Tag / pen and ink

by Leonie Andrews

The Kurrajong

A favourite walk of ours is to the small stand of kurrajong trees (Brachychiton populneus) that grow on the shoulder of Mt Taylor. These trees are often referred to as ‘bottle’ trees, for their swollen trunks, although it is not a strong feature of this particular species of kurrajong. I took  only my smallest sketchbook, made by a friend of mine, and my ink pen on this walk. The book is approximately 70 x 100 mms, (or 3×4 inches).

My tiny sktechbook.

My tiny sketchbook.

I did three sketches. The first of the triple trunk of the main kurrajong tree, which has seeded it’s offspring in the bush around it.

The triple-trunked kurrajong, pen and ink, 16 June 2014.

The triple-trunked kurrajong, pen and ink, 16 June 2014.

Next my interest was captured by what I could see behind the tree. This is a series of high voltage power cables that traverse this side of the mountain – they actually hang in much smoother curves than I could draw! It was a challenge to try and capture the light-grey cables against the darker toned eucalypt trees on the higher slope of the mountain.

Power cables against the hillside, pen and ink, 16 June 2014.

Power cables against the hillside, pen and ink, 16 June 2014.

Last of all was a small cluster of dead leaves which were highlighted by the late afternoon sun.

Dead leaves, late afternoon, pen and ink 16 June 2013.

Dead leaves, late afternoon, pen and ink 16 June 2013.

by Leonie Andrews

Tales of the city

Here are some drawings I’ve done over the past few days. First a blind drawing of the Academy of Science building, also known as the Shine Dome and familiarly called ‘the Martian Embassy’ by locals. Behind it stands one of the newest developments in central Canberra, the Nishi Building in the New Acton precinct.

The Academy of Science Building, also called the Shine Dome (a.k.a 'the Martian Embassy') and the Nishi Building, New Acton, pen and ink, 20 June 2014.

The Academy of Science Building, also called the Shine Dome (a.k.a ‘the Martian Embassy’) and the Nishi Building, New Acton, pen and ink, 20 June 2014.

Outside the Nishi Building, (which I’ve written about here) is the sculpture ‘Carbon’, it appears to be extruded from the buildings’ understorey and extends along the facade.

Carbon, by Steven Siegel, pen and ink, 20 June 2014.

Carbon, by Steven Siegel,
pen and ink, 20 June 2014.

The city of Canberra was designed, originally by Walter Burley Griffin, who was inspired, in part, by the Garden City movement. In practical terms for Canberra residents today it means that the city incorporates large areas of bushland. Along with the natural landscape come lots of native animals and animals and cars don’t interact on an equal basis. Every day kangaroos die as a result of being hit by cars. Yesterday I came across one such victim not far from my own house. It was a female Eastern Grey kangaroo, our most common kangaroo species and while the species is not in any way endangered it is still a sad experience to find one of these beautiful creatures dead on the roadside.

A dead Eastern Grey Kangaroo, pen and ink, 21 June 2014.

A dead Eastern Grey Kangaroo, pen and ink, 21 June 2014.

by Leonie Andrews

Blue and white

I’ve just taken delivery of the first fountain pen that I’ve owned in quite a while. The boxed set came with ink and  spare ink cartridges. Given the ink etc was black I was rather startled to discover that the cartridge in the pen was blue ink. So it’s blue drawings on white paper for the present.

Headphones, ink, 21 January 2014.

Headphones, ink, 21 January 2014.

At some time while I was wandering around the web yesterday I came across a video of the potter/artist/journal keeper/etc Paulus Behrensohn. Here was some Paulus-inspired doodling of imaginary pots.

Pots, inspired by Paulus Behrensohn, 21 January 2014.

Pots, inspired by Paulus Behrensohn, 21 January 2014.