Who are Urban Sketchers ? Urban Sketchers is a global community of sketchers dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing. We share our love for the places where we live and travel. There are regional chapters aroudn the world !
This weekend we were invited to to sketch with the Albury En Plein Air group. About 25 of us got together over a weekend. It is a bit of a journey from Melbourne so I made it a long weekend. We all arrived and left at different times and organised our own accommodation. Some of us caught up at some meals.
A lot of organisation had gone into the planning of the weekend. It was relaxed and easy going, with the opportunity to sketch in many places wirh diffferent people. We had a schedule of starting time and catch up times. However it had been pouring rain all week and the organiser had back up plans all the way. Thankfully the sun shone for two days and we could sit out.
I spent time sketching with differnet groups of interesting people. Some of us talked alot ! We all come from different art backgrounds and use different art mediums , both in our usual practice and on the day.
Albury has an amazing variety of historic buildings from many eras, even just along the main street Dean Street. I could have sketched for a week !
Gregg had also organised a catchup as a group on Saturday at a local Art shop and gallery Art Parts Fine Art Supplies. When we get together as a group at the end of a session we have a throwdown. This is where everyone puts their skechbook or loose sheet of paper out. of what they did that morning/ afternoon This is where go get to see what everyone has done. I think that it is a very important part of an urban sketchers event as everhone gets to see all the very different styles people have. It is very important for new people to the group (or to sketching) to realise that everyones art is different and and no two are alike. It is great experience for anyone hesitant about sketching in public or joining a group. AND we always take a group photo !
dinner
A few of us went out to dinner on Friday night, so of course I sketched it It is not an urban sketch as it is not sektched in context. Thers is no story being told here of the surroundings, or as a record of time and pplace, I could have sketched the restaurant surroundings and staff, to tell a story.
I have many different sketching themes and many of them are stand alone obects. They have a story but I dont tell it in my sketc,
As you can see from the photo below, it was a beautiful day of blue sky and sunshine.
thanks Tatiana for the photo
A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post with hints and tips for sketching at the Zoo, based on my previous visits. I plan to visit regularly and let other Melbournians know when I am going. On this day, artist Tatiana joined me. We sketched and talked at the giraffe enclosure and then went our own ways til we left, each of us very happy with our day.
I spent over two hours at the Giraffe and Zebra enclosure. There are three giraffes and four zebras. They were up close most of the time, but not always. They would move around eating from the different food baskets in the trees. Most of the time I stayed in one place, instead of walking up and down to follow them.
zebra
I moved into the Australian section. There was one koala I could see and sketch. He was sleeping. All of the visitors passing behind me were excited to see a giraffe but did not stay long as he was sleeping, Last time I was here, they were both VERY lively,
and also the Tasmanian Devil. He was sleeping in the sun, near the fence, but moved his head (but did not change his body position) around a few times. He would return to one of a few positions.
At the giraffes when there was a Keeper Talk. SO busy.
It was school holidays and I knew it would be busy. I was there from 9:00am til after 1:00pm . I should have left at 12:00pm when I started to feel tired. That is the entire reason for becoming a Zoo Member, I can come and go whenever I wish. In hindsight, this was the only thing I would have done differently. And perhaps not sketched in the sun for so long. I had a hat, long sleeves and sunburn cream, and drank lots of water.
on last sketch at the Reptiles. It was crowded and warm inside. I was tired.
On a closing note. I started out the day, sketching on the tram. Fortunately, in doing this first sketch in my everyday sketchbook, I realized it was a day that I felt like doing detail. That set my tone for the day.
This long weekend I was determined to film myself sketching using my new Uniqu lighting set-up. This is where your camera fits in the lighting aparatus, I watched two YouTube videos, as the instructions that came with it were not helpful. After much procrastination/fear – I did it. You cannot imagine how proud I am of myself to have managed this technology,
I have not edited the video in any way (even to turn it horizontal). I could have spent a long and stressful time editing cropping etc but instead am using this blog to think through the process of sketching and recording.
Sketching
I usually sketch directly on the page with the colour of the object (where possible). In this case, it was easy (which is why I chose this as my first trial run). I used Orange Glaze for the mug. I very rarely use a graphite pencil to put in the first lines or use an eraser. Unless the drawing demands it (or I demand it of myself) it is all about the impression on the page and not getting it perfect. Of course, it helps that I have sketched this mug many times, and know the proportions, which makes it look easy. I thought that degree of confidence in what I was doing was best for this experiment. Once I started sketching I forgot about the camera.
