“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has occurred…”
George Bernard Shaw
In a world of smart phones, laptops, earphones, facebook, instagram, and social distancing, the art of casual conversation with random people has never been more challenged. Even people in the busiest of public spaces are often deep in personal worlds. Travelling is all the richer for unplanned, casual, memorable conversations and interactions. One of my favourite travel authors, Paul Theroux, has filled book after book with the stories of people he randomly encounters. There is no doubt in my mind about the ability of a sketchbook and a few brushstrokes of watercolour to break the conversation ice. Recently this worked for me in the ancient cities of Vietnam and more locally in the pubs of Perth. It works across languages, across age groups, and with the drunk and the sober. #icebreaker #letsmakelemonade
Pen Paint and Scalpel 