Parramatta Changing Into Australia's Great City

Hi, Friends, I'm sketching architectures to show changing Parramatta in both black and white and colours. The development plan will transform Parramatta into Australia's great city in commercial, cultural, medical and social phases. You can check the info here, "Parramatta Major Development." Parramatta interests me by her strong contrasts : historical vs modern, chaotic vs neat, back streets vs promenades. European settlers marked a first step on Parramatta. Already, this city has become the CBD that has collected Departments of NSW State Government, Court etc as well as City in Sydney ( = Gov Depts often have dual addresses equally in City and Parramatta). The function of Parramatta is increasing.

St John's Anglican Church and Parish (*All work size is A4)  

A restaurant on Church St called "Eat Street" 

In order to enhance Parramatta's function and upgrade the quality of life, reconstruction and refurbishment has started. In the very near future, sky high towers will stand in Parramatta : Western Sydney University, Cumberland Newspaper/News Ltd Site (Media Centre), Westmead Medical Research Hub, a shopping centre etc, etc. The new huge car parks are ongoing that I sketched. 

Also, Parramatta CBD is culturally rich to have over 180 restaurants, cafes, eateries and bars that have the most exotic cuisines from around the world. Especially, Church St is called "Eat street." It has many yummy restaurants on both sides. I sketched the Italian restaurant from the opposite side, near to a traffic light (the second image). Thank you for the ice cream shop staff. They respected me and turned a blind eye for my sketching...and gave me "Wow!"

Unlike my figures with graphite, my architecture takes time. It's not a loose style. Regarding colours, I'm playing with them, whilst sticking to reality at the moment. I want more time to explore my own watercolour style in architecture. My current figurative drawing and loose painting has taken years to develop from a traditional classic style. Or I may stay with this accurate drawing in architecture? So far, I feel comfortable and it's fun. See how it goes.

Back to the topic. Parramatta is going to be the great city. I want to explore this city more. Dynamically and dramatically, Parramatta is dressing up herself! I look forward to what sort of lady will come up. 
Btw, often my sketching puzzles people walking by on streets. They talk to me, "You're drawing!" with surprise. Maybe, my drawing is mismatching to a restaurant or a car park or a construction site?! I believe an artist is a person who has the eye to discover the beauty in ordinary objects. An object will turn to be a subject and begin to shine. We, artists pick up a gem from mud.

Did you enjoy my architecture? Any feedback is welcome. If you like, I'll post architectural drawings more, picking up an interesting topic from time to time. Local shops and Parramatta Heritage Centre welcome my sketching. Passer-bys cheer me up. They are very nice and supportive ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ. Thank you!!
Btw, some Friends may say, "Hey, Sadami, you've hated architecture?" Well, here's a bit funny story how I cured the dislike with these architectural paintings between editor Helen Chamberlin, Australian celebration and me and my tips how to sketch architecture. If you like to read on it, come over my blog post, "My dislike of architecture cured by Parramatta sketches" at "Sadami's Graffiti".

Friends, Happy Painting! 

Bibliography
Parramatta Council (2015) "Building Australia's Next Great City-- Changes Ahead,"
http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/your_council/news/changes_ahead
Parramatta Council (2014) "Parramatta Major Development" 
http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/work/economic_development/major_developments

USK Melbourne. Fitzroy Gardens

Saturday 14 March .

Over FORTY sketchers met on a beautiful day (more like Spring than Autumn) at Fitzroy Gardens, near the city. The majority of sketchers spread out in groups around Cooks Cottage . This is a little unusual as we usually each head out in different direction, sketch for a few hours and then meet up again just before lunch, So to see so many sketchers in one place was great ! And the tourists thought it was too - taking photos of us, and chatting.

the object of our attention : Cooks Cottage

Cooks Cottage is in Fitzroy Gardens, It is on the List of things to do in Melbourne" for tourists  and the buses drop them off to spend time in the Gardens and explore the features. UK 1740's cottage lived in by Captain James Cook's parents (and maybe by him but perhaps he just visited them there ) . It was dismantled and shipped to Australia for Victoria's anniversary in 1934.

Sketchers and tourists taking photos at the end of the mornings sketching . Photo Jodi Wiley 

Twenty or more different versions of  Cooks Cottage, each with its own different interpretation emphasis and style. This is the joy of sketching in a group: to see that there is no right answer and everyone is different. It is also a chance to learn from others an ask about paints, pens, techniques...

Urban Sketchers Sydney at Five Ways Paddington

On Saturday 7 March about 30 sketchers meet up at the Five Ways intersection in Paddington for a great morning of sketching.

There was so much to sketch and for a bit of fun, we added an optional challenge of "five ways at Five ways".


No matter which direction you looked, you could see urban sketchers in action!


As always, there was an impressive collection of sketches done during the morning.

Here are few:

Chris


Ethna
I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to do 5 sketches, so I did 5 thumbnails, and then focused on one corner cafe for the sketch. It was a good way to record the experience of sketching in this unique location at Five Ways, Paddington.


Chantal
Gusto – my first sketch. I was trying to think as much about maintaining a focal point as possible using the darkness inside the doorway for this, but then also wanted to give the feel of the liveliness and the warm weather which is why I extended out to the people on the sidewalk as well.
Lady and her dog – again all the outside dining in the area gives the place a lovely vibe and people with their dogs seems to add an air of friendliness and that it’s a locals spot to walk from home with their dog and have a coffee. I was also looking to have a break from drawing lines at this stage and just play with colours and shapes and paint.


Jane


Nancy
This is Gusto Cafe at Five Ways.  The diners were what attracted me to this scene.  The pole was a bonus!


Diane


Liz
I wanted to sketch the view from each of the five corners and knew that in the time frame it would be impossible to use my normal ink and wash. So I left my paint tin in my bag and just used my pen instead.  I managed a 6th sketch while waiting for my takeaway coffee. To see all the sketches larger please visit my blog here


Next month's USK SYD meeting:
Saturday 11th  April The plan is to do a sketch walk around the recently opened Gehry building at UTS (Dr Chau Chak Wing Building) and the vertical gardens at Sydney's One Central Park.
Please email Liz lizsteel(at) gmail (dot) com to join the mailing list for details.