I had the watercolour pencils colours put aside that I knew I would be using as I have sketched this mug many times. I knew which colours to get from my sketchkit.
I set it up and then only looked at my sketching page, and not the camera on the mount. This was not as difficult as I thought.
Filming
Things I need to think about
I knew there would be shadows on the pages, but not where and how much
how much my hand moves across the page,
how long I am going to sketch for
what and how much editing I am going to do afterwards
what I am going to sketch
I am not going to stress about these too much.
I am now so excited about how I can use this and what other examples I can use. It is going to be great to be able to share my watercolour pencil technique with everyone. Sometimes you just need to see something being done. No amount of explaining can substitute.
This blog includes hints and tips from my own experience of sketching at Melbourne Zoo. It has some very different experiences from other on-location urban and nature sketching situations. I hope that this assists anyone who would like to join me one day to sketch at the zoo. I plan on visiting often over Spring/ Summer. send me a message if you want me to let you know when I am going.\
As I read over this, it seems a bit negative, but I am hopeful it is just a reality check.
There is so much joy in observing animals as you sketch and making that connection and understanding of their bodies and behaviours.
First up – the cost is $42 for a day’s visit. That can be an expensive day. But for $126 you can get a membership, which allows you to visit for a year and you can go for just a few hours a couple of times and get your money’s worth quickly. I get very tired of sketching for a whole day. I so have learned to arrive at 9 am, when they open, and leaving after lunch is usually enough for me, by about 2 pm. I also have plans to just drop in for an hour or two, as it is so close to the city and the tram is to the door. As I write this in September 2022 you need to book online for the day you want to visit, unless you are a zoo member.
Plan in advance
I usually bring my own lunch, instead of queuing at the food stations. Also, rehydrate and bring water. Sketching at the zoo involves a lot of sitting and standing, and a bit of walking ( we did 8000 steps in 3 hours).
Don’t bring too much gear – just the basics. You have to carry it all and need to get comfortable with what you can do in the space and time you have and the opportunities offered. I usually sketch with watercolour pencil in a 13 x 19 cm Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook. But on my Zoo visits, I take a larger old record book. It is my Zoo book. I use my watercolour pencils but don’t add water to the page. It is thinner paper and I just don’t have time. I use the pencils as I love to draw and I know the colours to pull out of my sketchwrap quickly.
Dress for the weather and season. The zoo is mostly outside and what you do may be dependent on the weather… or whether you decide to go at all.
Look at the map – on their website, in advance, and then you can collect one at the zoo. There are sometimes closed paths and you can’t always get to where you want to go. There are a LOT of animals. If you look at the map and website and choose some areas in advance.
sketching animals – the reality
Remember you are here as a sketcher and not a visitor trying to see everything in one day. You won’t see them all.
You have to be flexible – go with the flow of what is available to sketch. Don’t expect to sketch a specific animal. Some exhibits are closed.
Animals move! Some animals are out of view or walk away as soon as you start sketching them, and don’t come back.
The lines below are monkeys. I gave up. They never returned to the same spot. At these times, I just stood back and enjoyed.
These may be koalas and a wombat.
Other animals return to the same position such as elephants, zebras, and giraffes feeding and there may be a few of them so you can use another in the same stance,
Sometimes it is better to sketch the more obscure animals and not the “go to” ones that everyone wants to see. ie tigers, lions, elephants, ones. Visit the Tapir or the tortoise.
Animals have strange body shapes. They are often not what you think they are or the image you have in your mind. Observing this is part of the joy of sketching and also the knowledge you gain by returning to sketch the animals again on return visits.
I have sketched elephants for many years, and I still have to stop and observe how the lip connects to the trunk and body.
or you just get to draw what is offered…
Other People
The zoo is a popular place! But it is a large area with the animals spread out in different areas. Be prepared for the crowds. There are lots of families with strollers on public holidays and weekends, and school holidays are also silly. The perfect time would be a weekday. But then there are the school groups to contend with. AND 9am -10am is the quietest visitor time of the day.
In general, people usually don’t stay long observing animals. But they are continuously coming and going. They can crowd you out in their enthusiasm to see the animals and get up close to the glass or viewing area, and completely ignore the concept of personal space. On the other hand, one will be interested in what you are doing.
Note: inside spaces are usually crowded.
As a sketcher
Manage your own expectations of what you can achieve and don’t be disappointed. A scribble on the page is enough. You may have a lot of unfinished lines.
