Liz and Borromini

120126 Five years of sketching

2012-01-26T20:49:00.002+11:00

120126 Five years of sketching, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

To celebrate my 5th year anniversary of keeping sketchbooks I decided to do a sort and label all of them. Over the last 2 years I have had to stack these books in more efficient ways...but I am afraid I will have to find a new shelf soon...

(three books here are ongoing - the current one No. 46, my Zoo book and my colour book.)

There are about 8 different sketchbooks in there(and most covered with different paper) but when stacked end on they look lovely and uniform!!!!

this is where it all began 5 years ago.... little doodles with notes every where...(what my travel sketches used to be)

There is no doubt that practice and hard work (loving every moment and especially enjoying the process as much as the end results) does lead to development of skills.

Thanks for all the inspiration and encouragement - certainly going online (which I did 16 months after starting) made a huge impact!

120126 Australia Day- Our hills hoist

2012-01-26T18:10:00.001+11:00

120126 Australia Day- Our hills hoist, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Happy Australia Day! Due to morning rain I am having a quiet day watching sport... but I did get out this arvo when I saw a patch of blue and sketched our hills hoist (clothes line)
This is a bit of a half hearted page... but I was not going to draw any Aussie food!

BTW it is 5 years today since I started my first ink and watercolour sketchbook.

120125 Quick sketch Avenue Rd Cafe Mosman

2012-01-25T20:45:00.001+11:00

120125 Quick sketch Avenue Rd Cafe Mosman, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Here is a really rushed sketch I did today while waiting for some new lenses. Fantastic cup of tea and a lovely chat to the woman sitting next to me.
I had to add some of the colour tonight as I needed to get to work (very busy day!)

I worked in Mosman(Sydney) for 9 years. Over the past 5 years there has been a lot of change and a lot more coffee shops. I was told that this place would probably have the best tea...indeed I couldn't fault it! Sensational brand of tea, good portion etxc (of course a fine china tea cup would given it bonus points!)

Sketchcrawl 34 - Plan A and Plan B!

2012-01-21T20:18:00.000+11:00

Great sketchcrawl day... nice breakfast, 2 sketches at Plan A before rain hit and we went to Plan B, finished the day with special treatment at T2.
We had a great group of sketchers... maybe around 30 people, great to see the usual suspects and meet some new people. Lots of great work and lovely, although we were scattered to keep bumping into sketchers all day!

And a few photos

Hyde Park when the rain started coming down

Sketching bones

A sketcher being attacked by a walking dinosaur!

Getting ready for tomorrow's sketchcrawl

2012-01-20T22:35:00.000+11:00

Hope the rain stays away for us but thankful that we don't have snow storms to battle against.
Have a great day everyone wherever you are.

120119 Diversional Therapy

2012-01-19T22:06:00.001+11:00

120119 Diversional Therapy, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

I have just started this evening on a new adventure with food (that is a positive way of describing it) and the feeling that I was hungry this evening must of been just in my mind ... So I indulged! However, in line with my goal of not doing meaningless sketches... This page does record random trivia from today. I tried to fit my standard tea cosy on my my teapot from Cris and with a degree of difficulty and some distortion it did indeed go on...so naturally I had to record the event since I am not sure my cosy will allow me to do it again! The Palladio sketch was the result of my noticing a neglected book in my library – my new cozy corner I created during my break now means that a shelf that contained less referred to books is now very handy.
Just for the record... I did NOT use guidelines for the text down the left hand side... I know I really didn’t need to tell you all that... But hey! I have been thinking all week at work that I SHOULD use guidelines like a good architect always should, when doing free hand sketches to issue to the building team as I have been unhappy with some lettering this week. So it was nice that these came out nice and uniform tonight!

120110_02 A special gift!

2012-01-16T19:49:00.001+11:00

120110_02 A special gift!, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

I thought I had posted this last year...but obviously only made it to FB

was going to stop drawing cups of tea... Or at least have a break... But how can I when I receive the most delightful present in the mail from Spain!!! I am so excited... Not only a very cool teapot (actually hot pot... Got to be careful not to burn myself on the handle) and some amazing tea – hand rolled gunpowder green. I really love seeing the big leaves in the infuser after my cup.
Thanks Cris!!!!!!! This is so much more exciting than getting pressies on your birthday!!

And just an update for Cris - I am really loving the tea and the pot is working perfectly too!!! Thanks!

A (shocking) confession

2012-01-13T19:26:00.001+11:00

A (shocking) confession, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Many of you know this fact but I want everyone to know.... that I have a guideline sheet that I use to help draw my grids and keep my text straight. I have never sought to hide this fact but decided that it was time to come clean. Epsecially in light of a recent discussion on Inma’s photostream and a reminder that it was a total shock to many people when it fell out of my sketchbook in Lisbon....aparently “I went red and laughed a lot!”

I do not use it ALL the time – this spread I didn’t use for the text or even to draw the grid lines...but I do get VERY distressed when my writing isn’t neat or straight. (I am an architect and am old enough to remember the days when getting a job was dependant on having perfect writing).

I made this template using a CAD programme – making my lines very thick so that I can see them through the 150gsm paper. Also I experimented to find my preferred spacing- so one half of the A4 page is 6mm and the other 8mm. You can also see how I have marked the lines that I used on my opening page for each day in my recent holiday sketchbook. (my text and tea pages) SO it is especially designed my me for my sketchbook. I used to sometimes rule guidelines but this trick is certainly a LOT easier!

I am terribly sorry if I had mislead any of you that thought I could write so perfectly uniform... Perhaps if I really tried hard I might sometimes be able to do it... But of course I am too lazy... This way the gridlines are there if I want to use them. At least you all know now!

BTW... I am having a little break from posting (I am still sketching everyday but think we all need a bit of a breather!)

Summer 1112 Volume 2 in full

2012-01-10T19:50:00.000+11:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More australia

Summer 1112 Volume 1 in full

2012-01-09T22:46:00.002+11:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More australia

Here it is...

or as a single image on flickr

Summer 1112 - Day 16 Paddington Reservoir Gardens

2012-01-09T17:00:00.000+11:00

I am very excited that Wendy suggested we go to Paddington and sketch this amazing urban park. Had a great morning with Wendy and Annie.

To find out more- check out this video!

And the rest of the day (mainly food and tea...)

.... and of course I had to finish my holiday at home with a visit to t2

Summer 1112 Day 15 - Day with Nick..budding Urban Sketcher at age 6!

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000+11:00

A really great day with my best friend and her 6 year old son

This is the chopper that we sketched together in the Maritime museum... for the full set of Nick's work check out my set here

The rest of the the day...

Summer 1112 Day 14 - Auburn adventure with Chris

2012-01-09T10:21:00.001+11:00

I am a little behind posting to my blog... so here are the final few days of my summer holiday.

Auburn is home to the turkish community in Sydney - this is the start of my world tour of Sydney... I hope to continue you this throughout the year.

Great day with Chris another of the Sydney sketchers Chris - (who needs to get a flickr account!!!!)

We started at the Japanese garden...

..and then went in search of some turkish food

Looking back on 2011 and thinking about 2012

2012-01-07T20:13:00.061+11:00

2011 in full, a set on Flickr.

As I spent New Years Eve 2011 looking through my sketchbooks (and sketching them of course!) I thought I should do a little review of the year that is past, in terms of my sketching. But in doing so I can’t help thinking that blogging gives a distorted view of reality... And therefore this post is NOT a review of my life in the past year... But just sketching related events.

Firstly... I am sketching more and more and in particular I have become rather addicted to
1.A desire to record my daily life in my sketchbook
2. A desire to do as much sketching on location as possible.
These two aspects explain why travel sketching gives me such a buzz!

2011 was definitely an interesting year... I am not going to do a review of it but three highlights would have to be the
The Royal Botanic Gardens Autumn of the Arts Sketchabout, having my work published in Cathy Johnson’s “Artists Journal Workshop” - it is such a wonderful book and Borromini is just so chuffed to be part of it! And being able to attend the 2nd International Symposium...(so much written on this elsewhere - sketches, photos)

But for this post I want to focus on a few things that struck me when I did my rapid sketchbook flick-through on NYE. These I am converting into directions for 2011 (I do have other goals and resolutions which I am NOT sharing with the world)

Cups of Tea
Way too many teacup sketches – this is an important method of relaxation in the evening ...but still....Discovering a new tearoom (The Tea Cosy in the Rocks) has not helped. The pages that I did enjoy re-visiting were the ones where the tea had some significance – the night Cyclone Yasi hit, the cups we chose to watch the Royal Wedding, my black tea detox.

