These are my last sketches from Brisbane, Queensland. After lunch at Longtime Yum Char (what a treat!), J wanted a coffee...plus a small cake. Not this HUGE apple crumble served with whipped cream AND icecream! I was happy to help as it was so good, fresh out of the oven. 

I managed a sketch of the Neville Bonner Bridge just before we left for the airport the next day. It is Brisbane's newest over-river connection between Southbank and the CBD. Completed in Feb 2023 to improve connectivity ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. 

I hope we will be back again soon!

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

Sketching in King George Square, Brisbane

I’m very happy with this page of people in King George Square, Brisbane! A wedding party was there with many guests taking photos of each other, standing to pose just long enough for me to sketch them. The bride had taken herself off to the side. 

I'm so glad I added the strange bird which was weaving its way from crumb to crumb. It’s an Australian White Ibis. Originally a wading bird widespread over most of Australia, it has established itself in urban areas. Due to its fondness for rummaging in rubbish bins it has become known as the tip turkey or bin chicken! 

Finally we understand the meaning of this keychain. A lovely gift from a Brisbane friend. Thank you!

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

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Brisbane Sketches

 At the end of June we spent a few days in Brisbane, Queensland. Here's a few sketches I did during a fast and furious trip. J attended a conference, we had a family bereavement and there were many family and friends to catch up with. 

My first sketch...everyone has to draw Queen St Mall!

Here's one from an excellent location – looking down into Queen’s Gardens. I didn’t include the river or bridges behind so the view is incomplete. This was done over 2 sessions on different days. I'm so out of practice with this sort of view, it felt like hard work. 

I forgot to take a photo until the sun had dropped so low on the second day due to interruptions as I was with a couple of sketchers one of whom I had not seen for 12 years. 

J and I found Ryan’s on the Park Cafe which was an ideal location for sketching Queen’s Gardens from ground level. I captured a couple of people taking photos (there were many). The man was posing in front of a statue of Queen Victoria. It was on the left just out of view.  

Sharing a club sandwich with chips while sketching sure made the day!

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

Peranakan Melbourne Association Kueh Chang Festival

Here I am sketching at the Kueh Chang (Dumpling) Festival of the Peranakan Melbourne Association. The singing group was conveniently on stage when I sketched and painted a few of them dressed in traditional costume, together with some Peranakan cakes we were given to take home. The other page of my sketchbook shows the lunch of Nasi Lemak (a coconut rice dish with chicken and condiments) and some of the group who had started dancing. Unfortunately I didn't get further from being too busy eating. 

Text and the wrapped dumpling plus 2 homegrown persimmons from a friend were added at home. 

The Peranakan Chinese are a hybrid racial group with their own unique culture. This racial group is found mainly in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and are the descendants of mainland Chinese who migrated to SE Asia in the 14th to 17th century and intermarried with local women. 

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour,#Stillman&Birn Zeta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”. 

Edrington Park Retirement Village

Looking down from the first floor of the former home of Lord Richard Casey in Berwick, Melbourne is this imposing tree on the front lawn. He was a statesman and 16th Governor General of Australia. The manor house built in 1906 is significant for its association to the pastoral history of colonial Victoria. Also the house and gardens are of aesthetic and horticultural significance to the City of Casey. 

The house now forms part of Edrington Park Retirement Village. 

This sketch was done during a visit to the retirement village  with a few sketcher friends. I added a bit more texture to the tree trunk at home after the paint had properly dried. 

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour,#Stillman&Birn Zeta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”.

Wilson Botanic Park May 2025

Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick (an outer suburb of Melbourne), is a favourite sketch venue for my small group of sketch friends. We make a point of sketching there a few times every year as there's so much to sketch. This visit was no exception. 

A coldish and gloomy afternoon turned gloriously sunny and warm! Lots of interesting people were promenading or walking their dogs. There was even a beautiful Afghan lady (an actress and model as we discovered) having her photo taken. A large group of cyclists rode (illegally) through the park.  Some  people stopped to talk to our small sketch group. 

What I thought were a “rather too young” bride and groom came by and I included them in my sketch. We later found out they were high school kids dressed for Debutant Night (not Prom night as I had written on my sketch page). One of our group explained that the large tree on the right is a North American Swamp Cypress. It will turn red like the tree next to it. Unfortunately the lilies in the pond around the tree were no longer flowering. The sun was casting strong shadows by the time I came to add colour. 

Here's the group of strange Yucca Trees. 

To read the intriguing history of the park, click on the link below:

https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/history-of-wilson-botanic-park-berwick

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour,#Stillman&Birn Beta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”.

ANZAC Day 2025 Sketch

I have sketched at 3 previous ANZAC Day ceremonies held at the cenotaph on High St, Berwick (an outer suburb of Melbourne). This year, I was joined by 5 sketch friends. Going by previous years I knew a good place to stand with my sketchbook. The troops turned the corner at the Old Post Office and proceeded down the hill to the cenotaph. It was a small but nonetheless moving ceremony. The crowd seemed smaller than previous years even though the rain stayed away till it was over.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, Hahnemuehle Sketchbook A6.