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.
2024 is turning out to be a busy year,.with the calendar filling up already.
Melbourne Athenaeum Library – Artist in Residence
I have been awarded an Artist in Residence at the Melbourne Athenaeum Library for 2024, An Artist in Residence can take on many forms. In this case, I am providing a drawing a month based on the library, its books, archived objects, and events in the library 2024. I have had a good exploration of the archives and taken many photos and an inspiration! I will post them on my Instagram and Facebook as soon as they are publically available. I have been a member of the Melbourne Athenaeum Library since I moved to Melbourne in 2014.. It is one of the oldest Libraries in Melbourne and is a subscription Library. I love to borrow their books and attend their regular string quartet concerts. Read more about Melbourne Athenaeum Library here.
Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – classes
I have been teaching a few classes for the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne. This March will be my second class with them and it is part of their Autumn calendar. Anyone is welcome to book.here.
Clunes Booktown Festival – stallholder
i am so excited to once again have a stall at Clunes Booktown Festival in March. This will be my third year. I am in my happy place of a whole town full of books for a weekend and I get to combine books and drawing. I draw in old books that are about to the discarded, drawing an object or scene that is described on a page. .“Running from dawn to dusk in the historic township of Clunes in Regional Victoria. A two day festival full of author and artist talks, workshops and live entertainment for the whole family. Discover the outdoor book bazaar with over a hundred stall holders and immerse yourself in Clunes from cover to cover. It’s worth the visit.” You can view and purchase them now on my ETSY online store. I will be adding to them all the time as I spend the next month creating more.
The Johnston Collection – class
The Johnston Collection is an exhibition house of exquisite British and European fine and decorative arts in a historic East Melbourne townhouse. They have guided tours, amazing lectures, and events. I have been invited to un some Watercolour Pencil sketching classes. I held one in January and there will be another in May,
This is a unique opportunity to learn to sketch ‘on location’ at The Johnston Collection. Become familiar with watercolour pencils and how to use them. Then test your new skills as you explore the ground floor rooms of The Johnston Collection’s exhibition house, Fairhall. Have a look at their Special Events to book and see what else is on offer. Anyone can book for my event, you don’t have to be a Member.
Melbourne Rare Book Week – official sketcher
Melbourne Rare Book Week is returning for its 10th Anniversary in July.. Once again I am honoured to be the official on-location sketcher documenting the free events. They are in the planning stages at the moment. Keep checking their website for updates and a program release,
Dromkeen – High Tea sketching class
The ever popular High tea sketching with Watercolour Pencils will return in the next few months at Dromkeen homestead, just outside of Melbourne. Keep a watch on the Dromkeen Facebook page for the announcement and booking details.
Greeting cards and drawn in books on my ETSY store
I have a range of greeting cards printed from my watercolour pencil drawings available for purchase on my ETSY website I. They feature feathers, nests, library shelves and ladders, books, and Christmas-themed cards. They are large-size cards and can also be framed individually or in themes.
It is going to be a fun and busy few months ahead. I have a few other Projects in the planning as well. Keep creative! and happy sketching.
Yesterday I was given the opportunity to draw some parsley.
It fitted in very well with the Nature Sketching with Watercolour Pencil class I held on Saturday with Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
We were based at Plant Craft Cottage (1850) which is the oldest building in a public space in Victoria. The heritage-listed building and two of the original rooms are used today to host craft workshops within the tranquil setting of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
We sat outside in the sunshine and after an introductory session the participants found a place in the shade and sketched. I gave them 15 minutes before moving to another part of the garden.
I mentioned to them the 126 Faber Castell Colours and the many options. There are 20 greens! My parsley project provided the opportunity to show these.
The FaberCastell watercolour pencils used were:
Leaf Green 112
Permanent Green 266
Chrome Oxide Green 278 – I have this in my daily sketch kit
Grass Green 166 – I have this in my daily sketch kit
Apologies for the sideways video. It took so long to get this far and I wanted to share this weekly blog, rather than spend another night or two trying to figure this out.
I flew to Sydney (just over 1 hour) for the Australia Day long weekend. I lived in Sydney for 10 years and have not visited since 2019.