Food food food...
Lots of that too... (I do not post all of them!) Despite the repetitiveness of it, I am convinced of the power of sketching to control the way that I eat and I am sure that in 2012 ‘the sketching diet’ will appear yet again. Also I do think that it is nice when chefs and café owners go to so much trouble to present meals that I am there to record it in a sketch!

Baroque-ness
Too many random evening (often late!) architectural sketches that really don’t have any connection what happened that day. I have stopped reading architectural history and theory books in recent years and I want to start again. So an idea is to sketch relating to what I am reading....so it will be more relevant and no more scouring of my library because I am desperate to sketch something... Anything. I also want to broaden my range of architectural periods so thinking of starting with some ancient greek buildings for a change!

The human element
more people in my sketchbooks than previous years but still need more!!!! I started sketching portraits of people I know from photos that I have taken (ie. they are looking at me) and found that engaging with the person I am sketching is the secret of converting my ‘fear’ of drawing ‘people’ into my delight of sketching a person (with a personality). I need some serious training for the next symposium I get too... One does feel very inadequate not having the courage to do it (but at least one can sketch food instead!)

Heavy bags
Yes...the search for the perfect bag continues and I just love sketching my art supplies. Somehow I think that the art supplies that I carry around only seem to increase... hence the need for lighter bags.... These are some of my favourite pages to draw!!!

Daily objects
I am not a ‘project’ person but the every day in may challenge was great as I made an effort to make the subject meaningful... Or it created moments in my life – such as when Eza and I roamed Crows Nest to find the best salt and pepper shaker. Whilst I get bored very easily of drawing objects day after day it is very nice to have a record of daily objects that one does not normally think to sketch. I am thinking of working through the alphabet of daily objects in the coming year. The discipline of a list is good.

Lunchtime adventures
My Earl Greys of Crows Nest series that I did earlier in the year was wonderful. Not only was the fun of sketching my food a great break to my day at work but I met some of the local café owners which was great. However I still have a fear of being spotted sketching on the streets by colleagues, other tenants in our building or consultants/clients. I need to get over this because get out sketching is such a great thing to do in the middle of a work day!

Exploring Sydney
We spent a lot of time in the gardens at the beginning of the year and I think that limited exploration of my beloved hometown during 2011. Also I sketch the Opera House way too often!!!! My stay-cation which is just coming to an end has revealed a lot of possibilities... So another list is going to be written so next time I have free time I will know what to do.

Process vs Product
Inspired by a thought provoking post by Laura Frankstone I started doing more ‘process’ related pages (not all are posted!!!) and my trip prep journals are a great example of this. I am working quicker and looser all the time and recording thoughts more easily. To continue in 2012 but I might not post them all....

Capturing spaces
the pages/ sketches that really jumped out at me were actually interiors and external spaces. This is the sketch that really surprised me as I didn’t post it and forgot that I did it. (The breakfast room in Sir John Soanes Museum in London... That I was desperate to visit in July but didn’t make it!)

Also in Lisbon, I sketched spaces, not just building facades. After returning home I found my normal complicated building facades less satisfying and I felt more of a need to be always telling a story.

So my big goal (oops I said that word!) is to sketch more spaces in the coming year. This has a wonderful connection with what I am wanting to do as an architect as well

Too much sketching and too much posting
I think that I have done too much of both in 2011... More timing thinking of what to sketch would be better. The first day in Lisbon is a great example and my current approach and a possible change (sometimes!) ...

Session 1 – I approached in my usual style...sketching a square non stop and filling 4 spreads.

Session 2 – Jose Louro instructed me to ONLY do one spread... I spent a good half hour walking around and thinking of what I liked most about the square and then composed my page

So maybe...more thoughtful sketching and more thoughtful blogging ...making sure that I always have something worth saying....

I just want to finish this post with perhaps THE single highlight of my year of 2011 – a highlight from my life not just the sketching aspect. I think that it also expresses how blogging often shows a shell of someone’s life and not the core.

The highlight is the very last moment of the church conference that I went to in Cardiff Wales. The little church packed with wonderful Welsh voices and many visiting Englsih and African Caribbean voices (and the odd Australian!) all singing a closing benediction from Psalm 72 below and almost blew the roof off.

Earlier that afternoon I had been let into the church to sketch the interior (ha! One of the sketches that jumped out at me in the sketchbook review as mentioned above). I was quite happy with the sketch at the time but after the evening service, when it had been full of people, I felt that the sketch missed the point totally (an empty building is not really a church)
So teacups and cakes, baroque buildings and a silly wee bear... are really just the outer shell of Liz... These words below express more....

17 His name for ever shall endure;
last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be blessed in him, and blessed
all nations shall him call.

18 Now bless'd be the Lord our God,
the God of Israel,
For he alone doth wondrous works,
in glory that excel.

19 And bless'd be his glorious name
to all eternity:
The whole earth let his glory fill.
Amen, so let it be.

Psalm 72.17-19

Finishing my staycation with an amazing park in paddington that I have wanted to visit for years

2012-01-07T12:01:00.000+11:00

Promising urban sketcher - he even draws food like me!!!!

2012-01-06T11:44:00.000+11:00

Summer 1112 Day 13 - Day in town with Jennifer

2012-01-05T22:58:00.000+11:00

Wonderful day with Jennifer - one of the fabulous organisers of the Sydney sketch Club. Really great to have a day to catch up and sketch together - thanks Jennifer!!!
Before I met up with her I sketched this.... Queen Victoria Building looking up (my first building sketch for the year!) A very famous shopping mall in Sydney.

Monk Pea and Golden Roses Cup

Crazy non stop sketching(15mins to spare)

Pancakes on the Rocks

Cute old Substation? (with hints of the Harbour Bridge in the background...)

Roundabout Artowrk... explained by this photo..

Japanese dinner before church

Summer! 30FR_05 Some of the Thunders

2012-01-05T22:47:00.001+11:00

Summer! 30FR_05 Some of the Thunders, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Finally got around to finishing this page... sketched from player profile pics on the website.... fun to do!

Summer 1112 Day 12- At home..sorting sewing and cricket on the radio!

2012-01-03T22:00:00.000+11:00

a day at home... deserves a at home sketch!

A decidedly silly page but great day at home bringing back memories of long summer holidays when I spent my university holidays sewing and listening/ watching the cricket.

This song sums it all up.... (well doesn't mention sewing!)

Cricket’s On the radio (Greg Champion)

Life is lazy life is sweet
when January comes
as long as one team's bowling
and the other's making runs
I know as soon as I wake up
if it's my lucky day
if the cricket's on the ABC
then everything's okay

And the Cricket's On The Radio
and everybody's laying low
as long as there's a game somewhere
that's all I need to know
and the Cricket's On The Radio

Draw the curtains pull the blinds
it's beating down out there
pop the feet up daddy,
there is cricket on the air
I love the sleepy rhythm of
the commentators' call
just the ABC and me
and I'll hang on every ball

And there's nothing that I have to do
nowhere I have to go
so roll that wicket, I've got cricket
on my radio......
the Cricket's On The Radio
and everybody's laying low
the Cricket's On The Radio
nowhere I have to go

More wonky early morning tea cups and my morning reading...

Summer 1112 Day 10 & 11 - The start of a new year

2012-01-03T14:03:00.000+11:00

Well, I finally got to a beach - Palm Beach!

Other pages from yesterday...

you must be getting sick of these by now... but I am enjoying going through my cups and tea- organic earl grey and 1970s Poppy cup

unscheduled visit to that place again. I am going to stop having scones and start in earnest working my way through the tea list (over 150 varieties!) Today's tea was a lot of fun
Also want to do more interior sketches

Sunday pages... don't normally post them..but here are this weeks..since it is the start of a new year

My 2011 in sketches

2011-12-31T23:06:00.001+11:00

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

2011-12-31T19:53:00.000+11:00

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

2011-12-29T22:40:00.000+11:00

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

2011-12-29T16:25:00.001+11:00

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'

2011-12-29T15:22:00.000+11:00

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)

2011-12-28T18:34:00.000+11:00

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

2011-12-28T18:31:00.000+11:00

Are we going down? Pulpit rock

2011-12-28T18:30:00.000+11:00

At echo point waiting for paint to dry

2011-12-27T17:39:00.000+11:00

Summer 1112 Day 2 - A museum day

2011-12-24T22:37:00.000+11:00

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

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-24T09:54:00.000+11:00

....from BB and me. Thanks to everyone that comes to visit my sketches and putting up with my excessive tea cup sketching. Every visit means a lot to me. Thanks especially to those that comment - sorry I don't have time to reply. Without the encouragement of the online world I doubt very much that I would be out in the city on Christmas eve sketching away.

