Today.I am sharing my Christmas sketches with you. Mainly food.

Did you sketch over Christmas, or perhaps have a quiet time now to yourself and have plans to sketch?.

I bought myself a lobster to sketch and eat on Christmas Day. I have never observed a lobster so carefully before. Actually I have never observed a lobster at all. I have been wanting to sketch one each Christmas for the past few years, but they were SO expensive at the markets. This was from Coles and I am so glad I bought it. Beautiful and fascinating – a work of art in nature.

If it did not smell so fishy I would have studied and sketched it over many more days.

I have added the colours I used as I experimented.

Then turned it over.

This was the slow start to Christmas Day, with Festive socks and a colourful coffee cup.

Sparkling wine and chilled Advent tea. A Christmas tradition.

Little bear sits on top of my little tree.

My Christmas pudding and after eating a bit. It will stay in the fridge for a few days as I don’t think I will be eating much for a while. I am so full.

I met up with some UK sketching friends on Zoom and we chatted and sketched for about 1 1/2 hours. The theme was sketch your leftovers.

I hope that you have had a good Christmas break and managed a bit of sketching. Perhaps you have a new sketchbook !

If you have been inspired by this and are in Melbourne, join me in one of three in person classes. Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencils. No experience required – just enthusiasm and curiousity.

It is only a few days til Christmas.

This post is to inspire and motivate everyone to think about what you can sketch at Christmas OR potentially what you could sketch if you have the opportunity.

There are the days and nights leading up to Christmas and the days after. Everyone has different lives, commitments, priorities and time.

HINTS and TIPS

Keep your sketchbook and pencils out so that they are all together and ready when you are. It doesn’t have to be watercolour pencils , just any coloured pencils or markers you have around the house or here you are visting or staying.

Give yourself a time limit 15 minutes is good. Keep it simple and easy. That’s part of the fun and encourages you not to be too perfect.

It can be a quiet, solitary time or a group event. It can be a time for silliness and people might want to join in and give it a go

REMEMBER

The sketch is just an impression, and capture of the moment on the page and not a still life

There is no right and wrong

It is your page and your impression and record

IDEAS

Here are a few simple ideas for things to sketch over Christmas.

• Sketch your decorations
  Take a decoration off the tree and sketch it. Look at the shapes, marks, and imperfections. Decorations often have a history, so you could even write a few words alongside the drawing telling the story
• Sketch your food
• I sketch on Christmas Day but the leftovers are great and there may be quite a bit, Put them to good use!

It is a record of the event

Christmas Presents – yours or someone elses

How to make a Christmas pudding (card)

In Melbourne ?

Join one of my Travel sketching with watercolour pencil classes . No experience necessary – just enthusiasm.

Merry Christmas everyone and happy sketching !

I held a Christmas sketching session at the local East Melbourne Library (sponsored by Melbourne Library Service) after our Community BBQ on Saturday. The seven of us took over one of the tables in the LIbrary ,and had supplies of watercolour pencils to use and paper on the table. It was an informal class with the attendees trying out the pencils, ideas and asking questions along the way.

I brought in my entire FaberCastell Albrecht Duurer range of 126 Watercolour pencils as well as the 10 in the Student Red Range pack.

I have previously shared my watercolour pencil swatches. Here are the red and green ones to inspire you.

GREENS

REDS

Below are some examples from previous Christmas’ featuring red and green.

Are you feeling Christmassy yet? Inspired to get those pencils out?

I am excited to announce I have inperson classes open for next year.

Travel sketching with Watercolour Pencil.

Take an inspirational walk around East Melbourne, sketching with watercolour pencils to record your experience. Learn tips and techniques.Travel – it can be across the world, your state, your city or your suburb. Join me on this inspirational class, and learn about watercolour pencils. It includes a walk around East Melbourne, sketching to record your experience. Learn tips and techniques for travel sketching along the way

A sketchkit with all you need can be purchased separately and added to your order when you book. Or bring your own from the list provided. BOOK HERE

The Johnston Collection – watercolour pencil sketching class

Summer Sketching with Alissa Duke

Happy sketching and let me know if you have any questions about watercolour pencils.