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

Drawing on Bridge Road, Richmond

Bridge Road in Richmond, Melbourne is such a nice place to sketch. It’s a busy street with power lines, trams, old buildings, and lots to cafes to sketch in. What more can one ask for!

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.

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.

Callan Park Fire Hydrant

Out sketching at this time of the year in Sydney, I'm always looking for a patch of shade. I went sketching at Callan Park recently under the shade of a big tree.

Callan Park is a large area of parkland that goes right down to the harbour. It is dotted with buildings, most of which are not in use. It was once Callan Park Hospital for the Insane. It has only been closed since 2008. Fortunately there is a very active group of local residents trying to keep the developers out.

To one side along the main road, there is some sort of emergency services base, where ambulances and fire engines are parked. All along the very quiet side street, there is a collection of old fire hydrants. I plan to draw them all.
I started a book of pipes nearly a year ago, and now it has a new drawing in it.

It's a long time since I've been able to go out sketching, but Saturday was the day to ease back into it.  We went to Darling Harbour near the Maritime Museum - one of my favourite spots. First we wandered round aimlessly deciding what to sketch. We tried going down near some of the smaller boats, but it proved to be a floating pontoon I stepped onto and the chop on the harbour nearly threw me off my feet.
Finally we just plonked down right where we were. There's something to see everywhere you look in that area. Strangely, right in front of us was this fire hydrant. With my fascination for sketching machinery, off I went.
It was a cloudy day - great sketching weather in fact. It was hot, so had the sun been out we would have been scrambling for shade.

A bit of colour in Sydney

Yesterday at our Sydney Sketchclub Meetup at the Australian National Maritime Museum we had such beautiful weather it was too nice a day to spend in a darkly lit museum drawing things in glass cabinets so I decided to sit outside and draw on the wharf.

Then afterwards I headed over to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. I needed some photo reference of the architecture and motifs for a project I’m working on, but I managed to do a few ink drawings while I was there too. 

35th Worldwide Sketchcrawl

Last Saturday I too was at Cockatoo Island. on the 35th Worldwide Sketchcrawl It was my fourth trip out there in three weeks and every time I go I see more things I want to sketch. Way back last year when we went to the Powerhouse Museum a few times I decided I wanted to draw pipes. I made myself a concertina book to fill with pipe drawings but there was nothing in it till now.

The morning was very foggy but it lifted in time for the ferries to be running and once out there it was a beautiful warm day. Most of these pipes were in the shadow of a cliff, and it can be very brisk out there on the harbour if there is a breeze. On Saturday though, it was just lovely.

There were about 30 sketchcrawlers, and although the island is not that big, people just disperse once you get off the ferry. We all met in the cafe for lunch at 12.30 and there were enough of us to pretty much take it over.  I had another very yummy BLAT. Very generous with fillings!

Australian War Memorial

On my last day in Canberra I visited the War Memorial. The last time I was here I ran out of time, so I gave it most of one day - but it still wasn't enough. My whole intention was to draw and tried to keep reading the descriptions for another visit, but it was too interesting and displayed so well that is was hard not to absorb whatever I could. I limited myself to 1-2 drawings per room, but I still only made it to the WWII exhibitions. How I wish there was an express bus from Sydney straight to the War Memorial every week.

I also loved the combination of my leaf green, Mustard and Iron Grey Inktense pencils and stuck with them through this visit. This first sketch, however, is with watercolour and indian ink.

Camping Mount Archer Qld Australia

Mount Archer is 90 minutes drive south west of Brisbane.  The mount is 604 metres high, and dominates the Mount Archer National Park.  The mount is named in honour of the Archer Brothers who explored the Fitzroy area, and it is part of the Darumbal Aboriginal people's traditional country.  I camped there this last weekend with my camping group.  At night and early morning, we were delighted with the raucous calls of the majestic Black Cockatoos..

We camped along Moores Creek, I think it was called, and it was delightful to hear the water rushing by at night.  We had one major thunderstorm on the Saturday night, to add to our excitement.  Everyone managed to stay dry..

