Every year I draw my hot cross buns. I buy a few and keep one just for drawing as it sits out on the bench over a few days and is not worth reheating.

This Easter the hot cross buns were not as pretty but they are probably the tastiest I have had in years – nice and spicy and with peel! Bought from Kere Kere Cafe in the Fitzroy Gardens and learned that the hot cross buns were from Dench Bakers in Melbourne, who I had not heard of.

.

This year I drew my hot cross bun and a soft toy Easter rabbit while on a Zoom catchup with some UK sketching friends. There was a lot more talking than I would normally have while drawing. It was lovely to be social. My memory when I look back at this page will be the event, not the bun. The reason I choose to draw some things is to document a place and time. I will remember that my friends all agree that hot cross buns from the Co-Op are the best in the UK.

In previous years I had drawn some spectacular-looking buns – all golden and glistening. This is a less finished drawing. I decided not to continue after the zoom meeting, and just leave it as it is.

As usual, these are drawn with watercolour pencil.

I have started to attend live events again, and of course sketch at them.

Recently I attended two events that threw me back into on-location sketching. One was back in my comfort zone (from two years ago) and the other was way outside my comfort zone.

The first event I attended was a book launch.

A G L SHAW LECTURE: “The Barristers of the Port Phillip District, 1839-1851” at the Royal Historical Society Victoria. It was a talk given by author Peter Yule, to two historical societies I belong to. It was in the evening, indoors, with about 40 people for two hours. The speakers’ stand was at the front with a screen. The seats were all set up. I was in familiar territory. I usually try to sit in the back row with a good view of the backs of heads of people and some interesting room features. I don’t always get all of these but this is what I look for. It is a known time (usually an hour) and nobody moves. You can see how I am in my comfort zone.

At the events, I make decisions on what to include, where to add detail and where to add colour. This is actually two double pages spreads, which I have put together. I usually do the one sketch in this time.

The second event was the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne.

My sketching was over two days, with over 100 000 people each day, all outside, perfect weather, but unknown everything.

I knew that I would not be sketching the cars as they raced. There were display areas with cars I could have sketched – even the pits for some of the support races. However, they were a bit a walk away from where my friends and I had set ourselves up. My sketching on location is all about capturing the moment

I choose people around me. It was still challenging.

The one thing that was known were my watercolour pencils and sketchbook. Once I had these out I knew (sort of) what I was doing. I knew at least, what I could do with my pencils. The hardest part was making the decisions on what to draw. It was so visual, as well as all the other senses !

I had a wonderful time in the midst of it all. The final day I watched on TV and put my feet up. Orange nail polish for McLaren – they have an Australian driver !!!

Last week I showed all of the watercolour pencil colours in the sketchkit that I carry with me every day. Today I will show you the other parts of my sketchkit.

Sketchwrap

I have a customised pencil wrap for my watercolour pencils. It started as a store bought Derwent pencil wrap. Overtime I realised that the style of the wrap did not actually suit the way I draw and the way I use my pencils. I cut it in half and a crafty friend stitched one half on top of the other. I wrote a blogpost about making my sketchwrap at the time in 2013.

I found that the design was great for all of my on the spot sketching, for example leaning up against a wall, at cafes or on the plane.

I can have it out in front of me and see all of my colours at once with quick access to my pencils It takes up less space.  For example, at a café,  I can have my food and pencilwrap and sketchbook on the table.

Waterbrush

The waterbrush is basically an empty tube that you fill with water. It is fabulous for travel sketching and on location sketching as I have instant to water to add to my watercolour pencil sketches. The water lasts a very long time and there is always somewhere to refill it

I use the Kuretake / ZIG brand because it has a little filter that allows control of the flow of water. The Pentel brand ones tend to flood water a bit more. However, it is still something that needs practice to figure out how much water to let flow through the brush part to achieve what I want on the page.

I use the Medium size. To clean the brush in between colours, I squeeze the water through the brush onto a napkin until it runs clear.

Watercolour sketchbook

Since December 2008 I have used Moleskine watercolour sketchbooks (13 x 19 cm) . This photo is from some time ago as I am now up to my 108th sketchbook. I enjoy the way my watercolour pencils work on the page.

Sharpener

A cheap sharpener from the art shop – a Staedler to neatly fit into my sketchwrap. Just check before you buy that the watercolour pencils fits in the sharperner you choose. They are a hexagonal shape and do not fit into all sharpeners. I like a nice sharp point to add detail to a sketch.

NOTE: I do not use an eraser. All of my sketches start with the watercolour pencils.

Lamy Safari Joy Ink Pen

I use a Lamy Safari Joy ink pen. This has a refillable ink well.

I use a Fine nib and De Artrimentis Archive Ink. It is waterproof.

This is a quick review of what I carry with me. I have put this together over time. Please let me know if you have any questions.