25th Sketchcrawl Sydney

I went to the 25th World-wide sketchcrawl last Saturday. There were twelve of us (or maybe more). This time it was at the Botanical Gardens and I went straight to the cactus garden because I wanted to draw the cacti while there were still strong shadows (about 10.15am). I had to sit in the sun to do that one, and after that I stayed in the shade because it was very hot.

I used an Artline pen and Peerless watercolours.

From the office

I did a quick drawing in part of my lunch break, sitting in the foyer looking across the Parramatta River because it was too hot outside. I’ve done some more scribbling and added more colour since I got home. Composition terrible, but it was a rush job and at least I DREW. I started working from left to right, without any planning (no time) and that little shrub just ended up in the middle.

I ‘enhanced’ the drawing with more colour when I got home. In fact because it was so hot, everything was very dull and grey, so I’ve used some artistic license.

Persian Silk Tree

This drawing was done in my courtyard with an Artline pen and watercolour pencils. I’m still struggling with what to write in this ‘artist’s journal’. really don’t want it to be a diary – I am not the slightest bit interested in keeping a diary. I just want to draw, and add text. The text improves the drawing.

Snakes and Ladders

One of the assignments for the first week of the artist’s journal course was to draw a map of your progress, or the hurdles you encounter, or things that inspire you in the quest to reach your goals. Here is my ’snakes and ladders’, instead of a map. A few years ago I used snakes and ladders in a screen print to illustrate the hurdles that asylum seekers had to overcome to get Australian citizenship. I decided to address that first, but I plan to build on my comments and hindrances to drawing more regularly.

Then I drew this big pod that I’ve had at home since the end of September. I just did a search and here’s what is is. asgap.org.au/APOL33/mar04-8b.html

I used Pigma Micron and watercolours. I should have used wcp – much quicker. I will use watercolour, but only when I want an ‘atmospheric effect, or maybe washes when I get home from drawing. This page already had a yellow oxide wash of acrylic.

Goals for Artist Journal course & testing papers

In just a few days Kate Johnson’s Artist Journal class begins. In the past I have been sceptical about “art journalling”  – maybe it’s a language thing. I think that a ‘journal’ (US English)  is a diary, which is why I don’t see the work of many art journallers, wonderful though it is, as journalling, or keeping a visual diary, as I’d put it . Much of the work is so labour intensive, with all the layering, that there is no way there can be an element of a regular entry. I’m sure these artists do work on their ‘art journals’ regularly, perhaps even all day every day, but I do feel that the ‘diary’ element is missing. Maybe I would call them an artist’s book.

My goals in this course are to .. (1) improve the way I treat each double page spread (2) draw or paint, with only minimal relevant collage (3) find a way to speed up my drawing (4) form the habit of drawing more regularly (because faster).

These drawings are preparation. I have a number of handmade books all ready to start, but I wasn’t sure which to use, as I have a Stonehenge one, a BFK Rives one, and an Arches Medium one.  I plan to use the full variety of media in this course, so I wanted to test the papers. I ruled out Stonehenge as my current nearly full sketchbook was of that paper.

First, I tested watercolours on the BFK Rives. I know it takes wet media well, but just wasn’t sure about watercolour. It has a bit of a woolly look, but generally acceptable. Then  I tried watercolour pencils on the Arches Medium. Again, reasonable, but I prefer smoother for a diary, so I’ll put that one aside for when Kate does her watercolour course.

Both these images were from Google Maps street view for http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com The first one is Belfast (which I missed the date for), and the second is Halifax Nova Scotia which is the November  location.

Drawing my books

I always have a big pile of books (or two) beside my bed.  Inspired by this drawing, and again, in search of inspiration for the ‘journal challenge’ I drew some of my books. I was on a ‘B’ page of my altered book of dreams, so I left the original text about the meaning of a dream about books.

See the third book down – the biography of Patrick White written by David Marr?  Two nights ago I went to a this talk at COFA, and heard that David Marr keeps his piles of books in his lounge rather than his bedroom. It was a very interesting talk for many reasons. There was one philanthropist, one writer (David Marr) and one collector, speaking on the subject of ‘Why Art Matters’. I went along because David Marr was going to be there. Last year I heard him speak about the Henson case about which he has written a book. He is so intelligent, knowledgeable and witty.

Question time was particularly illuminating. A question was asked whether art for an upcoming art festival should be written about in ‘academic language’ or whether it should be in ‘plain language’ so that the punters could read it. It’s good to know that such esteemed and highly educated people as the speakers share my loathing of artspeak.

I’m not sure, but it’s possible that this talk may later be found on COFA Online

My drawing was done in a big rush with an Artline pen over Gesso, with Tombow pens for the colour, and watercolour crayons for the background.