If you have been reading my weekly blog recently, you will have noticed that the focus has been on my East Melbourne Library Travel Sketchbook exhibition and the associated Sketchwalks.
We had clear crisp skies to start the Sketchwalks each day on Friday and Saturday and everyone had their warm layers on.
My two sketchwalks were wonderful experiences. Each day a group of 13 enthusiastic participants arrived and embraced the concept of travel sketching . After a short introduction to the watercolour pencils and the idea of travel sketching, we headed out into crisp winter East Melbourne day, drawing trees, leaves, houses, fences, signs and whatever else attracted each person. They only had 15 minutes at each of the three locations, so it was all about getting marks and an impression down on paper.
A giant orange crane working in the street attracted some people on the Friday. It was not there on Saturday, so those Friday sketchers had really captured the moment !
Saturday sketchers had the football fans walking past on the way up to the MCG , so some sketched the scarves and team colours.
I think that most people finished the day with a new way of thinking about travel sketching and eager to put their newly found skills into practice, 
Each day we headed back to into the warmth of East Melbourne Library to chat, share and look through some other examples of sketchbooks (my own and published books) that I had brought in.
They are not’ how to draw’ books, but rather show different people’s sketches and styles. I’ve put links if you are interested, I will often borrow a book from my local library before deciding to purchase it.
An Illustrated LIfe by Danny Gregory
Reportage and Documentary Drawing by Veronica Lawlor
London You’re Beautiful by David Gentleman
Taking a Line for a Walk by Christopher Lambert
Drawing Paris by David George Holm
Manchester Sketchbook by Manchester Sketchers
An Eye on the Hebrides by Marie Hedderwick
A great book to start drawing is Danny Gregory’s book Creative License . It will open your eyes to creativity and drawing. I return to it regularly to refocus and relearn.
Here are the links to my previous blogposts about the East Melbourne sketchwalks and my exhibition.
Preparing for a travel sketchwalk
Video of my East Melbourne Sketchbook
Happy sketching !