JEDDAH: Every Saturday, a group of creatives and people meet in cafes to sketch together. There is no fee or instructor, simply the desire to fill the page and enjoy a moment of peace and community.
Known as the Jeddah Sketching Club, they are led by Omamah Ashmeel, an independent illustrator and visual artist who has spent more than a decade chasing artistic education across continents.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in graphic design in Jeddah, she studied visual development in Italy for two years, continued her education in the US and later earned a master’s degree in illustration from a UK university.
Her portfolio includes illustrating children’s books and projects for clients in fashion, jewelry and cultural institutions. Describing her approach to art, she told Arab News: “I want to inspire joy. I want my work to reflect that innocence, that pure feeling.”
In the summer of 2023 while sketching alone at a cafe, Ashmeel decided to invite others to join her art activity through her personal social media account.
