Monthly Archives: October 2025

plane sketches

A five-day holiday in Brisbane, Queensland, spending time with friends, visiting libraries and sketching all the time. I completed about 20 pages in my Moleskine watercolour sketchbook. I also went to a Monster Life Drawing session. That will be another blog post!

I have a regular set of sketches that I start with when I go on a holiday. I feel like I am on holidays when I sketch these AND I get into the sketching mode. Because I sketch these regularly, I don’t have to think as hard about shapes and sizes and lines.

The first sketch is usually on the Skybus, the bus to Melbourne Airport from the city. I usually sit on the upper level and sketch the backs of heads of people in front of me. This time, I was downstairs opposite the luggage rack. It was colourful.

on the way there

There is always time for a plane sketch at the airport. It is usually not the plane I am going on, as it will not have arrived yet.

Planes are unusual shapes. I still cut the long wings off the side of the page, as they are so long. There is lots of relative measuring ie what is the size of plane tail compared to the length of the plane.

And then we had a delay and waited… for an hour, so I sketched… People moved around a bit, but in general, I could get down on the page the impression of a group of people standing around, I just added a hint of context with the Gate Number.

on the way home

Brisbane airport. A different plane view…

On the plane home…

These sketches are mainly in ink pen. Sometimes I sketch with watercolour pencil. It can depend how I feel on the day and whether the situation suits bringing out pencils.

Happy sketching!

You Can’t Draw in Books talk

What happens to the books no-one wants?

Join a talk by artist and librarian Alissa Duke who draws in books that are about to be discarded. Alissa draws an image with watercolour pencils, inspired by words on the page, and the books are given a new life, to be appreciated by a new audience.

This talk questions preconceptions about writing and drawing in books, and discusses giving value to otherwise valueless books. Alissa will talk about her creative process and the event will include a display of some of her books.

There were a few familiar faces of friends and Library members in the audience of about 25 yesterday at the Melbourne Athenaeum Library. They were curious, with questions after the event. I had some books on display and available for purchase (and they were some), and I had lots of lovely conversations.

Some of the questions were about my watercolour pencils. I promised that I would share my hints and tips from my previous blog posts. Welcome if you are new to my blogpost . I have been writing this weekly (almost) blogpost for many years now.

Purchase my drawn in books on ETSY.

The heritage-listed Melbourne Athenaeum Library has operated from its Collins Street headquarters since 1839, making it Victoria’s oldest subscription-based library. The library holds a 30,000-strong collection, including new releases and classics, and hosts regular music performances, talks, and book and screen clubs. Members enjoy the historic atmosphere and quiet haven in a bustling city.

I have drawn in a Melbourne Athenaeum Library book!!! It was on their For Sale $2 trolley, It has windeful library stamps all over it !

I have been a member since I moved to Melbourne in 2014. The Librarians are friends and I am a regular at their events and have recently been their Artist in Residence and of course I borrow from their library.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

I have a few classes coming up in Melbourne. See the tab on my website.

Happy Sketching!

Photos by James Baker of Melbourne Athenaeum Library