Category Archives: “Australian Museum”

On Saturday about 36 Urban Sketchers in Melbourne met at South Melbourne Markets for a few hours of sketching.

photos by Evelyn Yee

I stayed all day and completed 8 pages. I am experimenting with adding colour highlights to the page . I would like some of my drawings of crowds to have bit more interest . (Thanks Kaz for your advice !!)

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Who are Urban Sketchers ???

We are an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to fostering a global community of artists who practice on-location drawing.

Our mission is to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of on-location drawing, promoting its practice and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and travel.

1.We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
2.Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
3.Our drawings are a record of time and place.
4.We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
5.We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
6.We support each other and draw together.
7.We share our drawings online.
8.We show the world, one drawing at a time.

birds at the museum

I  spent a few hours at the Australian Museum in Sydney on Saturday and today. I wish I visited more often. I have a membership so can get in for free, so I should make effort to visit. The problem is  – to many wonderful things to draw, to many projects !
 
The Australian Museum
 
Although there are many wonderful floors to explore and sketch, I seem to always head for the Search & Discover Room . It is an information and resource centre. You have a chance to  touch and feel real specimens, and take them to a desk to position and sketch. I had SUCH a good time. Sometimes lines just flow from the pencil. It happened here.
 
I have sketched a few Australian birds before . As with any subject, the more you draw and really LOOK and SEE  it, the more understanding you have of it and the better you get.
 
 
 
 
I usually draw in a 13 x 19 cm Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook.  The only times that I want to draw BIG are at the Museum and the Zoo. So I took an A3 sketchbook this time.
I also took an old ledger that I had bought. I want to explore drawing on printed surfaces.
 
Currawong

 
 
He is almost all black in colour. but I decided to finish in this sketch stage and not “colour in”
 
A3 Arches 300 GSM Smooth Watercolour Paper
 
Pied Currawongs are found throughout eastern Australia. They prefer forests and woodlands, and has become well adapted to suburban areas. Throughout its range it is common and familiar. Average size: 48cm Source: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Strepera-graculina
Their song  can be heard in Australian suburbs

Currawong
 
I sketched him again, but really  had to add all black otherwise he looked like a penguin with a white front.
 
 

magpie
 
The Australian Magpie is black and white. It is slightly smaller than the currawong  Its nape, upper tail and shoulder are white in males, grey in females. Across most of Australia, the remainder of the body is black. They are common and conspicuous birds.Australian Magpies are found wherever there is a combination of trees and adjacent open areas, including parks and playing fields. Australian Magpies can be very aggressive during breeding season and attacks on humans and pets can occur.
They have a beautiful song which I love to hear. It is a loud musical flute-like song, often performed as a duet or by groups
 
 

I always draw in watercolour pencil. On this page I was showing another sketcher, Jane how I use watercolour pencils to draw and blend. I have been using them everyday for over five years and love what can be done with them.
 
 
I draw lots of things and they all go on flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/alissaduke/