Drawing in Dad’s shed

I originally published this blog in January 2014. It is now September 2017 and Fathers Day in Australia. I though that I would share it again. These memories are timeless. 

 

I have a yearly visit home to Toowoomba (in Queensland) from Sydney at Christmas. It is a week or two catching up with friends and family and falling into a familiar routine. This usually includes de-cluttering cupboards and being highly distracted by childhood memories.

It also involves re-exploring my Dad’s workshed in the backyard. It is a step into the past. Dad died in 1987 and although much of the larger machinery and tools are gone, it still has shelves and cupboards of work tools and bit and pieces. Dad was a panel beater by trade and a handyman, inventor the rest of the time . He seemed to have every possible item to fix, nail, screw, clip, polish, cut, drill … The tools are stored in specially labelled  containers and drawers or hanging up above the workbench, on the wall. Most of these items are still there and have not been moved

So much of this is part of my childhood

01Jan12 the Shed
drawn in 2012

This year I decided to draw some more of it. These are all done in watercolour pencil and Lamy Safari Joy ink pen. If a clean out is ever done (hopefully this year) it may not be there next time I visit.

 
 
 
I stood in front of a wall and started drawing the tools and containers. I decided to add the colour to the (old Dixibelle margarine containers circa 1970).
 

 

 

 
 
I then drew the wall above the main workbench, over two pages. I was not sure where/if to add colour to the page. I do not need any of them in my life in Sydney, but wanted a memory. That gave me the idea to draw some of the tools on the page. I chose a few and bought them up to the house and drew they over two days.

 

This is what I did New Years Eve !  (wire strippers and washers)

 

a G-Clamp and pop rivets
 
 
This is what our dining table looked like New Years Eve – a drawing in progress 
 
 
 I have no idea what many of these objects are and the labels are a mystery. It was the job of my brother & I (and Mum to ) to sort through and to separate buckets of nuts and bolts ! I did not inherit my Dad’s mechanical and technical nature, although he also had a creative side (woodturning and pottery). This is not the first year I have drawn tools from the shed. Previous Christmas visits have also provided opportunities. I think I am done now.
 
 

05Dec10 Drawing from the shed 1 of 4050110 20f 4 shed drawing 050110 3 of 4 shed drawing 31Dec10 spirit level from the shed pt 1 31Dec10 spirit level from the shed pt 2 1 and 2 Jan11 drill attachments from the shed pt 2 1 and 2 jan11 drill attachments from the shed pt 1

6 thoughts on “Drawing in Dad’s shed”

  1. lee kline

    Lovely. You have created the Museum of Dad! I am so touched by how you have chosen to honor your Dad.. His shed looks exactly like my Dad’s shed in St. Petersburg, FL. Mine died in 1990 at the age of 89 and I still miss him.

  2. MILLY

    Best wishes for 2014 Alissa.
    Your drawings of the tools are a wonderful way to remember your Dad. You have recorded a wonderful collection and all wrapped up with memories of your childhood. Indeed something very personal so thank you for sharing.
    Hope you have a great year, I look forward to seeing your sketches and journals.

  3. Sue Pownall

    wow what a source and collection of sketches. I especially like the wire strippers and G clamp for their dirty fingerprints/rusty quality.

    Happy New Year.

    See you in Brazil?

  4. Alissa Duke

    Thanks Lee. I think that you are right – this is the “Museum of Dad” (ha ha) so many people have commented that it is just like their Dads shed. I had such an enjoyable time drawing these objects and they are trigger for my wonderful memories. Hopefully the shed is being cleared out this year and this was my chance to have one last explore.

  6. Alissa Duke

    Thanks Sue. I must confess that I did not know that they were Wire Strippers until I read the label when I drew them. I have no need for them in my life, but they were always hanging up on the wall above the workbench. So many of the tools are rusty now …

    Alas , no Brazil Urban Sketching for me.

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