Wilson Street Project – a Year in the Life of a Street

A time to reflect on my main project for this past year  (2019).

I said I'd give myself one year to do a project on Wilson Street which is one of the oldest streets in Berwick (an outer suburb of Melbourne). The year was up in September 2019. My project was to sketch whatever took my interest walking up one side of Wilson Street (east of Wheeler Street) and back down the other side. The aim was to sketch and collect stories about the street from my own experience and from the people who live on it. It is also in essence the story of one year in the life of a street. 

As it's turned out I've sketched every building on the street and have collected stories from several occupants who have come out to speak to me. (I've only coloured in the houses to which I've been able to attach a story). 

The sketches were done on location. Colour and embellishments were added later with help from photo references. 

I feel my project is incomplete...the stories rather lame. Enough sketches I think, story collecting will have to continue.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, homemade concertina sketchbook, 7 1/2" x 21" (folded into 6 panels).

Personal Spaces

I really love documentary drawing and recently had the opportunity to document the home of some family members. After living there for 23 years, their apartment was soon to be pulled down for re-development. 

I chose to do the project in a home-made concertina fold sketchbook (working on both sides). This way images could flow from one to the next (more or less moving through the apartment) and telling the story of a very personal space. 

The sketches and addition of watercolour were all done on location. I worked directly on the paper with ink with no preliminary pencil drawings. Embellishments and text were added later. 

I did little planning for this project and this resulted unfortunately with not enough space to achieve a nicer design on the last flap. I'd forgotten that this last flap forms the front page when the sketchbook is closed. Lesson learnt! 

I could have filled many more pages had there been more time. It was a nostalgic challenge as I knew this home well. 

#Fabriano hot press watercolour paper 5.5" x 30", #Sailorfude pen, De Artramentis document (waterproof) ink, watercolour. 

Sketching in the Theatre

Some people think I'm crazy...!? Here's people during the intermission of the performance Turandot at the State Theatre. 

#TombowMarker, #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

Favourite Sketch Tools

This was my basic sketch kit 5 years ago. The only changes I've made to my kit today are replacing the Lamy pens for Fude (bent nib) pens and I've ditched the watercolour pencils. 

The only additions I've made are Tombow markers (I like the big range of colours). 

I tried a dagger brush for awhile, painting and drawing solely with a brush (no pen or pencil) but it caused my finger joints to ache (I must try it again though). 

The enduring thing I do like is brown ink!

Backyards and Beyond

Looking through my sketchbook I've come to the conclusion I like drawing backyards! Here's a few done in the past few months. 

Backyard in Ringwood.

Here's a couple from where I park my car before Qigong class at Fiddlers Green. There's nothing nicer than sketching in the car when I have to wait.

And a last one done while waiting for a friend to serve lunch. 

#FaberCastellPittPen and #TombowMarker, #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

15 Rutland Street

Every time I walk past I've found this ramshackled house on Rutland Street quite fascinating. I sketched it some months ago but decided today to add a second colour to the sketch. It has been on the market for a long time and the garden is now even more overgrown. 

Constructed in 1957 it is apparently of architectural significance as a good example of a post-war house that demonstrates the influence of notable architects such as Robyn Boyd. I understand it had “heritage house” status. 

Hoping the owner will be able to sell soon!

#FaberCastellPittPen and #TombowMarker, #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

Casey U3A Berwick Sketchmeet

A wintery November blast didn’t deter 18 sketchers who turned up for the Casey U3A Berwick Sketchmeet on 8th November.  

After meeting in the Berwick Arcade, the hardiest of the group took themselves off up the street to sketch, some stayed to sketch in the arcade (myself included) and the rest took refuge in a café. 

A sketch of my scrumptious apricot tart while sketching in the arcade:

After two hours we met up again to share experiences and take a few photos. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the experience and left in good spirits with intentions to get together for another sketchmeet.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, homemade concertina sketchbook.

Springfield Homestead, Berwick

I think I’m onto a black and shades of grey period! 

Drawing in the garden of the 1860's historic Springfield Homestead, Berwick, with my fude pen and some old Copic markers (but hey, those markers bled through the Moleskine watercolour sketchbook page!).

#Sailorfude pen, Copic markers, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8” 

The Story of an Ear

We were rained out for most of the time during a trip to McClelland Sculpture Park with the monthly Casey U3A gallery outing group but at least I felt satisfied to have captured this rather eye catching sculpture. It was tucked away in a corner outside the main gallery building. 

"Torso femminile" 1995-2000 is by Australian sculptor Peter Schipperheyn. It is of his wife and muse. Apparently (according to the tour guide), he was attracted to her at their first meeting by her ear!

And there's the back. 

 #Sailorfude pen, watercolour pencils, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum 5x8".

Twig and Ink Drawing

Trying out the ink, twig and smudge technique I learnt from Ch'ng Kiah Kiean (aka KK) at Brisbane Sketchfest 2019. 

I think I rather like it! 

Primary@Pioneer (cafe) in Pioneers Park, Berwick, Vic. The oldest part of the existing building (the Old Berwick Primary School) dates back to 1876 and besides being a cafe is also the headquarters of the Casey Cardinia branch of the National Trust.

Twig and Ink.

Brisbane Sketchfest 2019 and more.

