Rediscover your sense of wonder

Drawing is about seeing. You have to slow down to draw and to see. Seeing the world with fresh eyes puts you in touch with a child-like sense of wonder and curiosity. It’s the perfect way to find your balance.

My Story

I was a nervous kid. I couldn’t sit still.

And I spent as much time chewing my Crayolas as drawing with them…

Teachers sent me out of the room a lot…

But doodling always helped calm my nerves. I didn’t look at it like that. I just intuitively knew; drawing made me feel good.

It didn’t really matter what I was drawing. It still doesn’t.

What matters is getting lost in the drawing – feeling “flow”.

The other thing sketching does for me?

It helps me feel at home, no matter where I am.

✏️ As a new mother far from family, I drew to find balance.

✏️ In a noisy plane – I sketch to find peace and quiet.

✏️ On a dreary Zoom call (yawn), I doodle to focus.

✏️ When I feel sad, I draw to process how I feel and find joy.

✏️ When in a new place, I sketch to connect.

Although I still feel nervous from time to time…

I’ve learned to channel my anxiety into curiosity and creativity to stay present so I can connect with and enjoy the people around me and the beautiful country I live in!

And I can’t wait to share some simple sketching techniques and mood-boosting doodles you can do anywhere, anytime – alone or with your family!

  • Dare to doodle, scribble, sketch and paint your way to a more joyful, creative and playful life.

Got questions?

Workshops

  • Sketching

    Come sketch outside! Sketch Zurich’s city scenes & architecture, people, flora, fauna and food!

  • Doodling

    Spark your imagination with playful doodles in pen, marker, crayon, ink and watercolor.

  • Comics for kids

    Bring your stories and characters to life by learning character design and sequential art.

  • Watercolor

    Get the basics and develop your sense for color, pattern and line.

Go to workshops

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  • Barbara created a character design workshop for students of all ages and abilities. It allows participants to work at their own pace, offering support, challenge and freedom to be creative. Our students (and parents) have loved working with Barbara.

    Ian Marsh (Primary Librarian and Media Specialist)

  • We loved having Barbara come in and work with our class on creating unique characters. Our students were engaged for her entire presentation and have been using the characters that they created during Writing Workshop as they write a series. Students have been asking for more Workbooks from Barbara, as they had so much fun working through the sheets she brought.

    G1 Teacher, Zurich International School

  • Barbara's workshop was extremely engaging and kept the students' attention throughout the session! She taught our 1st Graders the beginning steps of sketching your character in a developmentally appropriate way, using simple activities but not cutting down on the important details that will bring their characters to life.

    Georgia Mente, 1st Grade Teacher