View of a Local in Lisbon, Portugal

Helena Monteiro, a self-proclaimed art and travel addict, sketches scenes from wherever she goes. In this interview she talks about her passion for sketching and travelling, and throws in a vast number of Lisbon tips, you don’t want to miss if a trip to Portugal is on the cards.

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a Portuguese woman, an art and travel addict who loves to write and sketch. Some of my writing and sketches can be found on my three blogs:

Traços e Cores – with my sketches, paintings, watercolours and doodles.

Linha de Cabotagem – where you’ll find my writings, opinions and the outcome of my travels.

Alicerces – a blog dedicated to all sorts of art.

The sketches on your Traços e Cores blog are beautiful. How long have you been doing these sketches and why are you doing them?

Art has always been in my life, but only since I retired from teaching three years ago, have I had time to take some short courses in painting and drawing.

I began sketching before that, maybe five years ago. The original idea was to sketch illustratations for my travel diaries, but I immediately found that I had to practice a lot to draw sketches that could express my inner eye. So now, I try to work on a daily basis.

Do you sketch as you are visiting a place, or do you do it later from photographs?

Both. As I don’t travel alone, I have to find time to sketch without boring those who are with me. So I generally do a few lines or a quick sketch (about 5 to 10 minutes) that I finish at home.

On the other hand, if I’ve taken a lot of photos, they sometimes help me finish my drawing, or I simply draw from these photos.

Do you use your sketching skill professionally, or is it for your pleasure only?

Only for my pleasure and with the goal of perfecting my travel sketchbooks.

How long have you lived in Lisbon?

Since I was born.

What do you like most about living in Lisbon?

Lisbon’s natural light, a particular light that has been noticed by a lot of movie directors.

Is there anything you do not like about living in Lisbon?

Unfortunately, yes. The rush-hour traffic and the way Lisbon has expanded in an anarchical way, pushing people to the outskirts and leaving the old town without its ancient soul.

Why should travellers visit Lisbon?

This would keep us talking for hours 😉 but in summary, because

• by European standards Lisbon is a small town built on seven hills by the beautifull and large river Tagus,
• Lisbon has some astonishing buildings and monuments – some of them survived the great earthquake of 1755,
• of the old quarters
• and always for its natural light.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit Lisbon?

Stroll around, as we always should do when visiting a city. Then see:

• Jeronimos’ Monastery – a Unesco World Heritage site.
• Belém Tower – a Unesco World Heritage site.
• The Castle [ed.: See Helena’s sketch below].
• Sé (the old cathedral).
• Baixa (downtown).
• The old belvederes on the top of the hills.
• The Ancient Art Museum.
• The Gulbenkian Museum.
• The lifts that take people from downtown to the top of the hills.
• The old quarters – Alfama – Madragoa – Bairro Alto.
• Take a tour on the nº 28 tramway – you will see the real Lisbon.

What do you wish travellers would stop doing when they visit Lisbon?

Being tourists. If they are real travellers, they will feel the soul of Lisbon and with a good guidebook they’ll know what to do.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in Lisbon, what should it be?

Just stroll around feeling the light and the city.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in Lisbon, which dish would you recommend?

Cozido à Portuguesa – difficult to explain but it is a traditional dish with boiled meat (cow, pork and different kinds of sausages), cabbage, carrots, beans, potatoes, rice, etc.

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to Lisbon?

Feel free to ask the locals in Lisbon for their recommendations for places and restaurants. The Portuguese love to welcome travellers and give their opinions, which are always better than the touristic view of the local guides and hotel staff. They’ll try to communicate in your language or will ask someone nearby to translate.

If travellers have time, they should go to Sintra (Unesco World Heritage site), a village situated about 25 km from Lisbon.

Editors Note: Helena has kindly given us permission to publish two of her sketches here, but make sure you go visit her Traços e Cores blog to see more of her sketches.

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