Brisbane Sketchfest 2019 in October, was Australia's first mini Urban Sketchers (USk) symposium. Three days of workshops and sketch walks was a fabulous experience. There were 180 participants mainly from Australia with a few from Asia and the Pacific (13 of us were from Melbourne).

I chose an A5 Stillman and Birn Alpha soft cover as my "official" sketchbook for the event. Just the right size and light in weight. The paper is not watercolour paper but takes water medium reasonably well, not too precious. As I had not used that brand of sketchbook for some years I drew the tools I was taking with me as a way of "breaking it in". 

During the flight to Brisbane I used my A6 Moleskine Sketch. This is the only size I can comfortably manage while sharing space with an inflight meal! Here's the ubiquitous sketch of our aircraft. 

Here's the small Astro Boy string top bag which J had bought in Japan. The bag conveniently held my 3 marker pens (brown, turquoise and pink was my chosen palette for travelling). Hanging the bag from the knob of the tray table meant no more searching for lost pens at the bottom of the seat pocket!  

Testing out my gear on the first evening in Brisbane with a sketch of the spire of City Hall which was going to be the hub for the Sketchfest. A man sitting next to me asked if I would sketch him so I obliged. He was a tourist from Perth!

Jacaranda trees were in full bloom at this time of the year. I sneaked in a sketch while waiting to be picked up by some relatives. 

The first morning of the Sketchfest started with an inspiring introduction by each of the 12 instructors about their work. 
What a line up! Paul Wang (Singapore), Ch'ng Kiah Kiean (aka KK , Malaysia), K.C Lee (Malaysia), Rob Sketcherman (Hong Kong), Liz Steel (Australia), Richard Briggs (Australia), Peter Rush (Australia), Alex Snellgrove (Australia), Robyn Bauer (Australia), Deb Mostert (Australia), Michael Pope (Australia), Tony Walker (Australia). 

This was followed by a presentation by each participating USk chapter about the activities of their group with sketches from participants. 

Oh and we were given our Goody Bags of art materials! 

My first of three workshops was with KK on painting with twigs and ink. We learnt how to sharpen the end of a twig and KK showed us his no-spill ink container! Producing variable "dancing lines" as he called them was harder than I thought!

Here's KK's sketch of the skyline above City Hall.

My main difficulty has been making another good twig. KK tells me that the secret is a medium hard twig...and trial and error. 

On the morning of Day Two I attended a workshop with Alex Snellgrove. Alex has an unusual technique using Posca Pens and produces works with exciting pops of background colour. While I really like the appearance of the artwork she does, I don't like the process. Hers is a technique I may adapt in the future to my own way of working. 

Here's the scene and the group's efforts (mine is middle of bottom row).

Walking back to the hub in the Brisbane City Hall, my niece (also my Sketchfest buddy) and I found our usual entry way closed! Entry was now restricted to one door at the front of the building. Climate protestors were congregating in the vicinity and we suddenly found ourselves followed by a few police on horseback! These horses were intimidating! As large as Clydesdales but without the hairy hooves.  I'm just sorry I didn't have an opportunity to sketch the protesters.

The delay left little time to down some lunch and then it was off again on the afternoon's sketch crawl. I chose to follow Paul Wang whose work I much admire. The sketch route included The Treasury Hotel grounds where Paul gave a demo. 

Unfortunately heavy rain arrived and the sketch crawl was cut short. 

What else to  do while waiting under cover for the rain to stop.

On Day Three it was a trudge up the hill for a workshop with Robyn Bauer on Trees with Texture and Tone. We managed several useful exercises but the final hour was a washout with heavy rain, wind and a temperature of 13C. This was Brisbane in October!?

Taking refuge in a hotel across the road, Robyn talked the group through some techniques on how she draws trees and showed us an impressively long concertina sketchbook filled with some wonderful sketches! Note the pouring rain outside. 

More rain was predicted and I was too tired to go on the second sketch crawl after lunch so instead I joined my spouse at the outdoor Queens Street Mall. Sketching there in the shade of giant trees on a lovely afternoon reminded me why I do so love urban sketching.  Entertainment by buskers (a male female duo) singing Italian opera made it an afternoon I will long remember. Of course that rain never arrived.

Over the two days, I chose to draw a combination of vignettes in my sketchbook – unfinished and splattered by rain.

Here's the final throw down (of sketchbooks) and group photo in King George Square at the end of the 3 days. A great finale!

The day after the Sketchfest, 60 sketchers attended the Brisbane USk meet at Station Pier on the Brisbane River. I think everyone drew the iconic Story Bridge (including me).

Here's the throwdown that day. I was thrilled that it included sketchbooks of my 2 grandchildren (who had come from Sydney for the weekend) and a grand nephew and niece (all aged between 4 and 11).

What a gloriously sunny day which ended for me with one last sketch of St. Stephens Chapel close by. This is the oldest functioning church in Brisbane. 

It certainly was a very full 3 (and a half) days – putting a face to people whose names I had only known online on USk sites, making new sketcher friends, learning new techniques from inspiring instructors...and I didn't even get to the evening Eat, Drink and Draw activities! 

Thanks to the organizers, Brisbane Sketchfest 2019 was definitely a success.  I'm now eagerly waiting to hear when and where the next Australian meet will be! 

Of course, one last sketch on the flight home.