Safe travels and peaceful and restful break to you all and your families. Take it easy on the pudding. (just like I will...sure!!)

Summer 1112 Day 1 - A tourist day!

2011-12-23T22:08:00.000+11:00

What a day!!! Day 1 of my adventure in Sydney! Awoken by a headache...but it eased enough for me to go out just before lunch... ended up filling 14 spreads today. Doing touristy things in the Rocks and Circular Quay area. Stunningly beautiful afternoon... blue sky and sun is a rarity this summer so I made the most of it. I love my hometown! Museums tomorrow!

Wow! that is a LOT of sketching...even for me.
Here is how my day ended... pretty special hey?

Tourist!!!!!

2011-12-23T14:04:00.000+11:00

Summer! TH22_01 Traditional Way to Start a holiday

2011-12-22T20:21:00.002+11:00

Summer! TH22_01 Traditional Way to Start a holiday, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

summer' holidays have begun!!!!! yay! had to start it in the usual style...become a tradition in recent years. Know if only we had some warm weather and sun it would be perfect. I can sketch regardless of the weather (just more cafe visits if raining!)

111221 Summer art supplies

2011-12-21T21:38:00.001+11:00

111221 Summer art supplies, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Here is the coloured version of my art supplies to be used this summer... the larger wc kit is what I would prefer to use all the time (LOVE the full pan size) but it is too heavy, doesn't sit flat when open and takes up too much space on a cafe table...so will use it at home.

1 more sleep and I will be on my summer holidays... can't wait!!!!!

I hope all my online friends have the most wonderful Xmas/ New Year period. Of course I will be sketching as much as I can and posting regularly too... so no break from me!!!

If you missed it before... I am having a stay-cation and am going to be exploring Sydney as a tourist (along with family gatherings, catching up with friends, trying to sew three dresses... etc... )

BTW got to find my pentel pocket brush....

111221 Pudding!

2011-12-21T10:23:00.001+11:00

111221 Pudding!, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
there is no hope of me convincing any of you that I am not obsessed with cakes and desserts... but I have to admit that mum's Christmas pudding is a highlight of this time of year. A very quick scribble and splash.

BTW, although a Christian I do not celebrate Christmas as a religious event. There is no command in the bible to celebrate the birth of Christ (the origins of Xmas is generally agreed to be 'pagan') Instead I celebrate the resurrection of Christ every single week - resting from my labours (and sketching) and having a wonderful dedicated day of worship which I call The Lords Day (a Christian 'sabbath') Without getting into a debate- this I beleive is a command of the bible.

However, we do have some of the traditons... pudding and turkey and a family day.

111220 WIP- another one of THOSE pages

2011-12-20T22:11:00.002+11:00

... doing this kind of page really makes me feel that a big trip is around the corner. This time NO dreaded packing (well not to begin with... I have a few crazy surprises in store) but just have two days of "fun"(not!) work to get done first! Going to enjoy adding colour to this tomorrow night!

Meanwhile here is my nice new pan ready for my trip (to Sydney)
I LOVE starting a holiday with a clean palette... it gets me very very very excited!!! Beautiful rich colour... yum!

111220 Earl Grey of Crows Nest 13 FIX

2011-12-20T19:18:00.002+11:00

111220 Earl Grey of Crows Nest 13 FIX, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Being meaning to try out a new café for a number of weeks ... Well today I got the chance. Fantastic earl grey tea, great food and very friendly staff. Nice simple interior to sketch to – will be back!!!

This is part of my review of the earl grey tea that is on offer in cafes in Crows Nest Sydney. The rest of the series, which I did late 2010, early 2011 is here

Alpha vs Gamma (sketchbook paper)

2011-12-19T22:03:00.000+11:00

I am absolutely loving my Alpha Series Stillman & Birn sketchbook but I am running out of pages and have 3 days left to make it last. So I stuck in a leaf from my Stillman & Birn Gamma sketchbook (given to us in Lisbon) The alpha has bright white paper the gamma, ivory. For some reason the gamma sketchbook did not work for me, so it is interesting to try it again....

This is one of my Sunday text/notes pages that I do every week but rarely post. I must say that although the paper is the same (just the colour difference) my writing is neater on the Gamma (cream)... not very scientific I know... but there you have it!

The spread from tonight is all gamma and to be honest I just don't like working on the cream colour. I probably wouldn't have been that crazy about this sketch on the bright white paper but the colour of the paper seems to make me dislike it more...

So... only one way to properly test the two papers... draw a Baroque facade on them. Ok... not much in this (had to confess that being a leftie I work from right to left so the Alpha paper got the better deal!) BUT I personally prefer the white paper...can really see the colour, makes my colours brighter and cleaner.
I know many other people LOVE cream paper...but me I am LOVING the bright white so much.

Thanks Stillman & Birn for providing such options for nuts like me! I love your sketchbooks!!!!

BTW this is a VERY famous Rome sight ...but I have omitted the main part of it.... what is it?????

111215 Birko sewing shopping

2011-12-15T21:46:00.001+11:00

111215 Birko sewing shopping, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

A quick 15min sketch and paint of an empty food hall at Birko (Birkenhead Point shopping centre) after getting some sewing supplies for my ambitious holiday plans.
Two things about this spread are related to my current thinking for my upcoming summer holidays(vacation) sketchbook.
1.Quick sketch of some of my purchases when I got home... I did think about doing these at the time while sitting at the table in the food court..and do think that I should have done so. I really want to try to finish pages as much as I possibly can before I come home...even if I sit in the car and do it before driving home. The finishing off of pages is HARD work when I am travelling and I do find it tedious when I am at home. It would be nice to be able to relax in the evening.
2. Thinking about composition – not filling the entire page but leaving space for text and a secondary sketch... Also thinking about adding grids/lines as texture... Maybe even pre-draw these lines on the page?

Birkhenhead Point, Sydney

111213 Random Stuff

2011-12-13T21:28:00.001+11:00

111213 Random Stuff, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

trying to keep my blog a little more up to date with my flickr postings
A few tea cosies to brighten my afternoon!
Following on from my self-righteous comment about not buying clothes...I do have a LARGE bag collection! And as for books and different varieties of tea (I am a total disgrace!)

111213 Trip Prep- Holiday Clothes

2011-12-13T19:58:00.001+11:00

111213 Trip Prep- Holiday Clothes, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Although I am staying at home (mostly) to feel like a real trip I have to do one of these pages.
Many of these clothes appear in photos of me (my standard trip/sketching outfits)...I think it is wonderful to be able to wear the same clothes year after year and I do worry about the unnecessary waste of people who are constantly buying new clothes just to be fashionable.(obviously I don’t really care to be considered fashionable!)
A few comments:
- We call vacations holidays here in Australia
- I seem to have a lot of blue and brown (how surprising!) I have more brown outfits but my outfits need to be coordinated for a special reason (yet to be revealed(
- One touch of red for the dress I will wear on our family day on 26 Dec (we don't celebrate Christmas... more explanation closer to the date)
- I love doing these pages... has really NO useful purpose on this occasion except for being a source of fun for me!

111210 Martin Place Sketching

2011-12-10T20:45:00.001+11:00

wonderful day with the Sydney sketchers this morning.
Can you see who is sitting on my stool?

Really great to get into town again and have a good day sketching- along with some other chores and shopping

Hanging out with a knitted teaset

"Ordinary Life"

2011-12-02T21:23:00.000+11:00

I suppose it is nothing new for me to say that I think I am addicted to sketching on location.... But the last month or so, for various reasons, I have not been able to get out much and I have REALLY missed it. This week I have been thinking that I have to try to get out at lunch and sketch more but I find the scenes of my ordinary fairly uninspired... But I have found some work of fellow urban sketchers this week which have made me realise that this is a silly attitude...

