of the main square of Bogota.

Travel drawing in Cartagena Colombia — Cartagena, Colombia, despite the touristy makeup, remains one of the jewels of the continent. A quick drawing of a square.

Travel drawing in Colombia — A few sketches from the Botero Museum in Medellin, including his depiction of Pablo Escobar dying on the rooftops.

Travel sketching in Colombia — Travel sketching in Colombia, this is a field somewhere in the Antioquia countryside.

Travel Sketching from 2013

Travel sketch from Cartagena Colombia — A sketch using Pitt Pens. I found that these pens could bring places to life like pencils could not. This is a sketch in Cartagena.

Travel drawing of Cartagena's beautiful walls — I hitchhiked from Medellin to Cartagena, where I slept on the streets for 10 days, awaiting to meet a captain who’d take me to Panama.

Travel drawing Club Nautico, Cartagena, Colombia — Drawing a part of the Club Nautico Marina in Cartagena, awaiting a captain.

Sketch of woman on a train in Medellin — A woman on a train in Medellin.

A travel sketch, trying to get used to Pitt pens.

Sketch of an old man at the dentist's — I visited the dentist in Medellin, where it cost 30 dollars instead of 200. Sketched an old man awaiting his turn.

Sketch of pigeons using Pitt Pens — A sketch using Pitt Pens of pigeons on the street in Cartagena.

Sketch of a Man with Pitt Pens — Pitt Pens sketch of a man, trying to get used to the new medium

A travel drawing of a Cartagena wall. — A travel drawing of a Cartagena wall. I had time to see the city, but mostly I was at the marina meeting captains.

Travel drawing of cable cars in Medellin — A drawing of the cable cars in Medellin, which are part of the metro system that bring people into the hills. Some have been shot at.

Travel drawing o Cartagena Bay — Drawing the Cartagena Bay, looking out to Boca Grande, where the Secret Service got into trouble with Prostitutes. I slept in my tent at this vantage point.

Motorcycles drawing in Medellin — A travel sketch of motorcycles in Medellin, trying to improve with Pitt Pens.

Colombia university travel sketch — A travel sketch with Maria-Isabel at her Colombian University in Medellin. I snuck into the university using her ID card.

A sketch of a lagoon in Medellin, Colombia

Travel sketch of Medellin, beautiful amber Colombian city — A sort of paintings using Pitt Pens of the amber color of buildings in Medellin. This is a view from Maria-Isabel’s apartment.

Travel sketch of a Colombian man — This is Jose, Maria-Isabel’s twin brother. I stayed with them in Medellin.

Travel sketch of boats in Cartagena Bay — I spent days in Cartagena, hanging out at the Club Nautico marina, trying to crew boats to Panama. I eventually met Worth. Here’s a drawing of the bay.

Travel sketch of gentrification in Medellin, Colombia — In Medellin, the difference in economic power is visible in architectural gentrification.