My blog posts usually show my sketching at an event that has happened.

This week I am planning for my Nature Sketching with Watercolour Pencil class next Saturday 14 October at Dromkeen homestead, just outside of Melbourne. As I write, there are still places left if you are nearby and would like to attend.

I last taught this class there in 2019 so I am reviewing my notes. The class will begin the same as my Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil classes. I explain the gear and then we scribble with the colours and see what happens to the colour on the page when the waterbrush is used on it.

My classes are all about looking and observing the world around you. And making/taking opportunities to make marks on the page.

If the weather permits we will go outside and look at some big picture sketching and then up closer. If the weather changes again in Melbourne, I will bring the outdoors inside, with collections of nature objects from around the grounds of Dromkeen. I will decide on the day. When I arrive I will take a walk around the property and see what os happening with the trees and plants. It is officially Spring here, but the weather has been strange, so the plants don;t know what to think.

Built in 1889, Dromkeen was once the country estate of Judge Arthur Chomley and later became home to the world-famous Dromkeen Picture Book Art Collection.
Now a privtae home it is nestled in the Macedon Ranges at Riddell’s Creek. Dromkeen is a National Trust home with gardens with a range of Australian native and European plants, a gazebo and sometimes two resident peacocks. Guests to Dromkeen are able to visit the Tea Room and browse in the galleries.

Here are some sketches from my previous visits.

Below are some of the Nature sketching books from my bookshelves.

The frst photo is some books that are for practical instruciton and inspiration.

Some more books from my bookshelves. Diaries and narture journalling. More inspiration.

And my newest addition received a few days ago as a birthday gift, along with some magnificent feathers from Woody the Rooster.

I am putting together my sketchkits that can be purchased by peopple attending my class. It will include a “Nature Sketching Hints and Tips” pGE.

We had a long weekend in Victoria (for the Footy Finals (!!?) and it was my birthday. I decided to take myself away on a long weekend to Port Fairy. It is 5 hours by train/bus and is a comfortable long weekend trip.

Below are just a few of the 11 double pages of sketches that I did.

Below is Port Fairy lighthouse sketched on a map from the Tourist Centre.

I started the day by sketching while waiting for the tram, then the train.

Then onthe train then at the bus stop. There is lot of waiting time.

I can’t seem to make this image smaller. so here is my giant licorice ice cream.

I took the opportunity to catchup with Port Fairy Sketch Club, which I had sketched with on their first meeting in February this year.

another giant image.

and that is only half of my sketches. The others still need to be completed and words written on the page.

On Saturday I held my ‘Travel sketching with watercolour pencil class’ in Melbourne.

We had wonderful weather. After an initial start in the East Melbourne Library room, we were able to go for a walk around a few blocks, stopping to sketch along the way.

I was very fortunate that Penny from the group took photos along the way.

The time in the Library room involves introductions – to me, each other, and the sketchkit. We play with the watercolour pencils to see what they do and then head out.

We go for a short walk and stop for 15 minutes to sketch. 15 minutes may not seem a lot of time, but you can accomplish a lot in that time and it makes you make decisions very quickly. The class is all about travel sketching, where you may not have much time to sketch. it is all about capturing the moment.

We then walk to the next corner block and stop again. If time permits we walk a third block.

Everyone seems to have a lot of fun and be inspired and motivated to continue!

I am excited to have another three classes scheduled for the rest of the year at East Melbourne Library – Travel sketching with Watercolour Pencils

and some planned at

Dromkeen homestead, Riddells Creek – just outside of Melbourne – Nature Sketching with watercolour Pencils

keep a watch on the Dromkeen Facebook page for other events including a High Tea in December!

Happy sketching everyone!

Spring officially began on 1 September but it remained cold and chilly in Melbourne until the last few days. I usually love winter, the fashion of coats and wintery stockings. However this year I am ready for it to end. I do not enjoy the heat of Summer, but was happy to see Spring arrive. On Saturday I was able to get out and enjoy blue skies, sunshine, and a slight breeze. I thought of the Spring sketches I have done in the past and decided to post them today. All watercolour pencil.

What is Spring to you ?

Enjoy the change of season wherever you are.

Happy sketching.

On Saturday I held a High Tea Watercolour Pencil Watercolour Pencil class at the historic Dromkeen homestead, about 1 hour outside of Melbourne. We held one about four years ago and were so happy to have this back on the calendar. Another one is planned for December. Keep a lookout on the Dromkeen website !

There were eight in the group and lots of chatting. A few were there as a gift. The table was set up beautifully when we arrived.

The two hour class involves learning about watercolour pencil, paper and waterbrushes and having a play with them. Attendees can bring their own sketch gear (often people have watercolour pencils and don’t know what to do with them) or purchase a kit on the day. It is quite social.

They ate the savouries and choose a few sweets to draw . Who wants to draw sandwiches when there are colourful and decadent sweet treats and beautiful tea cups and plates to sketch!

I wish I had to to eat and sketch as well as teach !

Last weekend I was invited to be the official sketcher on location at Prarahn Mechanics Institute (PMI) Victorian History Showcase in Melbourne.

This came about through my connection over the years with PMI Library and Melbourne Rare Book Week.

It was a bit different from my usual sketching on location. I usually sketch at talks. They go for a set time, usually one hour. I sit myself at the back of the room and sketch the people and the room (if it is interesting). I add watercolour pencil on the spot or sometimes at home.

This was an all day event. I arrived when the groups were setting up and left as they closed down.

All sketches were sketched on location, with a hint of colour added. I took photos and the final colour and details added at home over the following weeknights.

