The BIG Draw in Melbourne

On 4 January, a bunch of sketchers from Melbourne came to participate in the BIG Draw event. It was an initiative apart of Melbourne Now (watch this video to see what its about) organized by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

There were around 70-80 sketchers at the event in Fed Square. Lots of the public came to have a sneaky peak over shoulders and see what we were doing and some were even adventurous enough to join in.  We enjoyed sitting out on deck chairs and sprawled across the stage with sketchbooks and clipboards (for the public) in hand. It was a good vantage point with lots to draw (including Flinders St Station, St Paul's, Fed Square and of course other sketchers etc). 

It was a little overwhelming but exciting seeing some of our previous urban sketches showing on the big screen, and they captured some footage of the event for a TV spot (which I never saw as we were still out sketching that night). All in all it was a great day to meet fellow sketchers and introduce the public to the wonderful world of urban sketching. 

 #melbournenow #urbansketchers #fedsquare

The Lightship Carpentaria

Just realised I forgot to post my sketch from the National Maritime Museum a couple of weeks ago. I love this ship. It is a lightship. Trivia: a lightship's birthday is the anniversary of the day the light was first turned on. This one was on duty on the Queensland coast for many years, and now is at Darling Harbour. It is the brightest of bright vermilions. It is one of those things I like to draw at least once a year. My waterbrush was playing up and flooding the paper at times. A warning to me to take a new one on my travels.
I drew this back in 2010, as seen here, with the light falling on it in different ways.  Then I turned one of the sketches into a solar plate etching which (so far) I have printed in two different colours.

I am always happy to draw this little ship. It has such a strange barrel-like shape that it is always a challenge.

Drumming in Abu Dhabi

In February I was given the exciting opportunity to travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to play with TaikOz. Most of the time we had rehearsals and the actual performances. But I managed to sketch inbetween everything and in the afternoons when we had time to ourselves. Here is a selection of my sketches, if you would like to see the rest please click on this link to my blog post.

Cheers,
Meegan.

Industrial Precinct at Cockatoo Island

The sky was dark when I got to Cockatoo Island. Rather than start sketching outside and getting rained on before I finished, I headed straight for the Industrial Precinct. I had been longing to go back there to sketch for a long time, so I was happy.

Soon afterwards  all other sound was drowned out by the noise of the rain on the roof. The other sketchers soon came pouring in.

I wish I could say I knew what these machines were for, but I don't. I do thank Cockatoo Island for rearranging things so it is possible to get right up to each machine, rather than back behind a fence, as previously.

There is so much to sketch there inside the buildings. I can't wait to go back.

We had lunch on the island and caught the ferry back to the city. We got drowned waiting to board the ferry, as we hadn't realised how many intrepid passengers would be coming off the ferry  to visit the island in such rain.   

Lamy Safari pen and Prismacolour pencils in handmade book of toned papers.

Trip to the South Coast

This is the view from the RSL Club (Returned Services) in the main street of Huskisson on the South Coast of New South Wales. The club is total waterfront with the most amazing view. Our first evening there, we went in to see if they would allow us admittance which they kindly did. There is a small narrow lounge along the water side of the club. For the next two evenings we went back with our sketchbooks in our hands (and a glass of wine also).

I was using my Stillman and Birn Delta Series sketchbook for the first time on that trip and I was delighted with it. The paper is robust and the book is robust. The wind comes up in the afternoons in Huskisson and because the book is spiral bound I could fold it back on itself and hold it firmly. The first sketch has watercolour underpainting and was done with Lamy Safari pen.


This sketch was underpainted with watercolour, then I used a Derwent Sketching pencil and a waterbrush. I think pen works better, because of the added contrast. An unexpected side effect was that my Noodlers Ink dried instantaneously on the Delta Series paper. Now that's a bonus.

My third sketch of Hyams Beach only sneaks in as 'urban' by the skin of it's teeth, because that is the Australian Naval College there in the distance.

Rozelle Bay

This is the first page of my new sketchbook made of toned papers  and it now has my name and contact details in case the book is lost. The composition with the tall chimneys was perfect for the title page, as it forced me to leave quite a lot of blank space. The chimneys belong to White Bay Power Station, sketched there  from the other side on an Open Day.
This sketch is done from Bicentennial Park near the end of Glebe Point Road. It was very hot, but we found a breezy spot on the point under the shade of a big Moreton Bay fig tree.That's the tree on the right in the Bicentennial Park photo.
Lunch followed at Glebe Deli Cafe, where we've been before and can very much recommend the spicy fish. That's why we went back.