In our summer series, we celebrate artists from the Saanenland and Pays-d'Enhaut; we turn to a very different artistic practice. Rather than working in oils on canvas, Saanen-based artist Theres Rütschi carries a sketchbook wherever she goes, capturing everyday life one drawing at a time. Whether sitting in a café, travelling by train or walking through the mountains, she records the moments most of us pass by without a second glance. We asked her to tell us what drawing means to her.

The Art of Seeing by Theres Rütschi

There is a quotation by the American writer Henry David Thoreau that has stayed with me throughout my life:

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

For me, drawing is a way of learning to see. I believe that anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw. It isn't about creating a perfect picture. It is about slowing down, paying attention to our surroundings and discovering our own way of expressing what we observe.

A large part of my work centres on Urban Sketching, drawing directly on location rather than from photographs. Whether I am in a village square, a café, on public transport, travelling abroad or out in nature, I sketch what is happening around me. Urban Sketchers is a worldwide community of artists who document the places they visit, one drawing at a time, telling the stories of those places through observation.

What interests me most is not an exact representation, but the atmosphere of a place. I enjoy combining different materials and techniques in a single sketch, allowing each drawing to develop naturally. My sketchbook has become a diary, a collection of memories, a place to experiment and a source of new ideas. Most importantly, it helps me slow down and connect more deeply with the world around me.

Sharing that experience with others is just as rewarding. I teach drawing classes for children at Saanen Primary School and run courses for adults in my studio, encouraging people to discover that drawing is less about talent than about observation and curiosity. I also lead workshops at events in Switzerland and France, and I am delighted to be part of the team behind Literarischer Herbst Gstaad, where I will once again host an experimental drawing workshop this October, bringing together my love of literature and drawing.

You can follow Theres' work on Instagram @papermoon_32.

Jeanette Wichmann