Anyway – this afternoon after work I was feeling a wee bit flat(sometimes it happens even to me!) despite the fact that the weekend was starting. So I went to my ‘ordinary’ (understatement!!!) Friday afternoon sketching venue. I don’t think I will EVER get over how special the view from Milson’s Point is!!!!

Started of with the usual view....

...then thought I should sketch the bridge (I normally chicken out from attempting this level of complexity)

....and then more of the bridge.

Time to go... And then excitement as a cruise ship left... Always gives me a lovely holiday feeling.
Having fun adding text and solid colour to a very quick sketch attempted with a pen that was NOT cooperating. What a wonderful 1.5 hours of sketching (though it was some communication via mobile phone that REALLY picked me up...not the sketching on its own!)

111201 Trip Prep Planning

2011-12-01T22:44:00.001+11:00

111201 Trip Prep Planning, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

how is my trip prep going (for the big trip to Sydney over Xmas/New Year)?? Going nowhere at the moment (what I was afraid of)...so with only 3 weeks to go I NEED to get into it. These are two planning pages... this is a working book but still I like to make every page designed or slightly colourful.
As you can see I am trying to approach this with the same kind of crazy prep that I do for an overseas trip... of course I have to sew a dress at last minute, get my art supplies sorted, decide on my bag (less critical as I can always make a bag swap, choose some music(maybe Ross Edwards that I have listened to this week on the Classic 100 20th Century countdown)... ah what fun!

111130 Sydney Red Brick House 1

2011-11-30T20:49:00.001+11:00

111130 Sydney Red Brick House 1, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Struggling to find sketching time/opportunities in my busy life... So tonight I drove around a few blocks from home to sketch a house... Should do this more often!

Catching up again

2011-11-29T20:42:00.000+11:00

Not sure why my blogging is fading at the moment... all the action is still happening over at my flickr.
So to catch up....

Friday night: Three little friends
been raining all week and I am starting to go stir crazy... I want to get out to sketch!

Saturday: Quick sketch while spending a day with a friend
Extremely quick sketch while spending quality time with a 'best' friend. Lots of things encoded into this sketch which makes it special even though the sketch in itself is nothing special.

Monday: Sketchers diet starting again!
I want to try and lose a few kilos before Xmas (and then put them back on again... I know!) so time to lose it the best way I know how!... yes... back to my old food diary - sketch everything before/as you eat it.
I find it incredibly therapeutic to sketch and eat at the same time. My diet might be pretty dull (protein shakes and lots of plain steamed veg) but it is so colourful.
I won't bore you all with every page but I plan to sketch everything I eat this week so that I get strict about the food (this weeks food also includes a high tea on Saturday so I will have to work extra hard!!!)

Monday night: Communist architecture and music
Like last year I am starting to really get into the ABC Classic countdown - this year it is 20th century works.

This afternoon post 4pm(when the live countdown for the day finished - Mahler 9!) I started catching up on the sessions that I have missed out on and was listening to Shostakovich Symphony 10 (which I don't know... I do like some of his other symphonies) so tonight while trying to re-listen to it online I sketched a great communist building (of a different era but still a connection)

Today Tuesday: Same old stuff!
I draw the SAME things ALL the time... I know! Boring for you but for me I get so much enjoyment from drawing and splashing paint around that I do not really care too much. Everytime it is different.

This week I am obsessed about follwong ABC radio's Classic 100 of the 20th Century. Each day I will record one piece in my sketchbook

If you are interested check out the following links
For the list
www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2011/10/07/3335065.htm
To listen
www.abc.net.au/classic/program/classic100/

111125 No escaping my 'liz-ness'

2011-11-25T23:00:00.002+11:00

111125 No escaping my 'liz-ness', a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

During a trip to the UK a few years ago a number of people commented that my work was a bit like Matthew Rice’s. I eventually got one of his books and while looking through it thought that is was a little like a ‘neat Liz’ sketch. A little while ago I tried to copy one of his sketches

It was then that I realised that I did have a distinctive style.

I tried again tonight...I wasn’t trying to do an exact copy... If I really tried I could do a neater and more more uniform version...but not on a Friday night when I am totally exhausted after a draining week. Quite a fun exercise and strangely relaxing for me. You can see that I am not too concerned to get the proportions right... But there is no way that I can escape my own personal style is there!

111125 This weeks sketches

2011-11-25T19:52:00.000+11:00

Sorry, I have been a bit slack posting to my blog this week.

A bit hard for Monday morning
A little unexpected adventure on the way home from church yesterday morning meant that I had a visit to a tyre place on the agenda this morning.
My brain was really struggling to divide the circles into 5...sometimes your sketching brain needs some warming up first....

BTW, I am continuing to enjoy my S&B Alpha book. I will do some real tests soon...

Tuesday: A TOY
A very rushed sketch tonight... want to get back to sketching the Spanish weekly challenges

Wednesday morning: For Simonetti
last night a photo of these treats was posted on my facebook page by Luis (Simonetti)- the sketcher who is soon going to leave the land of the pasteis de nata for a world sketching - - suppose he has to get a full dose before he leaves?
worldsketchingtour.com/

Of course I had to draw it this morning over breakfast. An important subject to test in my new Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook

Thursday: Hot and Cold

A page celebrating the fun weather we have been having lately. Last year I recorded similar changes in early Nov but this year is it late November!

a few dress patterns I have come across in recent days... if any one has some good blogs for me to start following let me know. I DO need to start sewing some of those fabrics I bought in the last few years
The world of sewing blogs

111121 Quiet weekend but busy Monday morning

2011-11-21T21:06:00.000+11:00

Didn't end up doing most to the things I had planned/ scheduled in during the weekend for various reasons...
Actually I will start with Friday lunchtime - a quick but expensive sketch

went into the $2 shop and saw a cute notepad with Australian notes...of course I had to stick one on my page and try to draw over it... bit of a crazy thing to do (I think the $10 note would have been better since it is lighter and more uniform in tone) Of course there is no mistaking this for the real thing as our money is plastic!!!!

Going through my sketchbooks too quickly...It is a bit of a worry...but I need to start sketchbook No. 45 tonight. #44 only lasted me 3 weeks and one day...and I don’t feel like I have been doing THAT much sketching...but obviously I am. Last year the 120 page sketchbook lasted me minimum of 5 weeks.
This page (doing the same old thing over and over again) is the first in a Stillman and Birn Alpha Sketchbook. I am quite excited at giving this a go- the Gamma book which we were given at the Symposium, with the cream paper just didn’t feel right for me but I can tell that this bright white paper is going to be nice. Stay tuned for my explorations with this paper – I know that there are some limitations with watercolour (like there are with my normal sketchbook paper) but it is SOOOO lovely to draw and write on!!!!!

111119 Testing out my Alpha Sketchbook - A new sketchbook paper is a great excuse to do a standard Liz-sketch... (I did a cup of tea sketch last night as well but I will refrain from posting that)
Nothing at all wrong with this paper on this sketch. LOVE the tooth of the paper ti write and sketch on!!!!

Visiting my new niece - Very quick sketches in between a nurse of my new niece (two weeks old today!) Of course she is gorgeous and it is so nice to have a baby girl around (so many boys born in my circles in recent years) Didn't get a chance to sketch her today...but I will some day!

Time to put my books back on the shelves -cricket on the radio and cicada’s starting their evening chorus after a hot day is the perfect background for a long overdue tidy up... (I have so many books that putting my books away can become a big shuffle depending on what I want to have in easy access)

A little unexpected adventure on the way home from church yesterday morning meant that I had a visit to a tyre place on the agenda this morning.
My brain was really struggling to divide the circles into 5...sometimes your sketching brain needs some warming up first....

A few old sketches

2011-11-21T14:42:00.000+11:00

Ely Cathedral

St Stephens Walbrook

A few sketches from the archive.... sketches that were done from the comfort of my own studio from photos - post trip to the UK in 2000

Blogged here
sketchingarchitecture.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-sketches-...

Back to Cockatoo Island

2011-11-17T19:48:00.000+11:00

Wet and freezing cold... but I had a really wonderful day hanging out with Manly artist, Erin Hill and her sketching class at Cockatoo Island.

