A 2B is always better.

Just hold your pencil at the bottom and use the long edge, it’ll blend better. 

Manhattan/Milton Keynes/Mumbai/DTLA 
Tom Ford Oud Minerale or Black Orchid drinking Jeera Cola. 

Layer up the tone and go in one direction. Keep that nib super sharp.
Keep to the outlines. 

‘It’s just like England, you can even get Spaghetti Hoops at M&S.’ 
Sit in Gold Class. 
Look across Karama and consider performance related pay and international transport
for small dogs.  

78 dirhams for an hour clean from Careem.  

It’s easier if you layer up. Draw it light until you know it’s right. Trace to start with if it’ll
make you feel more confident. 

Heatstroke, dust, and DEWA. Lack, Billy, and Malm.  
‘You’ve not done Dubai until you’ve done a brunch.’ 

You can use an eraser or blending stick, just keep to the outlines.

Oliver Herbert has been living in Dubai for a month now and wrestling with the colonial issues around the teaching of Art in an international school. Herbert runs the SketchMena account on Instagram.

Artwork by Mashael Alsaie