BRISBANE USkers Roundup of 2015

Written by co administrator Brett Danvers

Happy New Sketching Year from USk Brisbane.  

We have had a terrific year of sketching in 2015 and are looking forward to another in 2016.  Thanks to the enthusiasm and energy of our main organiser, J-J Bell, (Judy-Joy) we have had a sketch-out attended by as many as twenty sketchers almost every Tuesday and Saturday during the year, and members have also been encouraged to share their other sketches done outside of the organised meets on the Brisbane USkers FB Group.

The regular sketchers of USk Brisbane are varied group. We are lucky to have some professional artists and architects and talented amateurs, and an enthusiastic contingent of international university students.  We have also been fortunate to have some interstate and international sketchers come sketching with us in 2015.

Sketch-outs have been held in central Brisbane  and surrounding suburbs, and we have returned to some popular venues such as Southbank and Roma St Parklands a number of times.

An early highlight of the year was the history re-enactment weekend 'History Alive' at Fort Lytton, at the mouth of the Brisbane River, where we sketched  re-enacters in knightly costume; and it was amusing to see WW2 Axis and Allied soldiers having morning tea together.

One of our members was able to get permission from the Wesley Hospital to sketch the historic Moorlands House in the hospital grounds. 

We also had sketch-outs at the Korean Festival, the Scandanavian Festival and Doomben Race Day.  

We were also given a space to display our work at  the Bulimba Art Festival.

The 100 years of Qld Rail Celebrations and opening of the newly restored Platform 3 at Roma St Station, gave us the opportunity to sketch a historic rail-motor and the restored platform. While we were sketching we were observed by the manager of the platform restoration, this led to an offer to display some of our sketches at the station museum for the Brisbane Open House week.

Our last 'special' sketch-out was in December when we sketched Parliament House then met for a Christmas party at the historic Mansions restaurant,  where all sketchers brought a  gift wrapped sketch for a Secret Santa draw.  

It was a very good year.

Cheers Brisbane USkers team

Urban Sketchers Canberra first get together of the year.

The Urban Sketchers Canberra group had a great turnout yesterday. We met in the foyer of  Old Parliament House and greeted some new faces to the group. I had not anticipated such a wonderful turn out as we are a newish group, and in Canberra many people are still tied up with family or taking advantage of the holidays for a quick trip to the coast. I was totally delighted to see 17 sketchers arrive, sketch, share their work.

We were very lucky to be able to sit in the house of representatives and sketch to our hearts content, even using the desks the politicians had used for years. Although we could only use pencil (no wet media) I was pleasantly surprised as to how accessible such a historic building was. I will visit again as sitting in the same seats, and the same desks where so much of Australia’s history has been shaped made an impression on me.

After a couple of hours sketching we had a great lunch together at the Hoi Polloi cafe. Conversation was animated and enthusiastic - needless to say the dominating topics revolved around sketching.

The first Sunday of the month is the Urban Sketchers Canberra regular meeting day and of course people with all levels of skill are welcome. You can find out what is going on by visiting the Urban Sketchers Canberra  facebook page

Merry Christmas : QVB and Nativity @ St Mary Cathedral!

Thank you for visiting our posts this year. In Nov, I had a fall at steps in a hurry, when I delivered art work to a second solo exhibition, "People of Parramatta." I got two fractures in a left shoulder and a left wrist which required a surgery. I finally came back to an Urban Sketcher meeting this Dec and am on the mend. A few weeks ago, I bumped a sketcher at Queen Victoria Building in City. Fortunately, the street was closed for construction! No trafic! Another member's great idea, "Sadami, let's draw it now." We could not miss very the best opportunity to sketch the QVB from the front. 

It was wonderful to do it with the friend to lift myself up. The fractured shoulder was very painful though, we really enjoyed it. In all, I spent two days to finish it up. A complicated decoration fascinated me so much. Yet, it has harmony and rhythm like music that charms a sketcher. Many people talked to us. It was a great fun. The friend and I said, "We will sketch together more!" 

I also recently went to St Mary cathedral square to sketch a famous "life size nativity." It was so lovely to sketch the nativity for the first time that I had longerd for sketching in my life. That famous scene that Jesus was born had many symbolic animals, in my eyes. A donkey, a white dove (in a shepherd's hand) and sheep which has meanings and roles in Bible. I imagined... and a little bit changed statues -- Mary and Joseph are smiling at a little Jesus. Baby Jesus is smiling back to them.

Sketching has been a reward to relax myself, for I have submitted a story board of a picture book, whilst looking after the fractures. I'm getting better. Now, Publisher/Editor Helen Chamberlin and Mentor Ann James are on a holiday leave. Yey! I could find time to upload a post.  

If you're interested in my hectic(?!) life or a hilarious tragicomedy, come over, Sadami's Graffiti. We are having fun! 

Thank you for visiting and a strong support. Particularly, members cheers have encouraged me. I wish you 2016 will be a wonderful year. I hope that I will post like before and behave a good girl in 2016. 

Friends, Happy Painting, but have a nice vacation! Don't hurry, even on the way to your own exhibition. Show me your beautiful smiling in 2016!