It was cold yesterday so we were huddled underneath the awning next to the reptile shop to drink our coffee. At least we got the ‘desirable’ table right next to the tank of Eastern Long Neck Turtles. I love watching them swim about the tank, but they are also adept at just sitting underwater for long periods of time. I was particularly enamoured of the turtle stack in the corner of the tank.
A tank of Eastern Long Neck Turtles, pen and ink and gel pen, 8 April 2015
This morning’s coffee break resulted in this set of portraits.
Patrons of the Italian bakery, pen and ink, 7 April 2015
We were out on Easter Saturday and because our regular coffee spot was closed for the holiday we opted for an alternative venue. Ah new scenes to draw. Out came the trusty pen (Lamy Safari) and ink and the somewhat dodgy pen (Duke 209). My attention was caught by the plane tree framed by the cafe door. I also liked the people sitting on the right. So far so good. Then I thought I’d better capture the person on the left before they finished their snack and left. I realised too late that I’d drawn the person on the left at the wrong scale.
The original drawing, cafe pen and ink, 4 April 2015
I couldn’t resist a little tweak using Photoshop to enlarge the figure on the left to get an idea of how the drawing might have turned out.
Re-jigged on Photoshop, the figure on the left enlarges to a more realistic scale.
I’ll console myself with the old saying that “the only person who’s never made a mistake is the person who’s never done a thing”.
Like many sketchers I always carry a small sketchbook in my bag for sketching wherever I go. These days I frequently take a larger book as well, that is if I remember it. Today I forgot the larger book so I sketched in the smaller one instead. In the small book I found two other drawings which I haven’t previously posted so here are two quick drawings and a slow one to finish off.
Firstly a sketch captured while I was scoffing fish and chips down the coast several weeks ago. Most people sit on the back verandah of this fish shop, solely for the view. Fending off marauding seagulls may also be necessary.
The Clyde River bridge (the other one) at Bateman’s Bay NSW, pen and ink, 16 March 2015
Yesterday I was sitting at the green waste re-cycling centre whiling away a few minutes while my partner tied a tarp over our load of soil. This is what I could see in front of me.
Red Hill from Corkhill Bros at the Mugga Lane tip, pen and ink, 30 March 2015
Finally I spent rather more time on this drawing of the pallets at the back of the fruit shop, Jabals Halal Market, at Mawson.
The back of Jabals Halal Market, Mawson ACT, pen and ink, 31 March 2015
In my ongoing attempt to make more interesting cafe drawings I’ve been experimenting with drawing people’s feet and legs. This, of course, also has the benefit of not having to look at the person’s face while you try to draw them!
I started yesterday with this drawing and what do I see but I managed to sneak in a full figure after all. The composite nature of these drawings does mean that the scale isn’t consistent between the two pages. But I’m prepared to forgive myself.
Leg studies at the Italian Bakery in Mawson, pen and ink, 24 March 2015
As soon as you think you’ve got a strategy then everything changes again. Here are today’s legs and a bit more.
People and leg studies at Biginelli’s at Kambah, pen and ink and Copic marker, 25 March 205
I’d done what I could with the legs, when the people whose feet I’ve drawn on the lower right hand side of the page, insisted on moving their table right next to ours (we were outside so it’s fair game). At such close proximity even my foot drawing strategy was endangered. I was just about to settle down to read the newspaper when I noticed the gentleman who I’ve drawn in the upper right hand side of the page. He was a good distance away and was totally focused on reading his paper. Not only that but he was dressed head to foot in black which really brought my attention to drawing the shadows that were cast on his knee. And no, the poor man doesn’t have 6 legs that’s just where he ended up on my page – next time I might give him a page all to himself.
leonieandrews 