The first week of 2019 is over and life is almost back to normal routine, I started back at work, and returned to sketching my usual topics.
Treasury Gardens
I am fortunate to walk through two parks on my walk to work in Melbourne city. I choose to regularly sketch these topics on the way to work because:
- I enjoy drawing them. I never tire of drawing the ducks in the gardens or the trunk and roots of Moreton Bag figs.
- they are quick and easy sketches. I start the day in a good state of mind, having accomplished something already. They are quick and easy because I am so familiar with them.
- I spend 10 or 15 minutes in the peace and calm and green of the gardens. I breathe in the fresh air. By looking at nature closely I am always amazed by it.
Supreme Court of Victoria
I work in the Library under the Dome. Sometimes I arrive early and sit and sketch the Dome. I draw this semi- regularly (not as often as the ducks and the trees) and have become familiar with how to measure the curve of the dome, the height of the columns etc. I measure using comparative distances . Your brain tells you this is a huge dome on top of the building, but when you look from most angles, it isn’t. I look at it and see that, in centre, two of the “green part” of the dome fits into the height of the columns. This measuring is automatic and practice on this dome has assisted when I have sketched domes in other cites and countries. I hope it help when I visit Brisbane next weekend and sketch Customs House with Brisbane Urban Sketchers at Riverside. If you are in Brisbane – lets sketch together see details.
I have also drawn this building and its architectural features on Greeting cards that are available for purchase on my ETSY store online.
Food
The first drawing was completed at home after afternoon tea, as I took some of the food home. The drawing was completed that evening. The second drawing is a Birthday card that I drew for a friend. It is a compilation of about 10 different images I located online and also my own idea that I had in mind when I began.
And finally – catching up with friends. A wonderful way to start the year was to sit up on a rooftop bar in Melbourne and toast the New Years with a glass of bubbly. I know I wanted to draw the skyline, so my non-sketching friend kindly agreed to sit at a table with a view, even though it was a bit cooler. It was 21 degrees in Melbourne and a bit grey and damp (compared to 42 the day before).
I hope that you all have a happy Sketchy 2019
Wow, you haven’t wasted a moment! What a beautiful start to 2019! So many sketches done, how wonderful. I’ve been following you for some time but haven’t taken the time to comment, my apologies.Last night I picked up Cathy Johnson’s book again, “Artist’s Journal Workshop” looking for inspiration on how to better compose/lay out my very amateur sketches and I came across your work again in her book and thought, yes, I need to go back to your blog and really “look” at your work . And lo and behold, woke up this morning (South Africa), and there was your blog post in my feed. So I am now going to take a bit more time browsing through your inspirational work.
Hi Brenda – Thanks – Lovely to ‘meet’ you . I am also guilty of following but not commenting on pages – no apologies needed. I hope that you have been inspired to put pencil/paint to paper. Cathy’s book and blog and facebook groups are full of an amazing variety of styles and creative ideas. Do you post to her group ? Happy sketching !