Open House (Melbourne USK)

Every year Open House in Melbourne allows the public to see buildings that you otherwise might not have the chance. They even have a ballot to get into the most exclusive ones. For alot of they have limits of the group size and long lines. We managed to find a treasure in St Patricks Cathedral. It was warm, with beautiful lighting and lots of seats. Then we went to the Old Treasury building (you can access throughout the year). We found little hidey holes or lent against the walls.  

 

The inside is really amazing with the soft lighting and pillars.

Melbourne USK visit the Royal Arcade

As you can see we were rugged up for Melbourne winter weather to sketch the Royal Arcade which is on Bourke Street in the CBD. Some of managed to sketch outside for an hour or so before finding refuge from the chill inside the arcade. The Royal Arcade is Victorian heritage and one of the draw cards is the giant clock which has two giant statues Gog and Magog either side.

We had a good day, enjoying a hot chocolate (at chokolait) and then followed with some lunch and more sketching at one of my favourite cafes in Melbourne. The Little Mule is hidden cafe down an alleyway. They service and sell bikes so they have things hanging off the wall and the staff are a treat. They hold classes there during the week (Laneway Learning).

Lots to learn from the Expressive Urban Sketching Workshop

Last weekend was my first opportunity to experience an official Urban Sketching Workshop. I had brought with me some hopes of enjoying the energy and creativity Liz Steel has often spoken of in relation to past USK Symposiums. The workshop turned out what I had hoped for and more. Paul Wang and Liz taught with ease, managed the group of 25 superbly and ensured we all had a great time and challenged ourselves with the variety of concepts they presented.

Cockatoo Island is the host of many old and rusting structures, preserved on the island for the enjoyment of the public and to display the history of the area. Through demonstration and exercises Liz and Paul guided us with new materials, mark making and creating a focal point. We then had ample time to put these skills and media to use with urban sketching on the island.

 

Having a second consecutive day with the workshop really helped to consolidate what we were being taught. I have fallen in love with this Daniel Smith Green Apatite which is part of Paul Wang's selected palette. There is a texture of dark flecks that appear once the wash starts to dry as well as a variation in the green that results.

 

I enjoyed the 2 days and would not hesitate to repeat the process. It's helped to free up my ideas of how materials can be used and unlock opportunities for further exploration. There were moments when I looked at my work and wondered what was I doing, where was I heading - feeling overwhelmed and exhausted! Some time ago I would have stopped at those moments for fear of heading in the wrong direction with my results, but having good teachers who I have a lot of confidence in encourages me. Its part of the process of moving onward with my sketching.