Four sketches from 2 regular sketching spots. Two from the cafe at the markets and two from our regular cafe. In date order.
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National Arboretum Canberra
Today we had a large group of sketchers meet at the National Arboretum, which has some of the best views over the city of Canberra. The shape of the central building on the site is leaf-shaped from above, and the curve of the roofline echoes the nearby hills.
I worked on capturing the curve of the most prominent part of the building along with the view across to the telecommunications tower on the nearby Black Mountain.
I prepared my page with splashes of paint before sketching.
Everyday practice
Here are some sketches from my current ‘handbag’ sketchbook. I am trying to use up one of the myriad sketchbooks that seem to spontaneously generate in my spare room. This book isn’t too good with wet media so I mainly try and sketch in pencil. The pencils I am using are a Palomino Blackwing 530 and my el cheapo multicolour pencil I got in Japan at Sekkaido.
In rough date order … 
Trying to get some more interesting perspectives into these ‘regular’ events.
Sketching graffiti from a roof top carpark.
This is a work in progress. I do a bit more every time I stop here to collect the mail.
Again, trying to enliven a cafe sketch. It gets very busy at our local cafe on Saturday morning. There are lots of parents and kids relaxing after the kids football matches.
The 365 day project
I have just passed day 200 in my year long project to “stitch with my eyes closed”. I decided it was time that it had a page of it’s own so if you click on this link you will find the page and the two videos I have made of the project to date.
One side, Day 200
The other side, Day 200
Face Painting
Here are some more watercolour sketches of faces of people in cafes.
My first sketch, which also included some pen and ink (note to self I find the ink lines rather distracting, even though they give ‘definition’)
As part of my ongoing strategy to disrupt lazy habits I decided to use only a Daniel Smith test palette for my colours. This palette includes a number of colours that I don’t have in my paint selection. The other benefit using this card is that it’s a lot easier to carry if you are traveling light.
The John Orlando Birt colour palette for Daniel Smith
I was happier with my results when I ditched my pen and just stuck to the watercolours.
Man in a puffa jacket, 26 June 2017, watercolour
I think that this head of a small boy was the most successful on the day.
26 June 2017, small boy, watercolour
Another day and another cafe, same watercolour palette. Three people who were sitting at the same table.
Three portrait sketches, 4 July 2017, watercolour
leonieandrews 