More lessons with Liz Steel - context and composition.

Having earlier touched on some fundamental drawing lessons for buildings, Weeks 6 and 7 of Liz Steel's Urban Sketching course was focussed on context and composition.

The aim of week 6 was creating life around an object (often a building). Placing the main object into context. This assists with the concept of creating a story for urban sketching. It's also an area I tend to neglect. Partly because I'm chicken.

Liz had us warm up in the studio with sketching from photos of models from art reference books.

 

These two faces were finished later from black and white photos.

We also drew trees and cars. Palms, Pines and Gums are the trees I associate the most with Sydney. My greens need a bit more oomph here - a bit more summer to them.  

Once finished in the studio, we were then off to Manly Wharf where we gathered at the traffic lights. Here we sketched people as they waited in the rain for the lights to change. Sketching people within a such a short time frame is all very new to me. I learnt quite a lot and know that I would have continued to bypass sketching people if it weren't part of this course. Having the direction of an accomplished sketcher who is encouraging and enthusiastic made a huge difference.

 

 

Week 7 was about Composition. Balancing a blend of text, headings and images around the page to again help tell a story about the location and also communicate the feeling and atmostphere of the moment.




My studio cup and saucer sketch.. without my unbalanced composition!

 

Liz challenged with randomly selected layouts. We had to sketch a cup and saucer onto the page in the assigned area and then build a balanced composition around it. My composition for this one was messy when I added the words. I painted it later at home, once I regained some confidence! Filling in text to balance composition with an image, whilst maintaing a flow of seemingly effortless prose  is due for a bit of development.

 

It came together a bit better when we then set out to sketch at one of my favourite cafes in Manly, Foundry Fiftythree: huge tables allowing plenty of room to sketch, unique items decorating the walls, cool teapots, good coffee and good food.

Sadly, we're nearing the end of our course with Liz. Just one more class and then we will be left to our own devices. Fortunately, Liz has taught us plenty, she shares a great deal of her ideas online and she is considering teaching more courses. If you'd like to read more about her classes Liz shares her ideas here, and you can also find reviews of Liz's course on class mate Suzi Poland's blog.

Sketching through March

My current employment (beyond child wrangling of kids and their various activities) is of a sparodic nature. Days or weeks of work which leave little time for creativity followed by days or weeks of time where I can get outside, enjoy the sunshine and sketch, sketch, sketch. I'm really grateful for this type of job as it suits my wants very well.

So March has been a great month for getting out and about. I returned to The Bower on the walk from Manly to Shelly Beach to draw one of my favourite buildings in the area. This is the spot I started my first urban sketch about 6 months ago.

 

I also had the good fortune this week to meet Liz Steel at her favourite teahouse - T2. A fabulous spot for tea, scones, discussing sketching and a bit of artwork.

Manly has its fair share of cafes that I am still to discover. Foundary Fiftythree was one I visited for the first time last week. It's exactly the kind of place I love to draw because it is well styled with lots  great vintage bits and pieces throughout. Nice character and good coffee.

A Week of Coffee

A week of coffee. In order to overcome my fear of filling the panoramic shape of my new watercolour notebook I set out to draw a coffee an hour a day this week (yes, the hardship). Gastronomic rewards aside, it actually looks like I learnt something! By the end of the week I'm filling more of the page, playing with reflections, shadows and instensity of colours.

 

I watched Danny Gregory's interview with Tommy Kane this week. Tommy draws amazing, detailed sketches with pen from the start and accomodates any errors on the way. I agree accepting the errors this way builds confidence of just getting stuck into what's in front. I wouldn't always do this but when I'm trying to get results from short sittings it seems to help.

The French House, Waterloo. Sydney

Coffee, cake and good company at The French House, Dank Street, Waterloo. I drew the pen lines whilst seated outside under the fabulous balcony and then finished the colours later when I returned home. The chandelier proved a challenge - trying to see details whilst staring into lights is just not a good idea! I love the grandeur of the decor at this cafe. Its decadent but helps me dream of travelling to see beautiful French architecture again one day.

