My 2011 in sketches

My 2011 in sketches, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

11pm New Years Eve

A quiet one at home (for a change) reviewing (rapid flick!) the year that is coming to an end as recorded in my sketchbooks – all 20 of them!!! What a special way to see the year end!

I feel a bit like Cinderella...out of principle I want to be in bed and asleep by midnight! (tomorrow is a normal Sunday, a day of worship for me so the priority is to get enough sleep for the day) One year I want to get up to see the sun rise on a new year – somehow that seems slightly more interesting to me than watching a clock tick!

Anyway... Happy New Year to you all!!! Thanks for friendship, support, encouragement, comments, visits... Every visit means something to me.
I have a few comments after reviewing these books in one sitting (one being too many tea cup sketches!) but I will leave them to next year.

Must go before I turn into a pumpkin!

11.05 now.....

Summer 1112 Day 7,8 & 9 - A big Bash match and other bits

Last night I went to a cricket match - the first in many years. We had front row seats and I started sketching 15 minutes before the game started.



A T20 (20-20 match) is very quick and often starts with a lot of excitement (both innings started with numerous boundaries) so you don't have any quality slow time as can do in other forms of the game. So I ended up rushing this and painting it between overs.This is a domestic competition so more relaxed and not packed. Great evening.

it was REALLY strange not to have my camera with me at the cricket - I used to spend all my time trying to take photos... last night I was there with a photographer- he watched the game through the view finder... it is better to be able to watch things these days.



I attempted to sketch the players - the star is west indiian Chris Gayle - a real treat to see him in good form. But really to far away for my poor eyes.
Attempted night time sketching also while waiting for the train home - we had to catch 3 trains to get there.

Below:
Pages from a few quieter days (in terms of sketching output...still need to work out how to totally relax!)

Summer 1112 Day 6 - A day in the Blue Mountains

A grey bleak morning (so roaming shops) cleared to a warm sunny afternoon visiting a new lookout and going back to my favourite place(pulpit rock)...this is the view from it.


Crazy me took my tea and tea CUPS with me...


Wonderful breakfast - yes, the B&B that I stay in serves it in Royal Albert (how is that for a Liz-style place!)


food and tea sketch to record a morning of shop-hopping.


Then I had lunch. Ok so far today I have only sketched food! Time to change that!


New lookout(for me) at Shipley's plateau - on the left side you looking into the blue mountains range, on the right to the plains beyond. Dirt track drive to get here... not that happy driving on dirt tracks on my own...but no choice.


AH! love this place. Pulpit rock. Had it all to myself for at least 15 minutes.


The scary part... I have sketched from down there before.


Pulpit Rock from Govets Leap


Blackheath looking for dinner


Dinner and bits...


My room - way too tired to attempt this... but still I did!!!!

BTW, my sketchbook is now finished (in 6 days!) That is a record for not being in an European city!

Summer 1112 Day 5 - Heading to the Blue Mountains

First day of my wee trip to the Blue Mountains - 100km west of the centre of Sydney.
A visit to Katoomba to see the Three Sisters would be in my top ten things to see when visiting Sydney... this is the top spot... The Three Sisters as seen from Echo Point. Sadly normally too many tourists here...but my 5pm visit was great!

Ok... the rest of my day


China Rose Tea and Polka Rose Cup

Mt Tomah Gardens Morning Tea

Mt Tomah Bog Garden

Mt Tomah Rock Garden

Mt Victoria Lunch

Mt Victoria Buildings

Boars Head

Plant Studies

Dinner

Summer 1112 Day 3 & 4 ...'Christmas'

2 low-sketching day... usual Sunday (day of rest) and then family day on Monday, Two hyperactive boys made it very hard to have any quality time to sketch....
The highlight of our family day for me was opening my present to my two nephews... Aunty Liz certainly loved the marble run....

Back to pages in order




Plan for the day...and packing for my trip to the Blue mountains


A bit of a crazy day....


This one was very hard.. my wee niece was moving constantly....but although out of my comfort zone I am happy that I tried!




BTW... I am really enjoying my tea and cup review. This is the schedule I am working to

Down there? No way!!! (great arvo at pulpit rock)

And we did go down there. Bb is such a chicken! Got my favourite light condition. Rock in sun but valley below in shade. Great spot tho my sketches didn't match it today.

Painting on the edge. Pulpit rock

Are we going down? Pulpit rock

At echo point waiting for paint to dry

Summer 1112 Day 2 - A museum day

I don't have time to type anything...but it is all included on my pages... btw I have half filled my sketchbook in the first two days. Looking forward to my normal rest day tomorrow and then family day on Monday.









I am not a fan of picasso but he does perfectly capture how I feel when I have a headache. Had fun drawing all these during the exhibition. BTW the best time to go is the last timed ticket on Christmas