I was not able to make it to last weekend’s BIG Chinese New Year in Chinatown in Melbourne. Melbourne Urban Sketchers had a meetup there.

But I did get my own local CNY Lion Dance at East Melbourne Library.

I have sketched the Lion Dance a few times over the years and I know that it is busy, crazy, loud, and fun. The sketching is fast and furious, with the drums pounding to a fast beat.

This time I decided to arrive early and do some sketches in advance of the location and backgrounds. It did not quite work out as planned but I was able to create context.

I sketched the library doorway and the lanterns. It took a few attempts to get the scale right to show the lanterns and the full door.

When the Lions (there were three) arrived I sketched one before they entered the building,

I took some used firecracker paper home after the event, I also took a fortune cookie home but ate it before I could sketch it.

Inside the Library the lions moved all around the shelves, up the stairs. The little lion ( a little boy) interacted with smaller children, making their day.

I guessed the colour of the Lion Dancers and had my red, yellow, and black watercolour pencils out, sharpened, and ready.

In the time before the arrival of the Lion Dancers, the library was filled with the beautiful sounds of the Guzheng (Chinese Zither). I immediately sat down and started sketching her beautiful flowing gown. The Lion Dancer’s arrival was delayed, so Carissa kept playing.