Monthly Archives: March 2018

Weekend sketching extremes

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This weekend was full of variety, in both experiences and sketching subjects.

Saturday

Yesterday I held my second 2018 Travel Sketching class with Melbourne Library Service.

Last Saturday I took my own group out on a Travel Sketching walk through East Melbourne in perfect weather and we sat on nature strips in in the centre of the road to sketch. This weekend I woke early to the following rain radar (below) over Melbourne and the heavy clouds in the sky.

Thankfully, by 1pm the steady rain cleared, although the class of nine started the walk from under the East Melbourne Library entrance, sheltered from a bit of rain.

After 20 minutes we walked up the block to the next shelter of East Melbourne Cellars for another 20 minute stop to sketch whatever attracted each person.

I spend the first 20 minutes of the class introducing everyone to watercolour pencils, the waterbrush and paper. From then we walk three blocks and back again, arriving back for coffee, biscuits and discussion. Once again everyone grasped and enjoyed the concept of travel sketching and capturing the essence of what they see in just a short amount of time.

I can say that I had my youngest class attendee, at nine days old ! He was there with his dad carrying this little bundle and his mum sketching, as well as visiting sketching grandparents from Canada. Everyone who comes along is keen on learning.

Sunday

On Sunday I had extremes of subject matter in my drawings. I worked on two fun commissions – a gothic theme – this is inspired by the raven from Edgar Allan Poe. This page is a draft version.

I alternated between the black page of the raven on A3 paper to the prettiness of a lacy pink parasol drawn in a paperback book.

Happy sketching everyone!

Travel Sketchwalk in East Melbourne

Today I ran my own Travel Sketching session for East Melbourne residents. For the first time, I organised the room, bought the sketch kits and emailed potential interested locals.

The day was the same format as the sessions I have with my Melbourne Library Service Travel Sketching classes. But this time people purchased the sketch kits to keep.

Faber Castell “Red Range” Watercolour pencils 12 pack
Pentel Aquash Medium Waterbrush
Draw and Wash Pad 210 gsm A5 sketchbook
Micron waterproof ink pen 04
Travel Sketching Hints and Tips sheet

The weather was beautiful as we walked a few blocks, stopping for 20 minutes at three places to sketch whatever attracted each person. Sometime it was the feature of a building such as a lamp or window, or the whole building or the phone lines.

Everyone ‘got’ the concept of Travel Sketching and captured some amazing lines and colour on the page in just two hours. I was so inspired by their enthusiasm.

We hope to meet up again to sketch. I also plan to continue to grow the Travel Sketching sessions in East Melbourne and broader Melbourne. Today was a great positive experience and the comments from everyone who was there were so positive, They all had fun and were so happy to be introduced to the potential of travel sketching and using watercolour pencils. !!

Email me through the website if you would like to be on the mailing list for future Travel Sketching sessions.

Lost Trades Fair 2018

It is the weekend of the Lost Trades Fair at Kyneton, an hour or so from Melbourne.

Lost Trades “celebrates the art of skilled manual work,ancient crafts and rare trades,..These trades and the incredible artisans and real makers who continue to pursue these trades as a career deserve a platform to showcase their skills, incredible craftsmanship and share their knowledge.”

Lost Trades was founded in 2011 and has over 15000 visitors through the gates over two days . There are over 120 stall of fascinating trades and amazing artisan, all passionate about their skill and happy to share it.

I stopped and sketched at a few stalls and listened to the demonstrations and the audience questions.

After the first warm up sketch, I decided to sketch with my Lamy Safari ink pen and then add colour to the tools or craft or sometimes the maker. All done on location. I also decided not to continue the sketch when I got home. I am interested in capturing what I did on the spot.

I will however, look up the details of the person and their trade and add that information to the page. I am interested in knowing what I sketched.

This is my third (or fourth) visit and I will be back !.

Next year I will stay overnight in Kyneton and go to the Lost Trades Fair on the two days.

My burger at Lost Trades Fair

Lost Trades Fair 2015 Part 1

Lost Trades Fair 2015 Part 2

Local house sketch – commission

I am very happy to be able to reveal a recent drawing commission that I have just completed. It was given as a birthday gift and now that the birthday has passed I am excited to share the final drawing and my ‘work in progress’ photographs.

It is a local East Melbourne house built in 1890. East Melbourne has a long history and a wide variety of architectural styles, all with great character.

It was completed over three weeks in the evenings and on weekends. I took about 50 photos and visited three times to take those photos. The last visit was to photograph some details and get colours right. Although it was on portrait size paper, I drew in a square as the house fitted in that shape , I decided early on not to include a sky .

The watercolour pencil drawing was done on A3 watercolour paper (about 210 gsm weight).

This blog post shows it as a work in progress. I remembered to take photographs on my ipad and phone along the way. I wish that I had decided to purchase an A3 (instead of A4) photocopier/scanner when I purchased a new one only a few months ago.

The first few sketches were on A3 photocopy paper. I was trying to figure out how big to draw the house on the page and what to include.

I started with the outline and then built up the easiest blocks of colour.

The owner suggested to add the crab apple tree in flower and nastursiums peaking through the white fence. These additions really give it a lot of a balance and interest, They are also a true reflection of the house in its many seasons.

It was wonderful challenge. I have only done a few drawing commissions and this was slightly larger than my usual drawing in my sketchbook. The larger drawing allowed me to focus in on some interesting detail and character of the house.