Drawing People

 I've come to love drawing people when I'm out somewhere. My aim is to do it with as few lines as possible. Frequent practice is I think making me more proficient. My tools of choice in these situations is just a marker pen as mostly I have to "down tools" as soon as I'm called.

Here's some sketches done in my physio's waiting room, while waiting for a flu shot at a healthcare clinic and during a seniors club's monthly meeting.

Marker pens, #handbookJournal 5.5" x 5.5".

Trumpet Vine

This is the first time in a few years that our Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicands) has flowered! This year we delayed our yearly pruning till end of winter instead of late autumn so as to enjoy the showy red flowers. It's strange that it flowered in winter when it's described as a late summer flowering plant. It's one of several plants in our garden which have bloomed at the wrong time this year. Are our plants disorientated due to climate change!?

Here's a photo of the tangle of woody vines against our garden wall. 

With aerial roots and native to USA, it's now possibly naturalized to Australia. The Trumpet Vine is a potential invasive weed!  I can attest to this nasty behaviour as it had overtaken our herbaceous border when we first moved in, with suckers emerging some distance away. I spent many hours on hands and knees keeping them contained. Its creeping woody vine climbs up our brick garden wall and gives a nice display.

Recommended pruning in late winter/early spring.

I drew this in July (mid winter) but didn't colour it in until today 2 months later (from a photo reference). 

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #Stillman&Birn Beta Sketchbook, 8.5 x 5.5".

Winter Tree in Pioneers Park

Two down, two more to go! I promised myself I would sketch this magnificent tree in Pioneers Park, each season. Here is my second (winter) sketch. This was done on the 5th day of spring but it can pass as a winter sketch as the tree is still bare. 

Try as I might, I have succeeded in showing its size but not quite succeeded in showing how it towers above me with its magnificent height! 

The first sketch I did of this tree (shown below) was done in autumn. I'll have to sketch it again in spring and summer.

I wish I knew its name and age. The local council has not provided any information on either! 

#sailorfude pen, watercolour, #stillman&birn Beta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”. 

An Afternoon of Romeo and Juliet

I got some sketching in during Casey Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of music inspired by Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, Prokofiev and Bernstein’s West Side Story plus selected scenes from Romeo and Juliet by actors from OzArt. The sketch of the conductor done in semi darkness was unexpectedly successful. Thank you Casey Philharmonic Orchestra for an enjoyable afternoon! 

#tombow marker pens, #handbookjournal 5.5" x 5.5". #bunjilplace #caseyphilharmonicorchestra

"Lost" at Bunjil Place

Sketching at Bunjil Place at the installation called "Lost" (after visiting the inspiring exhibition "Floribunda" at Bunjil Gallery).

We stayed indoors for the warmth, tea and my ginormous lemon poppy seed muffin (which I shared with my spouse) but outside the building would have provided a good sketch opportunity too!

 

The artist of the installation is Amanda Parer. Her featured monumental flora (made out of some thin light material and inflated) are of either extinct or endangered botanical species from around the world. Their size highlights their beauty and wonder that has been Lost. It was fun watching kids crawling on the soft installations and enjoying the school holidays. 

#sailorfude pen, watercolour, #hahnemuehle Soft Cover A6. #bunjilplace