Echo Point Katoomba

The Echo Point Lookout in Katoomba (part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia) is the best spot to view the imposing Three Sisters rock formation. 

Unfortunately limited time prevented me from sketching them. I only managed a sketch of the general view when we took a break later in the morning. It was awe inspiring to read about the geographical history of this place. 

I only had a brown, grey and green Tombow pen with me on the day. 

Addition of some colour pencil after I got home sure improved this sketch. 

Interestingly, I read later that the blue of the mountains is caused by droplets of eucalyptus oil in the atmosphere!

#TombowMarker, colour pencils, #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

Around the World in a Sketchbook

I'm so happy to have such a strong supporter in Judith at the Mechanics Institute Library, Berwick. My little show "Around the World in a Sketchbook" was on display there recently.

The artist statement: 

Kathleen Newman is an Urban Sketcher and sketchbook artist. She has lived and sketched her life in several countries while accompanying her spouse on his work assignments. 

These sketches (dating back to 2012) were done on location. Addition of colour and touch ups could be completed later at a more convenient time. 

She was a tutor in the “Keeping a Sketchbook” course for Casey U3A (first semester 2018).

Adventures with a Sailor Fude Pen

Oops! A sudden switch in style brought about by an overly generous flow of ink from my Sailor Fude pen while sketching a corner of the garden.

Still experimenting with my Fude pen at Sawtell Inlet, Tooradin. This is a small coastal township at the top of Western Port Bay near Melbourne, Australia.

Another sketch, this time at Patterson Lakes – inlets, boats and retirement communities. 

After such busy traffic and miles of annoying roadworks, the Puerto Restaurant was quite a find. Right on a sunny inlet, it's quietly tucked away at the back of the chaotic Patterson Lakes Shopping Centre. 

More adventures with a Sailor Fude to come. I rather like the unpredictability of line.

#Sailorfude pen, watercolour, #MoleskineWatercolourAlbum, 5x8”, #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

Beaconsfield Village Bakery

A party pie (or two) is a treat on a freezing cold day! The Beaconsfield Village Bakehouse must be the most popular bakery in the area!

#TombowMarker, #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

Daily Life

Here's a sketch from the dentist's surgery. I'm still nursing sore thumb joints and tendon strain hence the very light lines which I darkened at home (and added the other colours).

A good fish lunch is a nice way to end an unexpectedly successful shopping morning (for arriving family). Too cold and blustery to eat outside unfortunately.

The lavender is out under that strange shaped tree across the road. That's the Berwick Mechanics Institute and Free Library across there. It's one of the last Mechanics Institutes which still operates as a library in Victoria, Australia and one I enjoy visiting almost weekly. 

#TombowMarker, colour pencils #HandbookJournal 5.5"x5.5"

Winter Garden

The winter weather has been really grotty but I'm pleased to still be able to enjoy my garden. Here I'm trying out a new Urban Grey ink. The ink company De Artramentis has recently released this ink colour on the request of Urban Sketchers who feel that black ink is just too stark.  (Their Dove Grey is too blue for me).  

The latch on our garden gate has had to be adjusted twice in the last 2 years in order for the gate to close. This is the result of shifting soils which apparently is a feature of our neighbourhood! 

After living in Canada for 14 years I'm still getting my head around having outdoor flowering plants in winter and it's been a good growing season going by the plants which are doing well. 

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

Over the Garden Wall

Looking over our garden wall (while watching some birds we are feeding). The only ones that come are Spotted Turtle Doves. They squabble and fight among each other and the only bird which gets to feed is a large dominant one. So much for doves being peace loving.

I did this ink-only sketch first with my Sailor fude pen.  A fude pen has a bent nib and this was a 40 degree one (as opposed to the 55 degree ones you can also buy). I sure like the ease of attaining thick and thin lines depending on the angle one holds the pen. 

This second piece I did with direct watercolour (no line) using a Rosemary & Co dagger brush.

Finally I added watercolour to the ink-only sketch with a waterbrush. 

Although I like all three, I was able to achieve more interesting colour effects with the greater holding capacity of the dagger brush as compared with the waterbrush. The direct watercolour technique is easier to do on quick drying paper and my Moleskine Watercolour Journal worked well here. (Much better than the slower drying Bockingford paper I had tried earlier in a home made journal). 

I added some text and “extras” later in an attempt to achieve a better page layout.

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