It is hard to sketch with other sketchers, as everyone will have different interests and time that they are prepared to wait to sketch a specific animal. It is probably better to have meeting times and places to catch up before heading off again.
I hope that my experiences prepare you for a future zoo visit as a sketcher. Please let me know any hints and tips you have.
It is time for the annual Blarney Books and Art Biblio Art Prize. When you enter the competition you get given a book title to interpret artistically. It is by an Australian author and recently published. I have entered quite a few times over the years. See links at the end of this post. I initially drew in the pages of my given book. Last year I drew on a separate loose sheet. This year I am back in my comfort zone of drawing in books. My book is The Three Burials of Lotty Kneen by Krissy Kneen.
I read the book and thought about what attracted me to draw. I spent a few hours working this out in my head and on paper. The process included choosing which pages to draw on, the images to choose and how to place them on the page. I decided to work around the recipes the author discovers in the countries her grandmother spent time in her life, and not over them.
Ready to go, I took a photo of my first marks on the page. I then blocked out images
Then I wanted to see how the page will take the watercolour pencil and then the water. I started with the bay leaf. It looks like this is ok. It won’t take a lot of working on but I can do more than one layer. It is not watercolour paper, The quality/ texture of the paper will affect how I draw and what I can. Knowing this I can be realistic about what I can achieve.
I drew the bay leaf and the colour and added water with a very fine tiny brush. The water will intensify the colour to the area it is added, but does not spread the colour. I think that I will be able to add fine details, with a sharpened pencil. But I have to remember – not too sharp, as it can cut through the paper. I realise that I have reached the saturation point on the page for the bay leaf.
The colours are Chrome Green Oxide and Payne Grey from my daily kit and mainly Olive Green Yellowish. I choose from my BIG BOX of watercolour pencils as it is not a time to mix colours on the page. If there is an exact colour I will use it.
The page has to be completely dry before adding more colour – otherwise, the paper will tear. I have to be patient, There is no chance to do it again. In this case, it was the next day.
It is due in October. There is a second recipe to draw in the book. Then I post it to Blarney . 100 or so are chosen for the exhibition there that does through to December r January I think. I enter because I love the bookshop and the concept.
Today is Father’s Day in Australia. My dad passed away many years ago, but for today I drew some screwdrivers that came from his shed. I bought them home from clearing out Mum’s place recently.
I thought I would should you as a work in progress, but only remembered to scan it a few times. Once I start drawing, I lose all sense of time. Next time I might set a timer. This one was over a few evenings.
I have drawn tools before and wrote a long blog post about them back in 2017. Each time I read this I get all emotional.
This is all with watercolour pencils. My favourite colour discovery in the last few years in the Faber Castell Albrecht Durer range has been Dark Sepia. It is a lovely colour between dark brown and grey. But not either. I use it all the time. It is perfect for natural objects, and in this case, rust. I love the fact that I can sharpen my watercolour pencils and get a fine point to add details and hard lines.
For the past week, I have been in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, an island state off the southern coast of Australia.
I was away for seven days, the four were holidays, and the next four for a work conference. I sketched continuously filling over 40 pages of my Moleskine watercolour sketchbook.
It felt like a plug had been released and I could not stop sketching. I felt that could have sketched everything in sight. I sketched from the moment I started the holiday on the bus to Melbourne airport to the airport bus on the way home a week later.
I am sharing just a few of my adventures here, See The Hobart adventures at https://www.flickr.com/photos/alissaduke/albums/72177720301640212 and my Australian Law Librarian Conference sketches from Hobart at https://www.flickr.com/photos/alissaduke/albums/72177720301643377
Once I arrived and settled at my grand hotel on the Harbour I explored.
I then went to the Farm Gate Markets in Hobart CBD. I was not there on a Saturday for the famous Salamanca Market, but I think I did better.
I stayed for about three hours exploring, eating brunch, having coffee, and then sitting in the sunshine and sketching. A busker entertained and I people-watched locals and tourists.
A bus trip up Mt Wellington to the top at 1270 meters. There was a bit of snow and it was -13 degrees.
Another day exploring. I caught the hop-on hop-off bus to the Cascades Female factory to hear about the harsh history of the female convicts.
and after a week I fly back home. I have not included my ALLA conference sketches here. I will create a separate album to share on Flick5.
In Melbourne. the winter days are slowly getting longer. It is still cold (relatively). I am walking to and from work, This week I decided to stop and sketch at the same place each day (it ended up being two places). There were a few reasons I did this and achieved them all.
