Although life in Melbourne is returning to some sort of semi-normal, I am still working from home and staying local in my suburb in Melbourne. On Friday I had few meetings in the city scattered throughout the day and decided it was easiest to spend the whole day there. I did a few sketches during the day. They are all different depending on where I was and how much time I had.
The first is in Bourke Street Mall, It was 10 am and a chilly day. There were a few people about, but the streets were not crowded. I have not been inner-city urban sketching for such a long time, and initially, it was difficult to find a focus. I had in mind to draw people, however, because of the grey day, there were not many about and they didn’t linger in the mall before or after getting off their trams. So I just sat down and started with the Royal Arcade arch and went from there until I noticed I was getting cold.
It was the school holidays and there a few families and teenagers. I saw groups of children with their families lined up to get their photos taken with two brightly dressed characters. I sketched, although I had to look it up online what I was sketching (Maddy and Jimmy – a children’s show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival). They were constantly moving.
Masks are only required in a few places. In between a mask and not moving while texting on the phone, I have the perfect subject – until they get up suddenly and leave.
Lunch in the city. I decided to sit back and relax and have a real meal, not a rushed takeaway. A few others were doing that too.
I had a few hours to fill in until my next meeting. After my leisurely lunch, I settled in at the wonderfully historic Melbourne Athenaeum Library ( founded in 1839 as the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institution) . I took a book off the shelf, sat in a comfortable chair, and relaxed. Oh – and I had to draw too. ,
I added colour at home of the books’ spines. I have drawn this lovely library and its books and shelves previously and I usually focus on the colour of the lovely wooden shelves.
I had not planned to make it a sketching day, although I knew that my sketchbook would come out at some stage. A happy record of my day. A travel journal does not have to involve a plane or train. It can just be getting from A to B and what was seen and heard. I probably could add a map to this and a bit more commentary. I walked a lot and certainly had some legs and feet at the end of the day. However, it is now Sunday and I have already turned the page in my sketchbook …
You turn an ordinary day into something special with your sketches.
What an eventful day including your drawings to illustrate it. I especially loved the bookshelves you drew. As always you had made good use of the spare moments you had with sketchbook always on hand.