I flew to Sydney (just over 1 hour) for the Australia Day long weekend. I lived in Sydney for 10 years and have not visited since 2019.
I organised to meet a few good sketching friends and also a small informal urban sketching catchup. Below are all of my sketches. I have only got around to scanning and posting. Here they are!
Today I had the pleasure of teaching a “Sketching with Watercolour Pencil” class at The Johnston Collection in Melbourne.
The Johnston Collection is a museum that re-interprets the Collection through a regular program of re-installation and interventions of the permanent collection by members of the artistic and creative community. The current theme is ” A Home of One’s Own.”
“The museum has a superb collection of English Georgian, Regency, and Louis XV fine and decorative arts, and objet d’art which was a gift from William Robert Johnston (1911-1986) to the people of Victoria. Johnston was a prominent Melbourne-born antique dealer, real estate investor and collector. The Collection is displayed in a constantly changing domestic setting, in his former residence, Fairhall, a historic East Melbourne townhouse”.
The museum also offers special exhibitions, study days, lectures and workshops throughout the year, sharing stories and inspiring communities.
This was a special event as you usually can book guided tours of this amazing collection, but you can’t stop and sketch along the way.
Today a small group arrived and were shown into the Kent Room, where after a cup of tea/coffee and biscuits, were given a short talk about the collection by Rebecca, one of the guides.
After introductions, I explained about watercolour pencils, the waterbrush (everyone loves these), and sketchbooks in their Sketchkit. After some experiments with the pencils on the page, we were guided into the Green Drawing Room. There were so many decorative objects for inspiration.
It was an opportunity to sit amongst this very visual collection and observe an object for 15 minutes while you drew it. How often do you spend 15 minutes observing one object? Rebecca was also able to tell us about the Rooms and objects in them.
Everyone quickly chose an object that attracted them and had 15 minutes to sketch. We then moved into the White and Blue Rooms and then the kitchen,
There are plans for another one or two of these in the future. They are open to Friends of The Johnston Collection and other members of the public. They also have a fascinating series of talks on art, fashion, design and history! There are so many that I would love to attend. See their website.
This event is supported by The Colin Holden Charitable Trust.
I am very excited to be invited by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Friends group to lead two Nature Sketching sessions. The first one is Sat, 3 Feb 2024 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Book here
Below is the promotional material from the RBGV website.
If you have always wanted to sketch in nature, either to keep a nature journal or make sketches of trees and flowers you come across, join Alissa Duke in this inspirational class. Learn to use watercolour pencils to record your experience as we sketch in the Gardens. Pick up some sketching tips and techniques along the way.A sketch kit with all you need can be purchased separately and added to your order when you book.
On Saturday I spent a few hours in the Gardens, sketching to get familiar with the area and sketch a few pages of what I found on the day. I did not realise how big the gardens are! Melbourne Gardens extends over 38 hectares and houses a collection of more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world. I wandered around one small area, exploring paths.
I had my watercolour pencils, Moleskine 13cm x 19cm watercolour sketchbook and waterbrush, There was so much to sketch, I chose objects that I was attracted to, Each person will choose a different object to sketch and will sketch it differently. There is no right or wrong.
This class is all about observation and quick sketching. When you sit and sketch, you stop and see more. I usually give students 15 -20 minutes to sketch an object or scene. This is a good amount of time as it stops you from overthinking,
Many of the plants in the Gardens have their plant names attached to them Just not the ones I chose to sketch!
There will be another class in their Autumn Calendar, Le them know if you are interested in more.
Happy sketching !
I am very excited to be the 2024 Artist in Residence at Melbourne Athenaeum Library.
Melbourne Athenaeum Library
Our 2024 artist-in-residence has been locked in – Melbourne artist Alissa Duke.
Alissa Duke is a law librarian who loves books: to read, to draw and, sometimes, to draw in. She sketches daily, documenting everyday events, objects and travels. Alissa carries her sketchbook, watercolour pencils and pen with her everywhere, saying there is always something to draw. Her art captures the character of the objects that she draws, connecting them with the viewer. Alissa will be sketching events and library features for the next 12 months, leading up to our 185th birthday next November. You may have already spotted her at our Friday night events sketching our wonderful musicians in the moment.
Of Collins Street’s many iconic buildings, the Melbourne Athenaeum is alone in housing the same institution and serving the same purpose for the entirety of the almost 200 years it has existed. It was originally named the Mechanics’ Institution when formed in 1839.
The beautiful first floor Library and Reading Room offers over 30,000 print, digital, and audio books, a range of magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and film and TV on DVD for borrowing and use in the library, and hosts regular music performances, talks, book and screen clubs, and other cultural events. The library is open six days per week, and late on Wednesdays. Athenaeum members and visitors enjoy the historic atmosphere and quiet haven in a bustling city.
Have an explore inside with their video
I have been a member of this subscription library since I moved to Melbourne in 2014. I am a regular book borrower. They usually have all titles in a series. This is great, as it means when I discover a new author I can read all in the series from Book 1! I also attend many of their Music concerts, usually the string quartets. You may have seen some of my sketches from their evenings. I will be attending more this year ! There is so much to sketch. The Library also hosts events in Melbourne Rare Book Week, which I am involved with.
As a librarian (in another historic Melbourne library) I have wonderful library chats with the librarians and volunteers when I visit.
An artist-in-residence is a phrase that covers a wide variety of circumstances. It can be short or long term, full time or part time, You can travel across the city, the country or the world. You usually need to produce something from your time there, sometimes in response to the environment. These are all agreed to at the beginning of the contract. This is my first. I am continuing in my full time job and work on these at nights and weekends. But it really can’t be called work, as it will be so much fun.
As described, I will be sketching over the next twelve months. I have already spent time exploring the library and archives and have a series of drawings that I plan on doing, I was inspired immediately and after initial excited discussions with the staff, I identified some unique items and features that are part of the Melbourne Athenaeum’s history and current life. There is so much to draw and the objects have so many stories to tell.
Books and pencils…I am so happy.
I hope to be able to share these with you along the way,
I posted this on my Facebook page and Instagram and received SO many congratulatory messages from friends near and far. It is a great start to the year.