Sketch Camp in Waduk Jatiluhur Indonesia

As soon as we arrived at the Jatiluhur Reservoir camping ground, our eyes were drawn to the rhythmic strokes of kayak and long boat gliding across the water. Unfortunately, we had arrived a bit late. Our friends from Indonesia Sketchers had already left for the floating fish farms (karamba) by speed boat. That morning, we missed our train to Purwakarta, forcing us to change plans and take a bus instead—resulting in our delayed arrival.

Pak Michael, one of the campsite managers, approached us, realizing that we had been left behind by our group. He kindly accompanied us for a while and shared that the athletes we were watching were members of Indonesia’s national team. No wonder they moved so swiftly and skillfully on the water. After enjoying the view of their training session, we decided to explore the area around the reservoir.

Jatiluhur Reservoir is actually the largest reservoir in Indonesia. Located in Purwakarta, West Java, it was built by damming the Citarum River. It serves multiple purposes: hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, flood control, and supplying clean water to surrounding regions. However, despite its importance, Jatiluhur now faces a serious issue—sedimentation. Silt and debris from upstream have accumulated, reducing the reservoir’s capacity while causing the water level to rise continuously. It’s a growing challenge that demands urgent attention.

Our eyes were then drawn to the hydroelectric power plant standing solidly near the reservoir’s edge. This facility harnesses the flow of water from the dam to produce electricity, supplying regions throughout Java and Bali. We paused for a moment, finding the perfect angle, and began to sketch the scene—framed by the rolling hills in the background and a shy sun hiding behind the overcast sky.

That evening, after a warm dinner, we rejoined our fellow Indonesia Sketchers at the lakeside campfire. The night felt serene—snacking, chatting, and enjoying live acoustic music under the stars. The mood grew warmer as Pak Yanuar and Andry performed the song More Than Words. We tried to capture the cozy atmosphere in my sketch, while other friends also sketched the warmth of the moment.

The next morning, we were greeted by cool air as we stepped out of our tents. A calm reservoir and mist-covered hills stretched before us—it was a peaceful, breathtaking sight. In the distance, the athletes had already returned to the water for another training session. We quietly settled into the moment, sketching as the world around us slowly came to life. What a beautiful way to start the day.

Later on, we joined a plein air demo with Bu Lily, followed by a sketching session with Pak Yanu and Pak Donald. Under Bu Lily’s guidance, we completed a sketch of a speed boat gliding across the reservoir with hills in the background. With Pak Yanu, I learned how to capture the shaded ambiance of the camping area. Meanwhile, Reza focused on learning how to select sketch objects with Pak Donald’s help.

Photo by Indonesia Sketcher

Wonderful gathering 💚

Sari and Reza are a couple of ‘newbie’ urban sketchers from Indonesia. You can find out our travel sketch journey on our Instagram @dluwangsoklat.