If you have been following me on Instagram or Facebook you will have seen a few Jane Austen-themed sketches. I have attended some talks, been inspired by costume and social history.

Sketching at a fascinating talk by Chris Brown at The Johnston Collection. , Melbourne. Dressing Up : the depiction of fashion in magazines in the 18th and 19th century. An explanation of Coloured lithographs and hand-coloured engravings from his collection. The talk was about. the history of the depiction of fashion, and also the courts and publishing. Sketch on location and copied from plates at home

A mince pie and twist stem wine glass drawn at home after a Christmas with Jane Austen talk and tour at The Johnston Collection, Melbourne. Lise Rodgers gave fascinating performance talk based on the letters and novels of Jane Austen

I was re-reading my copy of Pride and Prejudice (after watching the BBC production) and came across some pages that I had drawn in! It must have been in my last Jane Austen stage.

In 2017 Melbourne Rare Book Week there were a few presentations about collecting Jane Austen Books. 2025 will be the 250 Anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, so expect some more!

Christmas is coming up and I will be posting irregularly over the break. But I will be sketching all the time ! Happy sketching to you all !

In the past week I did two sketches on location. Both are very similar and yet different.

Similarities

• both in my 13 x 19 cm watercolour sketchbook, which I carry with me everywhere
• in each case I sat at the back of the room.
• I am a member of both organisations and many of the staff and volunteers know me and remember me as the sketcher when set myself up at the back of the room.

Sketch One

Yarra Birrarung: Artists, Writers and the River

Royal Historical Society of Victoria

At this event they launched both the exhibition and Dr Judith Buckrich’s latest book, which is the first comprehensive illustrated history of the Yarra Birrarung from before European settlement to the present day, a 200 year story, examined through the lives of its creatives.

 This book is an illustrated history of life on the Yarra. Through the lens of artists and writers, the book explores how life has flourished on the river, including recreation, industry and land use, as well as infrastructure, natural history and social history.

Despite much despoiling, our river remains the vital artery of the city and beyond to the Yarra Ranges. Just as it was the fulcrum of Wurundjeri life, it continues to inspire and fulfil our lives. From the Heidelberg School to the MCG, the river has been a centre of Australian arts and culture for decades.

• over two pages
• ink then watercolour pencil
• 30 minutes
• i did not know how many people would attend. They kept coming and it was standing room only. I stood at the back and tried to give an idea of how full the room was

Sketch two

Dressing Up: The depiction of fashion in magazines in the 18th and 19th centuries with Professor Emeritus Chris Browne

The Johnston Collection, Melbourne

The development of both men’s and women’s fashions from the later part of the 18th century until the end of the 19th century has been perhaps surprisingly well documented. Surviving colour lithographs and hand-coloured engravings can show us today what was in fashion at precise dates throughout that period. Professor Browne will describe the history of these illustrations and the magazines that first published them in both England and France.. The lecture will be illustrated by examples from his personal collection, some of which will be on display for direct inspection after the talk.

• on one page
• watercolour pencil
• one hour
• a set number of chairs in a small room for this smaller presentation

In each I have made choices on

• what to use
• what to sketch
• where to add the colour

I usually make my decisions on the spot with no plan!