me sketching in the park
I have come to the realisation that drawing is now a part of me and my life. I draw daily, documenting everyday events and objects and travels in my life. I will sketch for five minute at a bus stop, or for half hour while having coffee, or complete a drawing over a few nights at home. I have drawn in hospital, and on overseas holidays. I carry my sketchbook, pencils and pen with me everywhere as there is always something to draw! 
My art captures the character of the object I draw, connecting it with the viewer. I also am part of a global Urban Sketchers movement, and I continue to document my world as a sketchbook journal artist.
I use watercolour pencils to draw subjects from the natural world, such as feathers, eggs, leaves and insects. I also draw objects from everyday life including food, coffee cups, books or toys. The subjects are personal and individual and often nostalgic and with a character of their own.
I enjoy closely observing an object as I draw it and then allowing people to experience that same enjoyment as they observe my drawing. I have been using watercolour pencils since 2008 and I have become familiar with their characteristics. Watercolour pencils allow me to blend and layer and to provide rough texture or fine detail to bring out the character of the object I am drawing
Hello, I saw and admired your work at the East Melbourne library and would like to purchase some cards.
How do I do it?
I think your work is great.
Victoria
Thank you so much Victoria. It is lovely to know that people enjoyed the exhibition. I’ll get in contact with you by email about the cards. They are also available for anyone to purchase online at my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/AlissaDuke
Love your art and the comments that go with it, very inspirational.
I have come to sketching late in life and find my marks on the paper
Very niave the making of the marks very satisfying.
Thank you for sharing your art and your self with me and all your followers.
Patrick Shropshire UK.
I love your art. I found a Japanese dictionary in a thrift store and bought it with the idea of sketching on some of the pages. Do you use a wet brush with your watercolor pencils or do you only use the dry watercolor pencil. I did a test-run using newsprint, but the paper warped a lot when I applied a wet watercolor brush. Do you prep the paper with a watercolor ground or gesso and allow it to dry first? Thanks in advance for responding.
OOOh how exciting. Go for it ! Every publication is different. Even different reprints of the same title can have different page quality. I photocopy the page I have decided to draw on and then work out the format of what images I want to put where and what size. Once I decide on the layout I put my first marks on the page with my watercolour pencils. This is when you discover the paper quality and how well it react to the watercolour pencil . and then how it react to water being added to the pencil marks made on the page. I dont use Ground on the page first. I tried this and it just did not help. The paper either reacts well or it doesn’t. If it doesnt, you cant get a lot of detail, or layers. If if does, it is almost (but not qjuite) like using watercolour pencils on watercolour paper . If is does, I treat it like watercolour paper, waiting for the paper to dry before adding another layer. I would LOVE to know how you go and your thoughts. Please ask any more questions you have !