I organised to meet a few good sketching friends and also a small informal urban sketching catchup. Below are all of my sketches. I have only got around to scanning and posting. Here they are!
Today I had the pleasure of teaching a “Sketching with Watercolour Pencil” class at The Johnston Collection in Melbourne.
The Johnston Collection is a museum that re-interprets the Collection through a regular program of re-installation and interventions of the permanent collection by members of the artistic and creative community. The current theme is ” A Home of One’s Own.”
“The museum has a superb collection of English Georgian, Regency, and Louis XV fine and decorative arts, and objet d’art which was a gift from William Robert Johnston (1911-1986) to the people of Victoria. Johnston was a prominent Melbourne-born antique dealer, real estate investor and collector. The Collection is displayed in a constantly changing domestic setting, in his former residence, Fairhall, a historic East Melbourne townhouse”.
The museum also offers special exhibitions, study days, lectures and workshops throughout the year, sharing stories and inspiring communities.
This was a special event as you usually can book guided tours of this amazing collection, but you can’t stop and sketch along the way.
Today a small group arrived and were shown into the Kent Room, where after a cup of tea/coffee and biscuits, were given a short talk about the collection by Rebecca, one of the guides.
After introductions, I explained about watercolour pencils, the waterbrush (everyone loves these), and sketchbooks in their Sketchkit. After some experiments with the pencils on the page, we were guided into the Green Drawing Room. There were so many decorative objects for inspiration.
It was an opportunity to sit amongst this very visual collection and observe an object for 15 minutes while you drew it. How often do you spend 15 minutes observing one object? Rebecca was also able to tell us about the Rooms and objects in them.
Everyone quickly chose an object that attracted them and had 15 minutes to sketch. We then moved into the White and Blue Rooms and then the kitchen,
There are plans for another one or two of these in the future. They are open to Friends of The Johnston Collection and other members of the public. They also have a fascinating series of talks on art, fashion, design and history! There are so many that I would love to attend. See their website.
This event is supported by The Colin Holden Charitable Trust.
I am very excited to be invited by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Friends group to lead two Nature Sketching sessions. The first one is Sat, 3 Feb 2024 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Book here
Below is the promotional material from the RBGV website.
If you have always wanted to sketch in nature, either to keep a nature journal or make sketches of trees and flowers you come across, join Alissa Duke in this inspirational class. Learn to use watercolour pencils to record your experience as we sketch in the Gardens. Pick up some sketching tips and techniques along the way.A sketch kit with all you need can be purchased separately and added to your order when you book.
On Saturday I spent a few hours in the Gardens, sketching to get familiar with the area and sketch a few pages of what I found on the day. I did not realise how big the gardens are! Melbourne Gardens extends over 38 hectares and houses a collection of more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world. I wandered around one small area, exploring paths.
I had my watercolour pencils, Moleskine 13cm x 19cm watercolour sketchbook and waterbrush, There was so much to sketch, I chose objects that I was attracted to, Each person will choose a different object to sketch and will sketch it differently. There is no right or wrong.
This class is all about observation and quick sketching. When you sit and sketch, you stop and see more. I usually give students 15 -20 minutes to sketch an object or scene. This is a good amount of time as it stops you from overthinking,
Many of the plants in the Gardens have their plant names attached to them Just not the ones I chose to sketch!
There will be another class in their Autumn Calendar, Le them know if you are interested in more.
Our 2024 artist-in-residence has been locked in – Melbourne artist Alissa Duke.
Alissa Duke is a law librarian who loves books: to read, to draw and, sometimes, to draw in. She sketches daily, documenting everyday events, objects and travels. Alissa carries her sketchbook, watercolour pencils and pen with her everywhere, saying there is always something to draw. Her art captures the character of the objects that she draws, connecting them with the viewer. Alissa will be sketching events and library features for the next 12 months, leading up to our 185th birthday next November. You may have already spotted her at our Friday night events sketching our wonderful musicians in the moment.
What is Melbourne Athenaeum Library?
Of Collins Street’s many iconic buildings, the Melbourne Athenaeum is alone in housing the same institution and serving the same purpose for the entirety of the almost 200 years it has existed. It was originally named the Mechanics’ Institution when formed in 1839.