A busy week

I found myself travelling all over Sydney these last couple of weeks, so I made some time to sketch.

I was on the North Shore heading to Mosman and had to wait for a connecting bus at Neutral Bay.

Then later that week I had to make a trip to Burwood. I wasn't catching a bus but waiting for a pest inspector to check out my uncle's house. We waited outside in the car as it rained, and the house happens to have a bus stop right outside it. The bugger didnt show up, but at least I got something out of it.

2012 Sketchbook

As mentioned in a previous entry I completed my first Urban Sketches book end of 2011. Well, I am happy to say I have made a good start on my new sketchbook. My theme is Scenes From A Bus Stop. Most will still be of Marrickville and the surrounding inner-city suburbs, but as I catch public transport quite regularly, there will be the odd other location in Sydney as well. I'm still sticking with the artline pen and waterbrush pen combination, as I quite like it. I've also decided to "square off" the scenes too. It keeps each page scene and looks neater.

I had to draw this Newtown scene over two days. The first day my bus came quite promptly, which is unusual for this route (370 - I'm always waiting forever). So I came back the second time as part of my exercise/walk. However, the second time was so much busier with so many cars and people it made me a little frenetic in my actions trying to finish the drawing at the same pace.
This was the return trip on the 370, and is what I'm use to, I had plenty of time to finish this sketch. I think these are fire hydrants.

International Sketchcrawl

It started out more of a sketch- swim with mother nature being the ultimate decider of where our drawing venue would be. Thankfully the Australian Museum is always a great venue, rain, hail or shine, and most of us splish splashed our way over there. And it was the first time I managed to check out the dinousaur exhibition, and I dont think it will be my last.

Hot, hot, hot, cold!

Spent the day with my family while my nephews are still on school holiday. We first went to see The Art of the Brick Lego exhibition at Sydney Town Hall. I managed to fit in some quick sketches while we were there, but its always hard when you're with others who aren't sketching too.We later headed back to my brother's place, and popped over to Maroubra Beach to throw a little frisbee. The ENTIRE week was sooo hot, but the day we went – it was so cold, and so freakin windy. People were flying kites and paragliding! But I was determined to do some sketching as I vary rarely visit the beach.

The last pages of 2011

In a very serendipitous (I never thought I'd ever get to use that word!) way, I finished my first Urban Sketches book on the last day of 2011. I must confess I could not use half the pages in the book as the waterbrushed ink soaked through to the other side. But I have a brand new sketchbook ready and waiting to be used for the new year, and it is definitely of a thicker stock.

However, I am in two minds of whether to keep on with the Marrickville/Inner West theme, as I also have other ideas – sketching from bus stops OR drawing all the discarded junk people leave out on the streets. I've seen some crazy stuff left on the kerbs. Any suggestions/opinions are welcomed...

Have a great 2012 people!!

Two Red Chairs

In Newtown there is the best button shop in all of Sydney - no contest. It is called All Buttons Great and Small and it opens at 10 am. On a Tuesday I have an 8.30 exercise class for an hour, so if I need a button, I have to have a coffee while I wait for the shop to open. That's what took me to Chill Cafe, when I did this drawing. The previous week I'd also been to Cafe C. where the cups were also white and boring, so I'd enjoyed drawing their red chair.

I had not had time to sketch the red chair at Chill Cafe, so, being in need of a button, I was back there and this time drew not only the different style of red chair there, but another the same as the one at Cafe C.

Transco building

This building is across the back lane and along at the corner. I can see the top of it from my courtyard. On Friday (a sunny day in the middle of winter) I was going to go up to the park to draw, but I saw my washing blowing about & thought I'd sit outside for a minute to see how cold it was. It was beautiful, so I decided to stay put and draw what I could see.

This building is inhabited by photographic studios and graphic artists. I walk past it up to King Street and notice it has several cameras mounted outside, watching our every move.