More from Rookwood

I dont know what it is about cemeteries that I enjoy drawing but Rookwood has always been on my checklist of places to draw, so when the Sydney Sketch Club headed out for its Open Day I thought it was a great opportunity.

Although I never managed to actually meet up with the other sketchers (due to my inability of reading maps and understanding bus shuttle services) I headed up to the older Anglican section. Many of the graves in this area dated around the early 1900s and many seem to be neglected, which from an artistic point of view, is appealing.

As sad as it may be, some of the graves I saw had flowering trees growing from it which I thought was really heartwarming, and the weather was so perfect it was really peaceful and pleasant sketching away from all the noise. I couldn't think of a more idyllic location.

The last place I visited seemed to be an area dedicated to fallen Australian soldiers with a simple, but striking memorial called The Crown of Thorns. It goes to show how big Rookwood is, I used to come quite regularly with my family, as part of my culture's customs, but I never knew of this area.

The deceased are just as interesting as the living.

Trying to mix Australian greens

After the initial buzz with markers, the challenge has now started to get more realistic colours without buying more colours. There is a huge range of colours in copic markers but I trying to limit what I carry around to between 15-20. Australian greens are NOT standard bright greens, are they, so the best way is always to mix. You can see where I have been mixing colours done the side.

Btw shocking changes this week.... I have taken my watercolour kit out of my bag (still have them with me in the car) and I am using a a4 size sketchbook with even thinner paper than the Canson universal book. This is in fact a moleskine cahier ( the thin paper). It is a strange feeling not to have my watercolours with me but I am having a little break from them and also from long sketching sessions – markers are quicker as there is no drying time. This was a quick 10-15min sketch this morning before work....I know I have done this view before!!!!

You can see how are using my markers in a plastic clip lock bag very conveninet in my front pocket of my bag.... By the way, I would love to see what everyone is using in their kit these days...(a photo is fine but it is more fun to draw it!!!)

Rookwood Cemetery Open Day for Family Fun

Hi, Friends, have you ever played around in a huge cemetery~(*o*)~ ? 
Yes, we had a plenty of BOUNCING living souls on the grave yardʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ !! We, Sydney sketch club enjoyed "Rookwood Cemetery open day".
Well, this post is orginally at my own blog, Sadami's Graffiti. In the feedback, readers tell sensation, interest, freshness and, furthermore, great fun in this event! (*if you like, have a read of comments in my blog. Quite interesting!) 
So, I'll share this with you! Here we go!
             

The event includes a parade, a bus tour, heritage tours, birc-a-brac, grave digging demonstrations, entertainment, etc. All money raised, goes towards restoration projects within the Cemetery.
In the parade, a horse-drawn hearse carrying a coffin interested me most. Wow, gorgeous. The driver and people around me had fun together. (*all my sketches are A4.) 

There, the most cute and lovely character was this old bicycle riding gentleman with a lorikeet! Isn't he charming? The kind gentleman invited me for riding. (*I should have tried it!)  
I played up the guy's personality in the sketches. Other people around me said, "It's him! It's him!" Ahahahaha!

Also, white doves were released twice. May peace be on people and the earth. 

Traditional dancing was a very much fun. All the people were in retro costumes.The mood and movements fascinated me very much. This group members and I enjoyed a long chat.

Sketching always gives fresh ideas for illustration. Bald and brave. Light brush strokes in a quick movement make interesting references.

When the event was over, I sketched the cemetery. 
"How to live each moment," is my concern. I tell myself, "Everyday is my birthday!"

Friends, Happy Painting! 
Enjoy sketching!! 

Sydney Inkorporated

That's such a terrible heading... Anyway, apologies for not having contributed in awhile I have been holding off until I got my own blog sorted out.

After my success at Cockatoo Island I was keen to test it out some more - making sure it wasn't a fluke. I had  a quiet week so decided to head out around Sydney. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great - I think I had one or two days free of rain, but it was quite satisfying and am dying to get outdoors again.

St Stephens Cemetery, Newtown

National Maritime Museum

Macquarie Street

Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens

Dixon Street, Chinatown

If anyone would like to see more of my colour inks please visit my blog scratchyas.com  Cheers!

Old Houses & Cemetery in Parramatta

Hi, Friends, how have you been?
Well, as I promised you, I'm challenging architecture in 2012.
Let's explore old houses in Parramatta. Parramatta has an old history in both Indigenous Australians and colonialism. Parramatta originally comes from the Aboriginal word Baramada or Burramatta, "the place where the eels lie down" or "head of waters." The Burramatta people (Burra meaning place, matta meaning eels) belonged to the Dharug people. So, Parra has so many historical and old architectures.

Let's sketch "ordinary" people's houses.
Below, the decorated roof is very interesting. Who started decoration? Rich guys? It stimulates imagination.
The green roof and red bricks make a very charming colour harmony is

Below. A lusted roof are so eye catchy. Too beautiful to miss it. The contrast between green and white is lovely. Technically, making rust on paper was really fun. 

Now, very different, but essential part for a house...
Ohhh, loo, my sweet loo... Today, this bathroom is used for a storage. Hey, it has a great, great character.

 Below, another essential place for a society, a cemetery.
St Patrick's Cemetery. Tomb stones tell the history from about 1820s. Oh...under a shower of cicadas signings, tombs talk to a passenger silently. Quiet.
Actually, light rain drops gave the sketch a lovely spitting technique.

Did you enjoy my archtecture sketches?
I seem to get tips to handle buildings. I do not play with colours like my portraits (below sketch at a cafe). But celebrate small achievements.
Step by step, one goes far! Friends, Happy Painting!!

Newtown at night

A local church & cemetery which is popular with artists, goths and the like.
In the adjoining hall, friends were performing a small rehearsal concert before they headed off to compete in Japan. Good luck guys!

A quick 10 min lunchtime sketch

110624 10 min lunchtime sketch, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

there is something nice and comfy about sketching the smae view over and over again... also NICE was sitting in the sun today! The middle of winter and it was 19C in the sun today at 130pm! BEAUTIFUL!!

St Thomas Rest Park, Crows Nest.