Isolation Hospital

This is the Isolation Hospital within the former Quarantine Station at Portsea at the south east entrance to Port Phillip Bay (on which stands the city of Melbourne). The 2 metre high corrugated iron fence was built in 1890 to separate sick passengers from healthy ones. The fence was removed in the 1960s but a small remnant remains (on right of sketch). An interesting verandah (seen at top of the stairs) wraps around the other side of this building but I chose to sketch this side to show the fence that is left. This rather sombre side of the building also indicated the grim nature of the quarantine station. A shed nearby was used to cremate those who died within the isolation compound. 

Sketched in a hurry before the rain returned (and painted later), midweek this was a deathly quiet creepy spot.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8”. 

Some Memories of Sorrento

I finally got round to putting the finishing touches to some more sketches done on my recent trip to Sorrento (on the south eastern entrance to Port Phillip Bay on which sits the city of Melbourne, Australia). The sketches were done over dinner at a pizza place and watching the departure of the ferry to Queenscliff (on the other side of the bay).

Here I was attempting to combine sketches done on different days into a one page spread and I'm getting to like my Sailor Fude pen! 

This spread was done with De Artramentis Urban Grey ink, a 20 year old watersoluble pencil and some touches of colour.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8”. 

Sorrento, Victoria

It's easy to be immersed in history when visiting Sorrento (a seaside township south east of Melbourne city). From left the Sorrento Post Office built in 1903 and Stringers Store established in 1888. 

Sorrento, settled in 1803 is the first European settlement in the Australian state of Victoria. It sits at the eastern entrance to Port Phillip Bay on which the city of Melbourne is located. Sketched and painted on location. Touch up done later.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8”. 

The Berwick Show 2019

Cows and bulls at the Berwick (Agricultural) Show, Victoria, Australia. Sketching people and animals in motion was an interesting challenge.

During judging, the handlers led their animals past the judges. When standing still, they continually scratched the bellies of the animals with a prod. This prod looked something like a golf club and the scratching keeps them quiet. The prod has a pointy tip to prod the feet of the animals to make them stand "correctly" for judging. The scratchy bit is a curved prong and some prods have a brush as well! 

Paint to one sketch was added soon after the judging finished when I found a chair to sit on in the food truck area.


Marker pens, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8” .

Gladysdale Bakehouse & Blue Lotus Water Gardens

The Gladysdale Bakehouse – good food and picturesque views (loved their faux distressed table tops) before a visit to the Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction, north east of Melbourne, Australia.

The lotus and waterlily ponds at the Water Gardens were impressive, as was their garden shop but not the tacky Chinese pavilions and "Balinese" setting of one area (complete with concrete crocodiles). 

I was interested in sketcher Liz Steel’s blog post of 13 Feb “Should I add colour to my sketch” and the discussion that ensued. (See: www.lizsteel.com). I ran out of time with this sketch done at the Blue Lotus Water Gardens and added colour at home. I prefer my unpainted version. As always for me (with brown ink at least) some of the more interesting line work has been obliterated by my watercolour. Perhaps I should stick to black ink when I use watercolour?

Marker pens, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8”.

Sketching at Collins and Russell Streets

Sketching at the corner of Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne, Australia before an afternoon show at the Regent Theatre. 

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