The beautiful first floor Library and Reading Room offers over 30,000 print, digital, and audio books, a range of magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and film and TV on DVD for borrowing and use in the library, and hosts regular music performances, talks, book and screen clubs, and other cultural events. The library is open six days per week, and late on Wednesdays. Athenaeum members and visitors enjoy the historic atmosphere and quiet haven in a bustling city.
I have been a member of this subscription library since I moved to Melbourne in 2014. I am a regular book borrower. They usually have all titles in a series. This is great, as it means when I discover a new author I can read all in the series from Book 1! I also attend many of their Music concerts, usually the string quartets. You may have seen some of my sketches from their evenings. I will be attending more this year ! There is so much to sketch. The Library also hosts events in Melbourne Rare Book Week, which I am involved with.
As a librarian (in another historic Melbourne library) I have wonderful library chats with the librarians and volunteers when I visit.
What is an Artist in Residence?
An artist-in-residence is a phrase that covers a wide variety of circumstances. It can be short or long term, full time or part time, You can travel across the city, the country or the world. You usually need to produce something from your time there, sometimes in response to the environment. These are all agreed to at the beginning of the contract. This is my first. I am continuing in my full time job and work on these at nights and weekends. But it really can’t be called work, as it will be so much fun.
As described, I will be sketching over the next twelve months. I have already spent time exploring the library and archives and have a series of drawings that I plan on doing, I was inspired immediately and after initial excited discussions with the staff, I identified some unique items and features that are part of the Melbourne Athenaeum’s history and current life. There is so much to draw and the objects have so many stories to tell.
Books and pencils…I am so happy.
I hope to be able to share these with you along the way,
I posted this on my Facebook page and Instagram and received SO many congratulatory messages from friends near and far. It is a great start to the year.
I write a blog post at this time each year looking back at what I have done during the previous year with my art. I have found this is a very useful way of realising how much I have accomplished in a year, as I usually forget about some events or do not realise how productive I have been. It is a good reality check for me.
Below are my art projects and commercial activities in 2023. (they pay for my pencils) This year once again was a little different. Classes began slowly again and there were more special projects.
Sketchbooks
Below is a photograph of my sketchbooks from this year. There are ten 12cm x 19 cm Moleskine watercolor pencil sketchbooks. Some are in landscape format and some are portrait. I sketch every day and carry my sketchkit which includes watercolour pencils and sketchbook with me everywhere.
The numbers on the spine are the sketchbook numbers since I began my daily sketches in these Moleskine sketchbooks in December 2008. Can you tell that I am a librarian?
.I scan every page of my sketchbook and put them all on Flickr (an image-sharing website). I add tags and group them into Albums of events Holidays or Projects.
I put sketches daily on Instagram and some on Facebook. but these are social media sites, not searchable repositories. I use Flickr for example to locate sketches I have done of coffee if I am giving a class on food and drink. However, I have sketches from the holidays that still need to be uploaded, A holiday project…
I have maintained this, my weekly art blog. Thank you to the 209followers of this weekly art blog. I hope that you find it enjoyable and interesting to read and full of information. Sometimes I write about hints and tips when using watercolour pencils, other times the blog will be about art events I am involved in and the rest are usually my sketches from the previous week. I hope that I can share a bit of my passion for drawing and watercolour pencils.
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like me to explain anything I do. If you would like to receive a weekly email you can Subscribe here.
Newsletter
I sent three newsletters this year to the 153 people who subscribe to my newsletter, in February, July and September. The newsletter is for people who are interested in my art and would like to know when major events happen – new card designs, markets, exhibitions, and classes. They may not necessarily be interested in my Weekly Art blog, but still want to be updated.
Melbourne Rare Book Week
I sketched at Melbourne Rare Book Week (MRBW) when I first moved to Melbourne in 2015 and since 2016 I have been the official sketcher on location for the week of talks, culminating in the Melbourne Rare Book Fair on the final weekend. I have met so many interesting people and made lots of friends through this event.
You Can’t Draw in Books? by ME – I gave a one-hour talk about the books at MRBW – the books that no one wants. I draw on the pages of books that are about to be discarded. I had a good audience of 44 people and it went well. This was a talk where people could come up and handle the books and ask questions. They are for sale on my ETSY online store.
