After a busy week with an art commission, organising my upcoming Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil classes, and working full time, I had a long weekend away. It was a whole weekend of sketching with no distractions. After over three years I returned to the lovely Port Fairy. My original connection was through the annual Blarney Books and Art Biblio Art Prize, which I now enter each year. I visited a few times with Angela, a Melbourne sketcher with local connections, and have had an exhibition there.
Port Fairy is four hours by train/bus from Melbourne, so it is more than a weekend visit, which is great because I have to have a long weekend!
I visited Port Fairy to sketch and it kickstarted an idea that Jo at Blarney had been mulling on. And so with three days’ notice, the Port Fairy Sketch Club began and nine people turned up to sketch with me on Saturday. Hopefully the start of regular sketching sessions for locals. It is such a creative community. It was a great opportunity to put sketching in the diary, talk art and just relax. I will join in when I visit, maybe a few times a year.
We only walked one block before finding a suitable subject. Our group spread out over the four corners of the street and the traffic island. Port Fairy is very historic and very sketchable.
I also spent much of my time sketching on and wandering along the different beaches of Port Fairy. Below are some of my on-location sketches. I also collected and drew (on the spot) things found on the beach. I have about six pages of these studies, which are probably a blog of their own.
I have to sketch the lighthouse when I visit.
After a long morning in the sun walking and sketching out to the lighthouse, I spent the afternoon inside Blarney Books and Art. I sat on a comfy couch and sketch the shelves., listening to the bookshop murmuring and saying hello to friendly dogs This is still a work in progress as I add more colour to the books.
My next visit will be in the second half of the year, as there is a lot coming up on the calendar.
Brilliant work Alissa! Is Port Fairy down where the Fairy penguins hang out? I love your urban sketching. So inspiring, and encourages me to look at my surroundings with unlimited possibilities! As a matter of fact, I’ve been so inspired by your work, I’ve decided to expand my sketching skills to include more “ urban” subjects, beyond pure nature. And to push my comfort zone, I just attended a local urban sketchers event, organized by Albuquerque (New Mexico, USA) Urban Sketchers. It was fun! Thanks for sharing your work. I pour over every single detail each time you post!
Hi Alissa. I’ve started following you because I just love your work. I’m starting to do some sketching. I’d like to do nature journaling particularly but maybe some urban sketching too. I’d love to use watercolour pencil as my medium. Can you tell me what sketchbook you like the most for watercolour pencil? I’d like to be able to activate parts of my pictures with water. I have a Moleskine watercolour sketchbook at the moment. It would be great to have your recommendations. Thanks, Mel
I had to look the origins of Port Fairy name up, No Fairy Penguins here \. The crew of the sealing cutter The Fairy (Captain James Wishart) reportedly gave the bay its current name in 1828. There are Fairy Penguins on Middle Island in nearby Warrnambool. This was the movie Oddball about the penguin guard dog there. I love any chance to sketch, Nature sketching, Urban sketching (which can be nature sketching) . Enjoy the wonderful opportunities to sketch nd the great people you will meet.
Hi Melanie
I use a Moleskine watercolour sketchbook 13 x 1`9 cm .I am up to my 116th since Dec 2008 !
I have some of my weekly art blogs that are practical and might assist you.
Me and my watercolour pencils This was my very first blog post I wrote and it is still current today ! It was the first time that I thought and wrote down the steps of how I use watercolour pencils and the equipment I carry daily.
Five watercolour pencil tips – a must read !
Customised pencil wrap How I carry and use my pencils everyday
http://alissaduke.com/2022/03/top-12-watercolour-pencil-colours.html
http://alissaduke.com/2021/08/nature-sketching.html
Let me know how you go and if you have any questions.
Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to reading those blog posts you linked me to and I’m really enjoying finding your recent blog posts in my email inbox each week. I hope one day I can take one of your classes. Best wishes, Mel.