I decided to try on experiment on this occasion. My sketches are in a Moleskine watercolour sketchbook 13cm x 19 cm. They are usually portrait or landscape format. depending on what books I purchased. I usually purchase 10 at a time, depending on what is in stock.

I usually draw on the backs of pages. Turning the page is a narrative that tells a story. I don’t take pages out.

This time I decided to experiment with drawing over a double page spread that could be removed from the book if I wanted to give/sell the sketch. Because of the way books are put together, these pages only occur a few times in the book.

I took a landscape and portrait format book, alternating between the two, depending on the scene in front of me. Lots of juggling of books!

It took me a little while to settle in. I had a look around to see how the tables were setup and where I could sit or stand to sketch. I had figure out what to include and leave out in each sketch. It was a bit challenging.

I also was using a biro which I had borrowed. My own lovely Lamy Safarari Joy ink pen was having ink issues ! It was a bit unsettling not have the same linework that I usually would, but it worked!

I was happy to see the colourful tableclothes. These provided a bit of interest and contrast in the main room.

I still have not found a way write white on backgrounds.

I chatted to a few of the exhibitors about their group and collections. State LIbrary Victoria was there, Royal Historical Society of Victoria and Michael O’Brien from Library of the Royal United Services.

There were a lot of visitors on the day. Some moved around a bit ,others stayed and chatted to the exhibitors. I took advantage of this to sketch their positions and scribble a colour before they left.

My sketches are meant to capture the impression of the day. They are not portraits and I do not aim for any facial likeness !

As I mentioned I added final detail and colour at home. At some stage I decided to stop and not add anymore. Some figures. objects are left blank. I think it keeps the sketchy feel.

I was going to draw in loose sheets, but decided this was outside my comfort zone for this sitution. I think I would next time.

These sketches will all be scanned and sent to the organisers at PMI and they will distribute them to the groups involoved on the day.

Oh – did I mention they had a book sale. I bought 8 books for $1 or $2 each for drawing in purposes.

Something different this week!

Instead of sketches with watercolour pencils, I am featuring my watercolour pencils. Over all of the years (many) that I have been using watercolour pencils, I have not thrown out the pencil stubs when they get too small to fit in my sketchkit.

I have turned a few into brooches and wear them when I am the official sketcher at an event or when I have classes, or when I attend urban sketching events. Not many people use watercolour pencils, whereas they are my medium and I love them. I do not use paints.

I often receive comments when I wear them especially when I explain that they are pencils I have used. They are noticed!

I decided to make a few more into brooches to maybe sell at some Christmas markets or on my ETSY site.

I had to figure out a way to seal the pencil tips as they are watercolour pencils and the pigment dissolves with water. If it is not sealed you will get the pigment on your shirt! After a bit of trial and error, I use Jo Sonja’s Decoupage Varnish.

I also realised that not all of the colours are colourful and I may not use browns or greys. I have seen photos of earrings or necklaces etc. but do not intend to go any further.

I am happy with my bright coloured pencil brooches. I will wear my red and green ones at Christmas events.

This week’s art blog has my sketches from the week. Some of my blogs are practical hints and tips pf using watercolour pencils, or explanations as to how or why I approach my art. Please let me k now if you have any questions.

In the meantime here is my week. I hope that it motivates and inspires you to put pencil to paper.

As promised, today my blog has a timelapse video of sketching my shoes.

I often sketch my shoes while waiting at doctors etc. I am familiar with drawing them and the strange angles of shoes, legs and knees. These are new shoes and I have coloured ribbons that I change. I decided on red ribbons for this.

I have not figured out how to slow down the video. You can do this when you view by Clicking on the three dots at the bottom of the video and change PLAYBACK SPEED to 0.5

Press PLAY and enjoy!

FaberCastell watercolour pencils

• Black
• Payne’s Grey
• Pale Geranium Lake
• Madder
  • OTHER
• Black (Polychromos- not watercolour)
• Kuratake WaterBrush
• Moleskine watercolour sketchbook 13cm x 19cm
• Staedler pencil sharpener

let me know if you have any questions.

happy sketching

I had great plans to have a time-lapse video of drawing my shoes this week. However, technology got the better of me, so I hope to have it on my blog next week! In the meantime here are my sketches from this week.

After a week of sketching on location for Melbourne Rare Book Week events, I returned to my usual life of work and everyday sketching.

These few are quick sketches. A kookaburra on the ground in the Fitzroy Gardens. He let me get a little close, but I know that They fly off without notice and I knew I needed to get lines down on paper quickly. I used a Faber Castell watercolour pencil. I did not add water to activate the pigment. I have sketched these before and so did not have to think as hard about the basics of body shape. Practicing the same object over again is good for this.

Shoes of commuters on the tram. This is an option for when you can’t sketch faces as you sitting/standing too close.

I had some time to spare before a concert and sketched my shoes. I was planning how I would do this with a camera/phone in place. Next Week !

and at the concert at the Melbourne Athenaeum Library for Infiniti Ensemble. Sketching in the shelves while listening to music and having a glass of wine is a wonderful way to spend a Friday night.

In Melbourne city on the way to work. I started on the telegraph pole. I decided to add the background to give it some context This makes it acceptable to post on the “Urban Sketchers” group page. It is context and telling a story, not just an object on its own. I decided not to add colour. Mainly because I had to get to work!

And finally at Kere Kere Cafe in Fitzroy Gardens. I stayed in the cafe and chatted while others went out in the lovely Melbourne Winter’s Day. Firstly the view out the window.

And then some food.

A lovely week with a variety of sketches and opportunities.

Happy Sketching!