I have submitted my entry in for the Blarney Books and Art Biblo Prize.

I enter each year, not to win, but to be involved and support Jo at Blarney Books in Art, which is in Port Fairy, a few hours from Melbourne, This is its 14th year, staying the same but changing slightly over the years. This year you pay the entry fee and receive a random book title of an Australian book published recently. You then creatively interpret the book in any format.

I first read my allocated book “The Three Burials of Lotty Kneen: Travels with my grandmother’s ashes” – looking for inspiration along the way. I always have in mind to draw in a book, because that is what I do, draw in books. However, initially I was going to draw these on separate watercolour sheets but went back to my comfort zone of drawing in the book. I don’t have to worry about leaving margins, matt board, framing, and D-rings. Every entry goes on the online exhibition and 100 get chosen to be an onsite exhibition, and there are winning categories, However as I mentioned I enter to be involved, not to win a prize.

Here are my initial steps.

“The Three Burials of Lotty Kneen: Travels with my grandmother’s ashes” is about Krissy Kneen’s search for herself.  When her grandmother dies, Krissy sets out with a box containing her grandmother’s ashes, intending to trace her life and perhaps locate some remnants of her family. The book is about identity, belonging, love, family, the search for truth. It is a mixture of memoir, travelogue, fable, myth and recipes.

 I was inspired by the recipes of Jota and Medames of Slovenia and Egypt in the books and also the place of food in the finding of family. The author’s relationship is that “food is beautiful. Food Is art and for me, as for my grandmother, food is the primary way to express love.”

I drew on pages of the book that have the recipes, with watercolour pencil. The description of the individual ingredients to make a recipe are drawn and these are the parts that make up a whole.

Jota in Slovenia

I quickly discovered how much water the paper would take with my watercolour pencils. I draw, add colour and then add water to the page. I had to add the colour, (not with layers I usually use with watercolour paper), and a bit of water to move it around and increase intensity of colour in small areas. I could then go in and add details such as a hard line. But looking at the back of the page I can see it is buckled with water.

I could not add any more colour or water to the page.

Medames in Egypt

I forgot to take photos, so this is the finished page.

See my previous year’s entries at 2021 2020 2019 2018

Sketching at the Queen Victoria markets in Melbourne was organised by Amy Diana of Nature Journal Club. It had been a night and morning of intense rain, which cleared up in the city by the time we met. It may have kept some sketchers at home, but also marketgoers. That meant that it was relatively quiet. Lthere were lots of locals doing their shopping and tourists too.

The idea was to look at the fruit and vegetable stands in one section and choose a few items to bring back to a shared table to sketch. We made our selections in 30 minutes and then 2 hours sketching, chatting, and drinking coffee. You can see our table layout above (thanks Amy for taking the great photo). Raw vegetables are a great nature sketch subject. They stay still and you can observe closely, move them around, or cut them open ti investigate further.

These were all sketched on location, except for the peas.

All in watercolour pencil of course. I had planned to complete them at home, or add a bit more, but ran out of time and focus. I have moved on to other projects.

However I did purchase some quail eggs to sketch later and keep the eggs once used.

I was prompted to film another live sketch, after my sketching a coffee cup two weeks ago.

The aim is to show you how I sketch with watercolour pencils, rather than explaining in words on the page.

This time, my second filming attempt was a bit more organised, but I have a steep learning curve to go. I figured out how to rotate the video this time. The phone sits in the bracket at the top, face up. I pressed Camera and then Time-lapse, and then started sketching.

I had chosen my subject – one I have sketched many times before – vegemite on toast. Yes, I lather it on! I waited for the toast to cool, so that the butter would not melt. I chose the watercolour pencil colours that I knew I would use and sharpened them all. These are all Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils:

• Black
• Burnt Umber
• Walnut
• Payne’s Grey
• Brown Ochre
• Burnt ochre
• Light Cadmium Yellow
• Ivory

it is a Staedler sharpener

The brushes are my tiny brush and my medium brush. I have no idea of the sizes. I have a larger brush and a bigger brush (a 6 ??? ) that I use at home. Out and about I would use my Medium tip Kuretake Waterbrush.

Filming this time, I felt very self-conscious as to my hand movements: of how many times I changed pencil colour, my hand movements across the page. I was questioning myself whether this is what I would do if I was not filming? The answer, maybe not quite, but close to. I filmed the first video and realised that my hand dominated most of the page, and added the second piece of toast.

I hope that this gives you an insight as to my approach and method of using watercolour pencils

Things you may note

• Mixing the colours –

– for the Vegemite I sketched on the page with Black and Walnut on the page before adding the water. Knowing your colours and what they will do when water is added and how they mix is great.

– mixing off the tip of the pencils – Black and Walnut – a method to add colour to the when the page was already wet. If I had drawn on the page it would not have gone on smoothly, clumping and not spreading

• adding from the tip of the brush

• using the brush on the page

-dragging on the page to pull the colour across and spread it. It will get lighter as it spreads and you run out of pigment to

-stippling on the page – not dragging, but just adding a little water can intensify a colour and you can move it around a little.

I hope this gives you some ideas. This is just how I use watercolour pencils. Let me know if you have any questions. I would love to know any new things that you learnt from this.

One day I will film and use this out and about Urban Sketching so that you can look over my should there too.

on the way there – my usual travel sketching

Urban Sketching

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,

I went sketching at Melbourne Zoo last week.

As you can see from the photo below, it was a beautiful day of blue sky and sunshine.

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.

Let me know if there is something I can share.

Happy sketching

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.

Happy Zoo Sketching !

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.

2021 2020 2019 2018 Links to my previous entries.

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.

Have you discovered any new colours recently?

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.