Sketching on holidays - Customs House, Geelong

When I first started using Instagram, places I have known for years started to have a different appeal. Where I would once walk past an old building perhaps without a sideways glance I was now searching for interesting corners or rusting old signs to photograph. Likewise with urban sketching, I am seeing my surroundings with fresh eyes.  This is most obvious to me when I return to Geelong for holidays to see my family and spend time where I grew up.

Here's a sketch of Customs House down by the foreshore in Geelong. I had previously dined here with my sister, but had never stopped to appreciate the combination of sandstone and bluestone in the building or the ornate gate. Sitting outside on the grass on boxing day I drew bricks, trees, lamp posts, counted windows and replicated the length of each blind. It may sound painfully boring to some but for me its like a meditation and I leave with a greater appreciation of architecture and design.

Little Paper Lane

 

If you love fabulous stationery shops jam packed with awesome goodies (I do!) this place is like heaven. I had been hoping to draw Jayde Leeder's Little Paper Lane for a few weeks and to catch the lovely Christmas themed windows but things have been a little crazy (really, why am I surprised by this?!).  As luck would have it, my little girl had a birthday part in Mona Vale on Saturday so I had a chance to sketch the cute facade with fluro trees and Santa letterbox between party drop off and pick up.

 

I particularly liked the woven hanging baskets out the front and will have to head back when we move house to scout out some wonderful items for my new home.

 

Litte Paper Lane can be found at Shop 5/1 Waratah Street, Mona Vale (Northern Beaches, Sydney) or you can buy online at http://littlepaperlane.com.au/

 

Hemmingway's Manly - Cafe Sketching

 

 

Another recent rainy day, another cafe sketch. This time sketching at Hemingway's Manly. I attempted for the first time to include as much of my surroundings as possible. In retrospect the effect may have been better in landscape than portrait. The masters of this style of urban sketching also manage to round the field of view a little as well - much like a fish eye, wide angle lens. Something I will have to train myself to do! Am yet to get my head around it...

Urban Sketching - on the path to Shelly Beach

With life's changes I'm becoming time poor for creative play, but I also realise its an integral part to me staying happy. So I'm resolving to combine a variety of trips outdoors or breaks during the day with some quick sketching.

I've invested in a handy little travel kit of watercolour paints, a refillable water pen and a permanent marker (no.3). Today was my first trip out to trial my new kit. I made my way to a spot by the beach to grab a coffee and start drawing and painting.

This one took me an hour all up which I really can't afford just yet. My next ones will have to have less detail and be completed closer to sunrise so that I can fit in everything else for the day!

Bluestone Cottage Drawing

When returning on a quick visit to my birthplace in Victoria, I took some pictures of old buildings that I've always loved. This little bluestone cottage sits on the main road to Barwon Heads and always makes me smile. It's lovely to see it is well maintained and loved by it's current occupants and I've now entered it into my little homes sketchbook of places that make me feel good.

Little Home Sketch from Freshwater

Onto my second entry for my Little Homes Drawings. This one is based on a photo I took of a lovely little weatherboard house in Freshwater (Harbord) in Sydney.

Following a suggestion from an Instagram friend I think I will try to add subtle shading and hues with watercolours on my next home, if a paper and pen test goes well.

The Journey of Henry. Sketchbook Project 2012.

It's complete and viewable on Flickr here!

Completed for the Sketchbook Project 2012, The Journey of Henry is a collection of sketches and hand carved stamp prints about the migration of a Short-tailed Shearwater. This oceanic bird spends months at sea during its flght around the Pacific. The books content includes visions and thoughts I associate with these birds, long journeys, wonders of the ocean and reflections on life itself.

Henry's namesake is, Henri Bourquin, one of my 16 ancestors who made the treacherous voyage by boat from Europe to Australia in the 1800's.

Thanks to Ben Vincent and Chris Dillon for providing the soundtrack of their music for the video below.

Short-tailed Shearwater for Sketchbook Project

Sketchbook Project underway!

Away on holidays but finally working on my Sketchbook Project again. Here's a whale I drew and painted using watercolour pencils and pen. I am using my phone to post to blogger so please excuse simple formatting and brevity! Hope you're enjoying your festive season. C x