I also had a display at my local Library and gave TWO radio interviews !!!!! They were only ten minutes each and I think they went well. One was on Community Radio 3MRD with Jules Vine in her “Classically Saturday” show and the next was with ABC Victoria with David Astle. I have learnt that he has a wide audience and is famous for crosswords. Tim Finn was on his show later that night !!
Auckland Urban Sketching Symposium
I attended the Annual Urban Sketchers Symposium in Auckland, New Zealand in April. It is three days of Workshops with 600 attendees. I stayed for 10 days holiday and sketched all the way.
Watercolour pencil classes
I started to run my “Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil” classes. I had 12 classes at East Melbourne Library. They are a two-hour class and involve a local walk to sketch. The people attending have the option of purchasing a sketchkit.
Other classes were at Dromkeen homestead, outside of Melbourne. At Dromkeen I also Offered a Nature Sketching and two High tea Sketching
Clunes Booktown Festival
A highlight. I feel like this was made for me. A whole weekend of books at Clunes Booktown Festival. Read about my time there here.
I was there last year and hope to be there next.
and an extra from Clunes. Two of my “drawn in” books were purchased by Libraries Tasmania for their Book Art collection and have been catalogued with my name in the catalogue field notes
I was invited to be the official sketcher on location at the Prahran Mechanics Institute (PMI) Victorian History Showcase in Melbourne. This was an all-day event. I sketched the various local history groups at their table and visitors chatting to them.
Blarney Books and Art Biblio Prize
I enter each year, not to win, but to be involved and support Jo at Blarney Books and Art, which is in Port Fairy, a few hours from Melbourne, This is the 14th year, You pay the entry fee and receive a random book title of a recently published Australian book. You then creatively interpret the book in any format. People knit, make installation art, weave or paint. Of course, I draw in my book. My book was The Sitter by Angela O’Keeffe. My book was chosen to go on display at Blarney until the end of February 2024.
In 2023 I was approached and completed four private commissions. They were all of the buildings. I had to look at my invoices to remind me of this. It has been such a long year. I also declined a few commissions that I was approached to do as they were all outside of the scope of what I do. However, it was lovely to have been considered and asked.
Exhibitions
It was exciting to have my “You Can’t Draw in Books” exhibition at Dromkeen over September and October and give a presentation
I had a similar display and talk as part of Melbourne Rare Book Week at East Melbourne Library. I even gave
I have been told that there was a lot of interest in both the local communities and visitors.
ETSY online sales
I have a variety of greeting cards printed from my watercolour pencil drawings on my ETSY online store. I also have my “drawn-in books” available for purchase there.
Local Markets
I was happy to have a market stall with my cards and books at two local Christmas events. It was so lovely to catch up with local friends and meet some more!
… and looking forward
I have plans.
I have two local Artist in Residency commissions, Melbourne Rare Book Week, watercolour pencil sketching classes will begin again, hopefully a stall at Clunes Booktown Festival and a long planned holiday (was supposed to be in 2020) in the UK.
I hope that you have had a creative year and continue into 2024. Thank you for your support and questions.
It is the week before the week before Christmas. There seems to be a red and green theme emerging… and a little bit of food.
I practiced sketching some sweets for the following weekend’s class at Dromkeen.
Saturday was my last watercolour pencil sketching class for the year, It was a Christmas High Tea at Dromkeen homestead, just outside of Melbourne. Once again. I forgot to take photos. Bernadette and Denise had prepared a beautiful festive table. It was even more impressive when the food was brought out!
And a final sketch today. I occasionally arrange a sketching session for East Melbourne locals to get together and bring along any art gear they have and chat and sketch or paint.
I wonder what I will blog about next weekend, the day before Christmas?
I have been teaching a few classes for the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne. This March will be my second class with them and it is part of their Autumn calendar. Anyone is welcome to book.
Melbourne Rare Book Week is returning for its 10th Anniversary in July.. Once again I am honoured to be the official on-location sketcher documenting the free events. They are in the planning stages at the moment. Keep checking their 