And then a detour on the way home

A new sketchbook started

2011-11-15T20:17:00.001+11:00

A new sketchbook started, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

After toying with some crazy and expensive options for my 2 week break over summer (Xmas-New year shutdown period here in Australia) I have decided to do something TOTALLY RADICAL...
I am going to stay at home!!!!

I feel that I haven’t done my best work here in Sydney - my best work, when I get in the groove, seems always to be when I am away on a big trip – so I am going to make staying home into a big trip!

I am a little afraid that I will just veg-out at home watching the cricket and not doing much so I have started a dedicated trip prep in order to plan lots of exciting adventures! So stay tuned...

(BTW the graphic on the title page is a map of Sydney Harbour)

111112 Rome to Tasmania

2011-11-14T23:15:00.001+11:00

111112 Rome to Tasmania, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Dreaming of past trips and planning future ones...... I was all keen on Tasmania on Saturday (impulsive Liz) but practical Liz who did a budget this evening has other ideas. Perhaps I should save my pennies for next years symposium....

A vitrual model of Ancient Rome

2011-11-12T10:40:00.001+11:00

look what I just discovered!!!

More about the project here
http://www.romereborn.virginia.edu/

No lines!!!!

2011-11-09T21:31:00.001+11:00

A shockingly different cup of tea sketch as a result of a radical work doodle today

I always keep a sheet of recycled paper under my keyboard for writing notes, taking phone messages and doodling. Today while waiting for something to print I picked up my waterbrush and somehow without thinking too much ended up with this wee tea cup on the page. I include the whole page for context and a close up in the top right corner,

I have been planning to do a tea cup sketch without any lines for a while now... looks like I did it today!

My sketch from last year- the first time ever I painted without lines....

111108 I got my USK Singapore Book!!!!!

2011-11-08T20:18:00.001+11:00

111108 I got my USK Singapore Book!!!!!, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Here it is... I got my copy of Urban Sketchers Singapore's new book in the mail today. It is truly amazing and me and BB are about to make a cup of tea and sit down to enjoy it. Lots of inspiring sketching and interesting info to read. Here BB points out to me photos of friends he has met - Paul Wang and Tia Boon Sim but there are other friends work in there- Don Low,Parka and more.... what an amazing and inspiring group of sketchers- the sheer quantity of sketching done in a short period of time is staggering. And of course we all know about the quality! Got to have a try at that splashing!!!!

Venice Breakfast

2011-11-08T16:45:00.002+11:00

Venice Breakfast, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

going through some photos today and came across this photo of me taken by Eza last Spetember...breakfast in Venice.

...ah! Eza miss you and sketching with you so much!!!!

111104 Prep for a challenging but self imposed sketching assignment

2011-11-04T21:38:00.001+11:00

111104 Prep for a challenging but self imposed sketching assignment, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
You can read all the silly notes if you want... But I am going to a cousin’s wedding tomorrow and really want to do some sketching.

Trying to work out which will be the best dressy bag to use – I think I will go for the red bag. I am not sure how much sketching I will do but doing this page and posting it is a way of making me commit to TRYING to sketch. Planning to get to the church early to sketch outside and then inside. The rest of the time I will probably end up being socialable. I am a little scared about even the thought of sketching at a wedding....

Was nice to sketch my bags again... And this is the FIRST bag swap since I bought my new bag back in June!

Friday night craziness

2011-10-28T22:15:00.000+11:00

A quick visit to Milsons Point this evening- much needed sketching adventure after a crazy week....

Not sketching the opera house tonight? well....

just had to do a second sketch this evening...after all I couldn't only do 1 sketch in 45mins could I?

And Sketchbook 44 started

just another book started and another one of these title pages... but a few interesting comments (well it is interesting to me anyway!)
1. last daily sketchbook was completed in 22 days (my previous period was 5-6 weeks) and I have been extremely busy at work during this period....I just never stop!
2. this page was an exercise in how fast and loose and messy can I draw my boxes...
3. I used my squirrel brush that I bought in Lisbon (I call it my Omar brush as it is the same that he uses) and because it contains so much more water I was getting some interesting effects... I was purposely trying to be loose. I really want to use this brush more!!!!
3. shadows done with a grey pitt brush pen
4. I am REALLY loving using full pans.. this grid is based on my colour selections of the square schmincke set I bought in london (thanks again Paul!) it is a bit too heavy to take on location but is working great at home.'5. I htink I could ramble away all night .....

2nd video from USK Symposium in Lisbon

2011-10-28T14:07:00.002+11:00

2nd video from USK Symposium in Lisbon, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
If you haven't already come across it online here is the link to the second great video from The Urban Sketchers Symposium in Lisbon by Patricia Pedrosa

Urban Sketchers 2 from Patrícia Pedrosa on Vimeo.

It includes a number of sessions that I took part in and the amazing sketchcrawl on the last afternoon with 100s of sketchers all together!

I feature a number of times in it - this is the more obscure 'feature' ...still painting during the group photo!(at 12:00)
Other appearance occur at
00:40 and 3:00 sketching with Tia (had no idea that we were being filmed) and then again at 10:00 (looking very serious... actually fragile after a little adventure visiting a local hospital)

If you missed the first video....

Urban Sketchers 1 from Patrícia Pedrosa on Vimeo.

I am interviewed in that one- from around 10:00 - talking and waving hands in the air around 11:00 (oh dear!)

Needless to say... these bring back many great memories and it is wonderful to have a record of so many of my friends in action!

111027 Basket Case Baroque

2011-10-27T23:13:00.001+11:00

111027 Basket Case Baroque, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

twice in one evening is a bit of a worry.....

111027 My usual Barouqe sketching therapy

2011-10-27T21:17:00.001+11:00

111027 My usual Barouqe sketching therapy, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Just needed a nice little bit of sketching ‘bread and butter’ tonight and some uplifting words to think about at the same time.
This is an extremely famous building but I left off its distinctive feature- does anyone know what it is?

111024 Summer Frocks

2011-10-25T06:56:00.001+11:00

111024 Summer Frocks, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Today being a hot day 34C was the first day of my wearing a summer ‘frock’... I love the word ‘frock’ - it is so delightfully old fashioned....and as I have been told before I am a bit of an old fashioned girl.

So of course, with the hot weather, my mind today thought about sewing... In the past few years I have gone from having NO fabric to having quite a collection and also a number of similar (but significantly different) patterns. In recent years I have started to make my own dresses as the short strappy dresses in the shops are not to my liking, nor are suitable for my fair (highland Scottish fair) skin(the Australian sun is SOOOO vicious!) nor are they necessarily suitable for sketching(very very important!). I also now sew secret pockets into the dresses so they are suitable for travelling... Not that I am planning an exciting trip at the moment... Hmmm, WHERE am I to go over my summer holidays at Christmas time.

The fabric swatches at the base of the page are VERY loose interpretations... Now the big decision is which fabric to cut out first (and what pattern)...

My ambition this summer is to be able to wear a dress every day (actually, I can already do that ...but I want some more sketching dresses so I can go out cool and comfortable in the heat!)

Sketches from Saturday

2011-10-24T20:21:00.000+11:00

my morning in T2 and then

......afternoon at a new-ish park in Birchgrove. Although I do like the park it was hard to find an inspiring view to sketch. (I did another 3 sketches which I was not happy with)

Finished the afternoon off with some house sketches from my car on the way home.

Quick trip to Melbourne

2011-10-24T14:12:00.001+11:00

Here are the sketches I managed to fit in during a work trip to Melbourne on Thursday and Friday... constant meetings but one nearly always gets a chance on the plane...and meal times...ah! the food is so good in Melbourne. And yes, I found a WONDERFUL tea and I did also get a good Melbourne coffee.

Familiar Shoes!!!!

2011-10-22T15:12:00.003+11:00

Familiar Shoes!!!!, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I knew it would happen one day... today was the day...but it turned out to be more amazing than one would expect!

I was sitting in T2 sketching and someone came up and asked "Are you Liz?"

She then explained that she knew my work ...and not only that but she was friends with Wil Freeborn! I immediately looking down at her legs and said ...I have seen your legs before.... (see sketch below!!!) and in fact she is wearing the same shoes!!! How amazing is that!!!!

Urban Sketchers certainly makes the world smaller!
(I will post my sketches later!)

