USKSYD Smoked out at Milsons Point!

Today we met at Milsons Point on a day when the smoke from bushfires (and back burning) in the surrounding areas of Sydney) had a big impact on the air quality and also our ability to see the subject that we were sketching!

A group sketches meet - some sketched the harbour views and some sketched Luna Park- I did a bit of both.

I started with the entrance to Luna Park which has a special moustache as part of Movember.

I then tackled the Opera House... seems I can't come to Milsons Point without doing a sketch of the most iconic building in Sydney.

I am currently using the new zeta sketchbook from Stillman and Birn which is a beautiful smooth paper and is SO lovely to use with ink. So I thought it was a good excuse to get some of my non-lamy fountain pens out and test them. My hero and sailor pens aren't flowing so well for me so the smooth paper really helps. I love mixing it up and trying new stuff out!

Another enjoyable USKSYD event - next month Dec 7 at Cockatoo Island again! More details soon.

A solo effort for the sketchcrawl

International Sketchcrawl day....Needing a quiet day rather than the buzz of being out with the Sydney gang (expecting over 25 sketchers at Darling Harbour) so I had a lovely day (so far- it is 3pm) at home with a little visit to T2 teahouse!



And here is my quick (out and about) sketch last night after work. first friday of our summer time (even though snowy up in the blue mountains) but I made the most of the extra our of sun light...
yes ho hum, I am sketching the same old view yet again!


Hope everyone had a good day today- looking forward to seeing what you did!

Luna Park - Just for Fun

After all the amazing weather we have been having lately it was a shock to the system to be freezing cold (speaking like a Sydneysider) and wet this evening.... Just when a few of us decided to meet at Luna Park for an hour or so of sketching. Thankfully we were able to kinda shelter in the ferry wharf and have some light as well. Night sketching is not something that I do regularly so a nice challenge....and the paper in my Canson Universal Art book is holding up very well considering it is only 96gsm. But my hands were going numb while I was doing this...feeling me with admiration of those who go out sketching in truly cold winter weather. It was very nice to meet Nono – it is a real privilege to have a member from the amazing Malaga Urban Sketchers group with us for a year! Welcome Nono! I was very impressed that the others all stuck with it as well, Meegan, David, Chris. Thanks all for a crazy hour of sketching!!! Please excuse the terrible photos... my hands very shaking!

More Friday night sketching at Milsons Point

I went to my ‘ordinary’ (understatement!!!) Friday afternoon sketching venue. I don’t think I will EVER get over how special the view from Milson’s Point is!!!!



Started of with the usual view....



...then thought I should sketch the bridge (I normally chicken out from attempting this level of complexity)

....and then more of the bridge.



Time to go... And then excitement as a cruise ship left... Always gives me a lovely holiday feeling.
Having fun adding text and solid colour to a very quick sketch attempted with a pen that was NOT cooperating.

A great way to start the long weekend

I left work at 5.30 and realised what a lovely evening it was how light it still was so I drove down to Milsons Point for a quick sketch to start the weekend.

It is so obvious to sketch the Opera House but I never get sick of drawing it plus it makes me feel like I am on holidays (a tourist in my own city!)

What did strike me tonight was HOW much else there is to sketch down here...Luna Park, rides AND people etc. I think I will try and make this a regular habit.

Only need to be down here for 1-2 hours - ahhh nothing beats getting out for some sketching!!!!