I wanted to get some pattern back into life. This included walking to and from work, instead of catching a tram.
get into a pattern of sketching every day
a return to being more spontaneous in my sketching choices
exploring what can be sketched in 15 minutes
using my watercolour pencils to capture a scene quickly
preparing myself for an upcoming work conference/holiday interstate. I have a few days to explore Hobart and will be sketching it all!
This week I stopped at the corner of Spring and Collins Strreets onthe steps of the Old Treasure Building. There is a wonderful choice of urban sketching scenes to sketch. What do I choose??? In this week of urban skerching I decided I was giving myself 15 minutes to sketch and this included the time to choose the scene. The pressure is on !
However once you get that concept in your head it is easier. Juat choose something that attracts you, no matter how obscure. They are never ‘finished pieces’ on the page. It is just your impressions. I usually try and put some context, with the outline of buildings behind.
I sketched this from Town Hall, across the road from Regents Theatre (not OTB) . The building had been lit up in pink.
On the way to work this time.
Sometimes you don’t get to finish a sketch and that’s ok. This is part of the narrative and your story on the page. I had the whols of the Old Treasury Building steps to sketch. Then two wedding parties emerged from the Marriage Registry Office, and were obvously going to use the area for photographs. So I moved on. I was tempted to sketch the group, but stayed focus on my building sketch. I had 7 minutes on the sketch below.
My final sketch of the week is below. I am really please with ths one. My initial concept was to sketch the old building as a background and the grat big telephone/electricity pole in front of me as the feature. I changed ideas, A lot can happen in your mind in 15 minutes.
I think that I will continue this project this upcoming week as I am ‘in the zone’ for urban sketching and having such a fun time with my watercolour pencils.
I am taking a rest from my weekly blog this week. Life is busy and full of good things, I feel the need to get in control of a few things.
A few things I am doing are
I need to do an audit of my watercolour pencils. I have all the FaberCastell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils. I bought these two years ago at the beginning of Melbourne’s long lockdown. I carry 26 of these with me every day and have written about them recently and have also talked about my Top 12. However, I have run out of some of my favourites and didn’t realise it until I went to get a new one from my supply ! Now that I am out and about a lot more I am using my usual colours. I need to go through them all, see which are missing and how many are duplicates/triplicates.
another project
On the spur of the moment, I bought a piece of equipment. I would really love to be able to film my page as I sketch. Ideally, this will be for on-location sketching to let you “look over my shoulder” as I sketch. I thought I would start with this. It is for controlling lighting for overhead shots and multiangle filing. I will start at home and then try on location later, maybe with another piece of equipment. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I have got it out of the box, and that is a major step.
I have no idea what I am doing!
Now that life is returning to normal, events are going into the diary, up until March and April next year!
Sketching with Angela and Helen in Melbourne city. It was another sunny but chilly Winter’s day in Melbourne. We followed the sun to try and find a sketching spot that did not have the shadows of the buildings. It also had to be out of the way of busy city people.
We inevitably ended up at the iconic Flinders Street Station. On the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, three of the corners have a great historic buildings to sketch, St Mary’s Catherdral, Young & Jackson pub, and Flinders Street Station. Federation Square is currently under reconstruction and has big boards up (not as interesting).
There are now square concrete bollards up, which were perfect to lean on and use as a table. They separated us from the road and the busy passing pedestrians. It is a major crossroad in Melbourne city.
Below are photos of the same sketch in 15-minute intervals. (from the St Mary’s corner).
You can see how much you can capture on the page with watercolour pencils in the first 15 minutes. They are great for quick and loose sketches. I have sketched this building before, so already have a sketch memory, and am not approaching it with brand new eyes. Even then. I had to measure and remeasure so that the different bits of the building joined up together!
In the second 15 minutes I have decided to extend it over the next page in my 13 x 19 cm Moleskine watercolour sketchbook. The extended lines are just outlines, They are in the colours of the parts of the building. I could have made other decisions about what to do in the second 15 minutes.
In the final 15 minutes, I focused on including some detail on the first page. Once a page is dry you can add more watercolour pencil on top of the painted page. (as it is watercolour, you can’t add light on top of the dark) I used this time to use a sharpened watercolour pencil to add a sharp line. It is how I add ‘pop’ to a page.
and then another sketch on the day. A 5-minute sketch of all the people crossing the street. Busy. Busy. Busy.