Click here to see Wil's wonderful sketch from earlier in the month

111017 People Palette

2011-10-17T21:57:00.001+11:00

111017 People Palette, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

....Some more exercise in drawing people...practice practice practice. I drew this very quickly and living with the consequences...I really do love sketching from this crazy book - lots of variety of faces! Next time I will attempt to do a few less but be a little more careful.

Sketchcrawl 33 - A solo effort at home

2011-10-15T16:32:00.000+11:00

Need to have a day at home today so here is what I got up to with my sketchbook!

Visions of Suburbia....Colorbond Roof extensions and solar panels. Unlike the extension I posted the other day, this one retains the scale of the existing californian bungalow. We are the only ones (from tour battleaxe block) who really see the new shining roof.

A few people have wanted to see me do a colour chart of the different coloured teas I have been drinking in the last 2 weeks... I thought I would sketch the cups as well. I am so OVER drawing tea cups as a result of doing this today!
BTW these are my 'everyday' cups

An afternoon reading in the garden.... here is the accompanying sketch. Hills Hoist and Lap and Cap (another Australian suburbian legend!).

Josu from Spain (Basque Country to be exact) recently got a pilot parallel pen and did some amazing things with it. I resisted the urge for a week or so... but after seeing this sketch I weakened. It is a calligraphy pen and delightfully unpredictable (at the moment till I get the hang of it)

Here is the first test that I did with my new pilot parallel pen. BTW, I discovered that if you scan your sketchbook so that the movement of the light is perpendicular to the gutter of your book, there are no nasty shadows. (this is my Stillman and Birn sketchbook) HOWEVER it means for me scanning each page separately and joining in photoshop...so I would bother except for important scans. Also I seem to get better scans if I scan to tiff format and then save as jpg to upload.

111014 Back to black!

2011-10-14T20:13:00.002+11:00

111014 Back to black!, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

the end of my black tea detox... read my comments to see the surprising results.... the fact that it tasted different is a sign that the period of my deprivation was long enough. Going to try to remain drinking herbals and greens (and maybe reds)

Haven't sketched this special cup very much(as it is very challenging!) - I am not sure I have drawn it since Jan 2009! - shows how much my style has changed over the last few years! ( i used to be addicted to cross hatching!)

Town Hall Sketching

2011-10-14T14:56:00.000+11:00

I was in town yesterday afternoon and had a chance to do some more sketching of the Town Hall - which is one of the most complicated buildings in Sydney. While not Baroque it is in the grand Victorian Second Empire style and reminds me of sketching the Louvre.
I was intending to do a more detail study of the architectural features since it is very complex but in the end decided to do a quick perspective sketch. After an amazing discussion on my flickr this week, one would think that I would try to put into practice the technique we were discussing... but no, I was too lazy!!
If you are interested the discussion was about how to draw perspective when the vanishing point is off the page (it gets a little complicated so not for the faint hearted) However, the discussion prompted Gerard to share a magic trick of his- so make sure you check that one out!

I was surprised to find the square adjacent to the town hall (Sydney Square) filled with colourful deck chairs. It is part of a project called Chairs in Squares which aims to encourage people to take time out, mingle and relax in underused public spaces.Having movable comfortable chairs is not something that is normally found in Sydney- this too reminds me of Paris and those great green reclining chairs scattered through the parks.

A special package!

2011-10-11T22:34:00.000+11:00

Some of you might remember that I got a unique sample sketchbook in my goodies from the Urban Sketchers Symposium. My Stillman & Birn sketchbook had the logo embossed on the back( upside down) and the spine had been hacked somewhat (see below). Well Michael from S&B found my photo and it turns out I got a sample copy that they used to test the imprint (how special is that!?) and that they would send me out a replacement. Well it arrived today PLUS a second (larger!) sketchbook... now how extra special is that!?!

Not only that, but Michael noticed that I was used to white paper so he sent me one form the Alpha series (same quality as the ones we got in Lisbon) but with white paper.

A huge thank you to Michael and Stillman & Birn!!!!

111008 Spring Sketchabout and sketching about....

2011-10-08T20:23:00.000+11:00

Sketches from a fun and fairly productive day- at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and with the Sydney Sketch Club...

my warm up sketch beforehand. I have decided that at sketching events I will try to sketch before and afterwards rather than sketch and talk when with others...ie. just talk! and have more time to look at other peoples work.

Second Spring sketch about we went to the Australian native garden.. great fun and great group of sketchers!

ran into new friends in the art gallery
The what if card was a free postcard. I didn't like one of the questions on it so cut it out and then added another one . I didn't have my sticking tape with me so draw the portrait holding the card in place. We then thought it looked better placed off set.
I am very excited that I am starting to draw people across the table now... very hesitant with my linework and afraid to look at them properly but practice practice practice!!!

quick museum sketches

Final sketch of the day

111008 Please humour me a little

2011-10-08T20:10:00.001+11:00

111008 Please humour me a little, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

this is not just another cuppa sketch...notice the colour of the tea... enjoying Earl Grey green tea!?! (something I never liked before)

What is inside my bag?

2011-10-07T22:12:00.000+11:00

Well most of you know about the great bag I discovered just before I went overseas in July. Well, it is working great and I am absolutely loving the fact that I never have to do a handbag swap and it is always ready to go.
Inspired by Inma's bag contents drawing I had to do one myself. "Shoes and Bags' is the Spanish Urban Sketchers weekly theme and as I am an 'honorary' member and just so happened to have a copy of the Eyewitness Guide to Spain and a copy of a CD of John Williams playing Spanish Guitar music... I thought I should join in!
BTW...and just for the record....I haven't revealed absolutely everything in my bag...and a few items are suitably vague. If you are interested in the art supplies in the front two pockets an old photo is here and a new sketch is here...but even that is slightly out of date.
BTW2...I have never drawn my keys... that would be fun. I will put it on my list.
BTW3... I am NOT planning a trip to Spain at the moment...but now that my copy of this book has finally been returned maybe I should start!?!

Interviewed on The Artling

2011-10-04T15:28:00.002+11:00

Interviewed on Artling, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

I feel very honoured to have been interviewed by Jan Allsopp on her wonderful new blog on figurative drawing - The Artling.
the-artling.com/artist-interview-liz-steel/
What a privilege to follow on from an interview with Rick Tulka - Rick is in fact the reason that I met Jan. We live in the same state in Australia but our paths had never really crossed.... It just so happened that in 2009 we were both in Paris at the same time and both visited Le Select in the same week. Rick told me she was in town and we met up and sketched the rear of Notre Dame together!
Check out the interview and start following her great blog!

A big food sketching day!

2011-10-01T20:19:00.002+10:00

I should be too embarrassed to post ALL my pages from today... a bit too much FOOD! But I just had to go with Alissa when she proposed we visited Sweet Belem... notes on the pages should explain everything I got up to!

Working fast as I wanted my pasteis de nata while coffee was still warm

Now for the sketches....

An early morning sketch - the big out of scale roof top extension to the house in front (I live on a battleaxe block) - it was a lovely single storey 'californian bungalow'.

Typical Sydney suburbia....

Now for the cakes....

Glebe - Sydney. Typical terrace houses from in inner city suburbs

More food sketching at home:

110930 A great start to a long weekend

2011-09-30T20:22:00.001+10:00

110930 A great start to a long weekend, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

I haven't been down to Milsons Point for AGES! From next week it will be even lighter as we go into daylight saving(summer time)
It is so obvious to sketch the Opera House but I never get sick of drawing it plus it makes me feel like I am on holidays (a tourist in my own city!)...SO much else to sketch down here...Luna Park rides AND people etc. I think I will try and make this a regular habit. Only need to be down here for 1-2 hours - ahhh nothing beats getting out for some sketching!!!!

Sketch 1 for the long weekend completed!!!

2011-09-30T18:04:00.000+10:00

110929 Nannas China- Noritake Coffee Set

2011-09-29T22:07:00.001+10:00

110929 Nannas China- Noritake Coffee Set, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Been so busy the last number of months that I haven't had a chance to work my way through the collection of china etc that is temporarily in the house. I have to draw them all quickly so they can be distributed. Never seem to do the best sketches when I know I 'have' to do a 'good' version.
Sketching them of course creates a stronger bond with them... but then if I have the sketch I am happy that someone else has the object.
(after all I got the Shelley cups so am very happy!!!!)

BTW great quotes on the side if you can read them... sorry about the ultra condensed writing... didn't quite leave myself enough room!

