Look Draw Thrive is is a unique walking tour combining the power of mindfulness through focus with the creativity, joy and observational skills of drawing and urban sketching.

City Precinct and City of Melbourne are sponsoring a series of them called Look Draw Love Melbourne, so we can show you the amazing hidden corners and laneways around our beautiful city. All this totally free!

This world-first program creates the concept of mindful sketching: observing and focusing on the details of streets and laneways you may have passed a million times before. Enjoying the looking, finding pleasure and stillness in the tiny. It’s a mental wellbeing practice, an artistic discovery process and a sightseeing tour all in one.

NO DRAWING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! Total newbies encouraged!

Some benefits

• Drawing and observation exercises have similar values to mindfulness as they promote focusing, living in the moment and observing our surroundings.
• Improve memory and concentration
• Improve communication skills and strategic thinking
• Increase in self-esteem and life satisfaction
• Improved observational skills
• Community connection
• Renewed love for Melbourne

Who will be teaching?

Emilie (she/her) is a Melbourne based artist and educator, working across media with a focus on community-based practice and education. She graduated from her PhD in Fine Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2020 and has been an art resident at Testing Grounds (2020) and the Comic Art Workshop (2022). Emilie moved from France in 2014 and has been developing her art practice in Melbourne since, exhibiting her works at FortyFive Downstairs gallery, the Abbotsford convent, No Vacancy Gallery, Arcade and George Patton Gallery. Emilie is also a comic book artist and her illustration has been published by the Lifted Brow and she self-published her first graphic novel in 2018 with Tree Paper Comics in Melbourne.

In 2021, Emilie opened Couleur in Collingwood, a printmaking studio focusing on DIY, hand-prints, and experimental printmaking.

Maria (she/her) is the general manager of Laneway Learning, a marketing expert and an addicted crafter. She considers herself an “community entrepreneur”, coming up with ideas and events to connect, soothe and strengthen out communities. 

She loves science, particularly neuroscience and life long learning. She has studied law, marketing, communication, positive psychology and of course attended a myriad of Laneway Learning classes.