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 !!!