110928 A packet of Rice Crackers

2011-09-28T16:02:00.001+10:00

110928 A packet of Rice Crackers, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

A friend of mine thought I might like to draw these crackers... she was certainly correct in her assumption!!!
Too cute to unwrap I think!

Aah... haven't done a proper sketch for 5 days so it was nice to chill and do this today!!!

This week I am reading and NOT sketching - well tonight anyway!!

2011-09-26T21:33:00.002+10:00

...there are many many books on FLW but these two really contain some amazing analytical insights !

110922 A computer Free Weekend coming up!!!

2011-09-22T21:57:00.000+10:00

I know that some (many) of you think that I have limitless amounts of energy to sketch non-stop, and then scan and post everything I sketch...and do all other crazy things... well I don't!

It has been a huge push to finish uploading all my sketches from my recent trip (which was unbelievably full-on), plus try to get a number of other associated chores completed... coupled with post Symposium hyper-active online and LOTS of ideas and projects swimming in my head at the moment some of which I have started on...well, I have finally hit the wall!!!

So the thought of having a bit of a black out has been on my mind a bit during the week ... and tonight I confirmed the resolution by sketching my desktop machine and scanner (which I will cover up tonight with a cloth so I can't even see it!!!!) Funny that I found yet another use for sketching in my life- to confirm resolutions.

I was asking myself why I am bothering to tell everyone about it... but in essence I am a just one big show-off... I have to tell people I am going to do something or else I will never do it! I was also a little concerned that some of you will start to worry if I miss a few days and don't post anything... (hmmm, that is a thought when is the last time I didn't post for 3 days in a row????)

Anyway... I am looking forward to the challenge... my brain desperately needs some free space (not that it ever really slows down!) and it will be nice to do something different... like knitting a tea cosy...or sitting in bed reading a book.

BTW 1 please take note that there is no mention of visiting a tearoom in my to-do list (just thought I should mention this)
BTW 2... just for the record, I have not been posting most of the daily sketches I have been doing in the last few weeks... it is quite liberating not to feel like I have to post them.

SO... have a good Friday and weekend everyone!!!!

Final (I think?) post from Trip 2011 - Week in Cardiff

2011-09-21T20:03:00.001+10:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More sketches

Here are the pages I did while in Cardiff immediately after the Urban Sketchers Symposium in Lisbon. This week, as I have mentioned earlier was an amazing church conference... lots of great sermons, friends to catch up with and new friends to make. Although very tired, I did manage to squeeze some sketching in and when I look at these pages as a whole and very happy, from a journally point of view that I was able to record both with text and with sketches all that went into this very special week.

Travel 'journal-style' pages

2011-09-21T13:37:00.001+10:00

Travel 'journal-style' pages, a set on Flickr.

Following on from my comments last night about maps and travel journals... I have just created a new set in my flickr – Travel journal-style pages
A collection of some of my favourite pages that are in a journal style...ie. not just a single 'great' sketch on a page. Ones that tell a story, ones that I enjoy looking at and re-living months, years later.A combination of sketches, media, notes, a map, a bit of collage...and maybe even a tea cup sketch or two!

Thinking about maps in Travel journals

2011-09-20T22:51:00.000+10:00

I was looking through a few of my travel sketchbooks tonight...

last years big trip was so busy that I rarely drew maps, while Trip 2009 I drew maps every night. This year's trip I made an allowance for maps on my summary page and ended up drawing most of them when I got home.

What STRUCK me tonight is... the few maps I drew last year where incorporated into a page with a sketch or two and that these ARE a lot nicer pages. If I hadn't got around to drawing a map on this page, I could have added some text or some collage or just enjoyed the glorious white space which I generally don't have enough of in my sketchbooks.

Anyway... this has got me thinking of a different approach... it doesn't necessarily mean that it is another trip...you can create wonderful travel pages at home!?!

(these are pages from NYC and ROme last year during my big 11 week trip)

Trip 2011 Volume One

2011-09-20T20:41:00.000+10:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More sketchbook

Volume 1... the 4 days before I left home and then the first few days in the UK before heading for Lisbon!

BB is devastated

2011-09-20T13:53:00.001+10:00

BB is devastated, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

...and so am I. Yesterday I went into my local bookstore (Constant Reader at Crows Nest) to see if the one copy of Cathy(Kate) Johnson’s new book had come in. IT HAD! But tragically my phone was totally out of juice so I couldn’t take a photo of Borromini next to THE book( that he appears in) on the shelf. Today I had the phone and the bear but the book has been sold!!! So here is BB pointing to where it was- right next to Danny Gregory’s An Illustrated Life. At least it is good to know that it is finally on the shelves here down under and I AM truly happy that someone is now enjoying the book!!!

My London Sketches in Full

2011-09-19T22:56:00.000+10:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More london

Here are my London sketches to flick through... 3.5 days and then the journey home.

Urban Sketchers Australia!!

2011-09-19T19:47:00.001+10:00

Urban Sketchers Australia!!, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

Just to let everyone that Urban Sketchers Sydney has become Urban Sketchers AUSTRALIA!!!
The new url is australia.urbansketchers.org/

We have some exciting ideas for the blog including creating links with the other regional blogs... So please come over for a visit and follow us as we expand our vision and hope to show Australia to the world one drawing at a time

A new colour - W&N Potters Pink

2011-09-16T22:20:00.000+10:00

Thanks to my great friend Robyn who is the person responsible for my obsession with Cobalt Deep Blue (and also a reliance Perylene Green) I have a new VERY interesting colour to try.
Looks like it mixes amazing muted colours with granulation - colours that I normally am not able to achieve without very diluted mixes which I don't really like... stay tuned!

By the way, the pick teapot and the cream in the 'Burnt Orange' sketch were done with P'sP

Middle Head and Burnt Orange

2011-09-16T18:50:00.000+10:00

A lovely afternoon - 3 quick sketches while the sun was out and then when the cluds came over it was time for a great afternoon tea at a beautiful cafe nearby "Burnt Orange"...of course I used my Quin Burnt Orange paint.

Middle Head has the most wonderful ruined concrete structures from World War 2 days when it was a major gun fort defending the harbour!

Trip 2011: Day 22 Last day!!!

2011-09-15T13:25:00.000+10:00

The last day consisted in spending the morning with an old school and university friend...and then a crazy time sketching and trying to see as much as I could at the V&A museum...coloured all added in the airport waiting for my flight home.....

Trip 2011: Day 21 Another social day in London!

2011-09-15T13:21:00.000+10:00

I woke up very early in the morning so had a good chance to sketch the view out of my attic room! A very spacious room for Londdon standards but with a few limitations in regard to headroom and water pressure(ie. no water at all!) Another meeting with an Urban Sketcher first up! This time with Olha Pryymak whose oil paintings I adore and is a London correspondent on Urban Sketchers (she has done some great tea cup sketches in the past as well!) As it was school holidays and she has a little one to entertain we meet up at the Museum of Childhood. Of course i was very happy with that (as was BB!) I arrived 15 minutes before opening time - so did this quick exterior.... I also managed a few toy sketches(colour added later) and a super quick tea sketch in between talking and keeping R amused.Despite the little time and the distractions it was so wonderful to meet Olha and I hope you get another opprotunity to talk and sketch together!! We tried to get R to do the teddy bear trail but he was more interested in soldiers...so BB and I did a quick run around to find some friends!!! Went in search of another Hawksmoor church- Christ Church Spitalfields (have been here before- pre sketching on location days!) and found the markets opposite very desirable to draw. One of the things that I love about on-location sketching is the way that you often end up sketching something different from expected... responding to the moment!!! The most amazing tea experience I have ever had at tea Smith - a contemporary tea ceremony... very cool! The girls that worked there were super nice too - and of course met the bear! The girls that worked there were super nice too - and of course met the bear! And then I headed out to Richmond to spend the afternoon and evening with Alison from the Sketchercise group that I belong to! it was a 'hot' day of 31C and it was so relaxing to sit and chat by the river at Richmond. Definitely the most relaxing time all trip! I am very pleased with this sketch.... at the 70% mark it was a mess so I put it away( was talking too much and not concentrating) but when alsion started drawing the bear, I took a photo of the the view which helped me work out what do do with the values and I was able to finish it off. Can't stop sketching... don't need to sketch every meal do I? but I definitely wanted to make sure that I did at least one sketch in the tube! Summary from the day (including a few bears from the 'teddy bear trail handout)

Trip 2011: Day 20 A Social day in London

2011-09-14T22:32:00.000+10:00

Catching up with two sketchers this day... but I am going to post my 3 pages from the 1.5 hours that I had on my own.... Going crazy sketching St Pauls. I could EASILY spend a whole day here...in fact a whole day sketching the exterior alone. Love the complexity of the detailing of English baroque.

