November 15, 2015 by Leonie Andrews

Fun, fun, fun

I was at the Beach Boys concert Friday night, I’ve turned into such a rabid sketcher that I even took my small sketchbook along. Before the show started I drew some backgrounds in so I only had to add the figures when the time came.

I managed this sketch, from the side of the theatre. The watercolour was added afterwards.

The Beach Boys on stage, pen and ink and added watercolour,13 November 2015

I even managed a second drawing of two of the band, Jeffrey Foskett a band regular and Bruce Johnson, who joined the Beach Boys in 1965.

Beach Boys concert, pen and ink and added watercolour, 13 November 2015

So my figures are turned out more ‘stick’ than realistic but hey its hard to dance and draw at the same time.

My biggest regret was that this version of the band doesn’t include Brian Wilson or Alan Jardine – but we had fun nonetheless. The music was great and the musicians were all really good. John Cowsill (of the ’60’s pop group, yes those Cowsills) was a total crazy man on the drums and he’s nearly 60! No time for further drawing I just had to dance for the rest of the concert!

November 2, 2015 by Leonie Andrews

Urban Sketchers Canberra at the National Library of Australia

On Sunday we had our first official outing as Urban Sketchers Canberra, a goal we have been working towards since our sketching group started meeting in February this year. We had 15 people come along, including two people joining us for the first time.

With a bad weather forecast we had to do a last minute change from our planned outside venue to one that offered indoor drawing opportunities. So it was off to the National Library of Australia (NLA). As luck would have it the rain held off for a bit so many of us took the opportunity to draw outside the building.

Spot the non-sketcher, USk Canberra takes to the National Library of Australia

I decided to tackle a part of the building that I must say I haven’t paid much attention to before, the large sculpture above the entrance to the library. The work is called Knowledge and was designed by Tom Bass, who is probably better known to most Canberrans as the designer of the sculpture of Ethos in Civic Square. Commissioned in 1966 the work was installed on the building in 1968. At just over 21 metres in length, 2 metres in height and projecting nearly 2 metres from the wall this is a complex piece of work. Indeed I didn’t really consider how complex until I tried to sketch the projecting elements of the work.

Part of the sculpture, Knowledge, at the National Library of Australia, watercolour and brush pen, 1 November 2015

I managed to get through to the start of the watercolour when it began to rain. I retreated to the portico along with most of the other sketchers to complete adding the colour to my sketch.

As is traditional we met up at the end of our two hours of sketching to compare our efforts. As always the subjects and approaches were quite varied.

Some of our final works on the day

Discussions of the day’s work continued over coffee and lunch in the Library’s cafe. Some of us also looked at the exhibition of work of William Strutt currently on display in the Library. Strutt’s ability as a draftsman really stood out and we were in awe of his fine pencil sketches.

Studies of two male figures and a woman’s head, William Strutt, c. 1860, pencil (PIC R3339 LOC1132/F), collection of the National Library of Australia

The next meeting of Urban Sketchers Canberra will be on 5 December, at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. You can find details of events and more pictures on the group’s Facebook page, or contact us directly at urbansketcherscanberra@gmail.com

October 28, 2015 by Leonie Andrews

The Historic Hunter

Several weeks ago I was in the Hunter Valley which has many towns dating back to the 19th century. (A very short time period compared to the thousands of years of Aboriginal ownership of the land). In the larger centres the original facades of the 19th century buildings are visible rising above the ground floor of contemporary shops.

Here are two such facades. The first is in Singleton, located on John St, built in 1898.

The facade of the Singleton Arcade, watercolour, 9 October 2015

When I moved around to the front of the building I could see this interesting chimney, to the rear of the facade.

Chimney detail, the Singleton Arcade, pen and ink, 9 October 2015

Several days later I visited Maitland. The long main street here is also full of interesting buildings. 437 High St is now the home to up-market boutiques and gift shops. I was surprised to find out that it was even older than the Singleton Arcade. This building, originally built for the Australasian Bank (through subsequent transmogrifications becoming the ANZ Bank), was completed in 1869 and opened the following year. Its French styling and rounded ist floor balcony takes advantage of it’s corner location. This is a real stand-out among the other nearby buildings.

The first floor of 437 High St, Maitland, watercolour, 12 October 2015

October 22, 2015 by Leonie Andrews

Seen in Mawson

It’s been a while since I posted. I’ve been busy with lots of other ‘stuff’ which will continue to take up my time over the coming weeks in the run up to my next exhibition at the Gosford Regional Gallery in December.

Here are two sketches from outside our favourite coffee shop in Mawson. This first sketch was done over two sessions. The first day I managed the thumbnail sketch and brushpen shadows. The second day I added the watercolour layer.

Shuttered facade on a real estate office, brushpen and watercolour, 17 & 20 October 2015

On the second visit I decided to try and quickly capture this motorcycle, which I was sure would only be there for a short time. Good practice – of course we left before the rider even came back.

Motorcycle, brushpen and watercolour, 20 October 2015

October 4, 2015 by Leonie Andrews

Flower Power

Today the Canberra Sketcher’s Group braved the massed tulips, not to mention the crowds, for our October sketch outing. It took awhile for us to collect ourselves as the parking was problematic, but eight of us did manage to meet up and get to work.

Several of us chose to work from highest part of the display area. We had plenty of interaction with people coming to see what we were doing.

Working from the high ground

The view across the display beds to the Ferris wheel was popular.

Rob’s view to the Ferris wheel, watercolour and marker pen

But getting in all those people and plants was definitely a challenge.

I found it hard to fit ’em all in! watercolour and graphite

Other’s chose to focus on smaller scenes,

Elaine’s sensitive linework view of a picnic spot, pencil, fine pen and watercolour

and flowers

Tulip study by Deb, watercolour and pen

and traders stalls.

Mandy’s tulips and traders, watercolour and fine marker pen

Of course ther’es always room for that ice cream.

Ice cream vendor, watercolour and graphite

In the end we were grateful to sit down and enjoy our picnic lunch, while comparing notes and catching up on what people had been drawing in the previous month.

The day’s collective effort

I thought we might have had time to sketch some of the tasty treats that people brought along to share for lunch, but they all disappeared before anyone could even get their books out!

We will continue the floral theme with our November outing which will be held at 10.30am on Sunday 1 November, at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. We will meet on the lawns in front of the cafe. Hope to see you then!

leonieandrews

Tag / watercolour