Hello 

There is no blog post this week as I have been busy packing.

Back next week with a Melbourne Rare Book Week update,

Happy sketching

Yesterday was Courts Open Day in Melbourne, as part of Law Week. It is a day when all of the courts in the Courts precinct  open their doors to let you see behind the scenes. It included talks and tours. 

I arrived early and sketched for about 20 minutes outside the Supreme Court  before going into work in the Library. The Supreme Court is the highest court in Victoria, and this building was opened in 1884.  The heritage-listed building is a wonderful example of the classical Renaissance Revival style on a grand and imposing scale. 

Photography is not allowed in the courts (apart from the library.) and the court rooms are usually only open when a court case is in session.  So today provided me with an opportunity  to sketch inside a courtroom, as this is not allowed when a trial is on. Last year I met a court sketcher who explained that the court sketchers were employed by the media organisations, not the courts .Her sketches of people in court were amazing, capturing character and features in such detail. 

Court Four – an overview of the room (yes, the walls are a pale pink) and a close up of a turned wooden feature. It was hard to capture the size of the elaborate architecture and features. Court 4 is the original central criminal court. It was the venue for the first sitting  in this building in 1884. Court 4 remains the venue for many of the state’s murder trials.

Banco Court  – just a small part of the judicial bench. I was not sure where to begin with in both of these rooms and could have planned my page a lot better. This court has elaborately moulded plaster in its ceiling and upper walls, and marvellously fitted joinery in the furniture of the room – the The Judicial Bench, the jury box, etc

I also had the opportunity during the week to draw the Judicial wig and wig tin of Justice John Barry. 

I have spent time in the  past drawing with my watercolour pencils in the library and then (from photos outside of the courts) the Dome, windows and doors of the Supreme Court of Victoria, I have had them printed as greeting cards and they are available for purchase on my ETSY online store .

It is Mothers’ Day today and (after asking permission from Mum) I am posting some  of my drawings of my mum. You would think that after looking at someone all of my life I would be able to draw her, but no, I still cannot capture that essence. 

Happy Mothers’ Day  to all mothers out there and in memory of all mothers.   

My sketches of mum have been done in the last few years and have usually been done when she is visiting or while we are on holidays. I am so very fortunate have my healthy and happy mum in my life and that she has always been there for me. 

This has almost captured her ! It was drawn from a photo. But there was so much use of the eraser to get to this.

(Mother’s Day – where does that apostrophe go ??, there are so many opinions, but it is the reason of the day that is important)