I started sketching the overall view (at the top) and then realised that I couldn't quite work out what was going on - so did this page of exploration. Still didn't actually resolve what was happening at the portico at upper level... hhmmm... sadly I forgot to take many (any) photos this trip so looks like I will need another visit to check it out!

Although running out of time (it is hard to know how much time to allow to get from A to B if you have to change lines in the underground!)...I just HAD to do a sketch of the dome... really felt in the groove here...

-------------------
Ok, lets go back to the start of the day now....

Of course I HAD to sketch my first cooked London breakfast!?!

My first destination- meeting up was with Katherine Tyrrell. Please check out here account of the meeting here I LOVE her sketch of me and BB sketching!!!
We went to the Tate Modern which has a glorious view of London and sketched and talked for about 5 hours - which included morning tea, lunch and another cup of tea.

I then did my St Pauls sketching (as above) before meeting up with Isabelle who I had met in Lisbon... we had a great time comparing notes, sketching a great building and just generally getting on like a house on fire!!!

Then we had a lovely meal... and of course I sketched my food! Thanks Issy for a wonderful evening! I am so glad that we got a chance to spend some quality time together!

Trip 2011: day 19 Off to London... out of control 1st afternoon!

2011-09-13T21:53:00.000+10:00

St Stephens Wallbrook by Christopher Wren - my favourite place in London and my first stop!

Wow! I was so excited to be going to London again...which was a good thing as I was somewhat upset about leaving my friends in Cardiff. It was my third year in a row of being able to visit them and I just can't see how I will get there again next year....or when. But I had so many things to plan and people to catch up with could I fit it all in... no way! But still nice to write the list!

As per sketch above - I went straight to the interior of a church that I love. It is also special as (one of) my favourite author(s), Thomas Watson (most of my friends think he is No. 1) was a minister in the church on this site before the great ejection....so, he is NOT a contemporary author!!!
It is a very nice space to be in and draw. Two men practicing the organ didn't disturb me so I sneaked out my waterbrush and added paint. Later they asked me if I was drawing so I showed them.

Next I went another church - this time a Hawksmoor design. I am a Hawksmoor nutter...in fact, am rather partial to any English Baroque architecture...but Hawskmoor (and Vanburgh) hold a special place. Interior is not as stunning but still interesting design.

It was when I was outside on the pavement sketching the exterior (in between having the view totally blocked by queuing buses...those double deckers!) After this I was TOTALLY buzzing!!! I am so seriously addicted to on location sketching!!! I think it is the combination of having a real connection with the object, and discovering even more wonderful things about it, being outside on a lovely warm day PLUS the daring factors of sitting on a stool on a busy pavement in London (what a crazy bold thing to do)... all add to it... let alone the sheer joy I experience in letting my hand do its thing with my lamy pen and then splashing some paint around. Sigh... I just love it!!!

I then decided to track down an art store (with a sale) that Paul had told me about... I had rather liked the look of his square Schmincke set at Lisbon. Well I got more than just that (see below) and then found myself wandering through Soho and Regents St...something I have not done before. Walking through the streets of London was so great- lovely warm day - and I was able to piece together the many tourist spots that I had visited in an isolated way on previous stops....and then somehow without realising it I found myself NEAR Fortmun & Mason. Time for a cup of tea... well that wasn't on the menu...only afternoon tea...so I decided to go for it.

A second sketch to try very 'rushedly' to capture the tearoom. I felt very out of place with my dirty paint tin on the white table cloth and was worried that they would throw me out! Lovely chat to an urban sketcher at the end!!! Small world when you start sketching!

More walking through the streets (including visiting a bookstore and buying an architecture book) and then a lovely evening to sketch a classic space in London. To add to the 'excitement' I was interrupted twice by real characters who wanted to talk and talk and I did miss the wonderful sunlight and had to paint from memory.

Then back to my room and record all my purchases (AND freebies - both art supplies and tea!)

Here is the summary page which I actually fully completed that day! Wow... I was so much in hyper-drive mode! What a day...in fact it was only an AFTERNOON!!!!
Amazingly, scanning and posting these pages has brought that buzz back!!!

Trip 2011: Day 16 & 17 Cardiff

2011-09-13T19:41:00.000+10:00

I will do this post in reverse order....

Final sketches from Cardiff -morning tea visiting friends and then a little excursion in the afternoon to see some Welsh hills and a tearoom - the best I have been to in the UK I think!!!

Ok... now for the pages of the final day of the conference...From a sketchbook/journally point of view I was very happy with the way that I was fairly easily able to weave sketches in amongst all my notes. And it is nice having friends that let me go off on my own to sketch - or let me into the church early to sketch etc.

Trip 2011: Day 15 Cardiff

2011-09-12T21:43:00.000+10:00

Cardiff City Hall
------------------------
Another day from my week in Cardiff at a church conference.

Summary of my adventure into town and an early morning sketch of the view from my bedroom

With a bit more sleep in my system I was able to go off during the free afternoon and sketch and sketch.... I really needed some solo time to think and process. Really really hit the spot...
but first I needed LUNCH!

Off to the great deli opposite the church and another attempt at a sketch of the church that I am happy with...hmmm, I think I will try again on the next day!
Of course the first thing I did was find the most complicated building I could think of from previous visits (of course the castle fits that bill but I didn't want to pay the huge entry fee!)So I sketched the city hall (as above... I am trying to make sure that the first image on the post is a little more interesting as a thumbnail than my normal summary day!)

I continued roaming the streets trying to find something that I would really have fun sketching.....

And then went in search of a good cup of tea. A perfect find!!!

Then finally to complete a 'typical Liz' sketching excursion I squeezed on more final quick sketch in before walking back. What a great afternoon!!!!

Followed up by a truly wonderful evening!!!

Trip 2011: Days 13 & 14 Cardiff- Church Conference

2011-09-10T21:49:00.000+10:00

My 'crazy' trip continued after Lisbon by going straight into a week long church conference in Cardiff! It was wonderful beyond words!!!!!!
The emphasis of this week was the wonderful addresses and spending quality time with my friends in Cardiff and meeting new people....and NOT sketching.
BUT despite sketching not being the emphasis of the week, I still tried to design my pages of notes with images and I did manage to sketch in the afternoons. The first two days I was somewhat exhausted (not at all surprising!)

The friends that I was staying with are the minster and his wife of the church that was holding the conference...so I spent the week in really wonderful company. Sketching my lunch on this occasion was a little daring even for me..for I had not meet most of the ministers and their wives around the table and they didn't know anything about my crazy habit. I had my sketchbook on my lap but of course after I have finished it got shown around the table and signed. Wonderful deli!!! Deli Rouge

A truly relaxing afternoon- a nap and then a beautiful warm afternoon sitting in the garden listening(yes listening and NOT talking... hard to believe I know!) to very uplifting conversation.

Just another summary page... finding time to do these pages was a struggle all trip!

Lunch in my friends favourite cafe...Herb & Ellies at Cardiff Bay

I sketched this building last year (from the other side) Very strong colour and glary but flat lighting certainly affected my painting. Also was a little surprised at how bad the drying shift of the Daniel Smith Perylene Maroon was. A few very interested people stopped to talk to me...do love that but it can throw your concentration at times (especially when you have to meet your friends at a certain time and then start rushing!)

A simple page with a detail from the pier head building. I was always on the look out for an element that I could do a very quick sketch of to use as page decoration.

110909 Another Nanna Cup

2011-09-09T22:19:00.001+10:00

110909 Another Nanna Cup, a photo by borromini bear on Flickr.

A friend from interstate staying the night. We mentioned my love of drawing teacups which was a reminder of all the china from my Nanna which I have to draw. So while the conversation drifted to Darwin and the Top End I went and got a cup and sketch. So glad that I now have a sketch in my book to remind me of the evening....I know that I should have been drawing the people in the room but a tea cup sketch is a nice non-concetrating thing to sketch while still being part of a conversation