Term 2 has begun!

Layering in colour pencil

Have you signed up for term 2 yet? Still time! Classes are starting this week - our first exercise is exploring how to layer using colour pencils. This example of a sweet chilli  was drawn using Prismacolor Premier pencils on Fabriano bright white Artistico 300gsm.

What was the first colour laid down? Yellow! go figure... or come to class and find out how!

Bridgewater Bay

I need to work on waves.

I was asked to exhibit some works at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron Art Exhibition this year. Today was  deliver day and as I was on the Peninsula I took to the opportunity to hike down to one of the back beaches - Bridgewater Bay, Ritchie Street entrance. The tide was high and the surf was rolling in - huge breakers, rough and wild. No tide-pool walking today! So I sat on a rock and did a quick 1/2 hour sketch in my 9 x 5" book with pan watercolours and Adele pens in black and sepia.

As I said, I need to do more wave work, mine are a bit sickly - I kept thinking how Hokusai spent years studying waves. This is the first ocean view I have attempted in many years and the waves were difficult to catch!

If you are out for a drive this Easter weekend on the Mornington Peninsula stop into the Blairgowrie Yacht Club and view the
  Art Show - some pretty fine works were going up when I dropped in today.

Term 2 Drawing Classes

Enrol Now!

Term two classes begin soon - if you have not already booked your place better be quick! For second term we will be concentrating on colour pencil (all types, in a variety of ways), in all classes*. Please contact the relevant art studio/society via links below for further details.

Monday Nights 4 pm to 6.30 pm:
Victorian Artists Society  

Wednesday Afternoons 1 pm to 3 pm:
  Camberwell Community Center (limited spaces) 

Thursday Nights: 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm:
Mentone Mordialloc Art Group (one spot available)

Friday Nights: 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm:
Victorian Artists Society

*Note, all classes are catered for Beginners to Advanced and basics are covered in each. Monday and Thursday nights are focused on individual projects, Wednesday and Friday nights contain similar themes and encompass more foundation work.

Potaroo

Back yard visitor

Little potaroo visiting the backyard at Thistle Doo.

Adele pens and water.

'Thistle Doo' - Banksia

Banksia from Hawley Beach

I am staying with my dear friends in their wonderful Holiday
Air B n' B Unit 'Thistle Doo'.

Just 5 minutes walk is Hawley Beach and the Rubicon Estuary which has abundant wildlife and flora. Potaroos are friendly and bounce in front of your feet! Everywhere are beautiful coastal Banksia filled with birdlife. 

This is a quick 15 minute sketch of a Banksia cone and foliage done in my sketchbook with Graphitint pencils and pan water colour highlighted with Adele sepia and black pens.

Pen, Ink and Inktense Wash

Class demonstrations

Continuing on with our investigations into different ink techniques. 

Working direct to the paper (300gsm Hot or Cold press), colour is placed down with Inktense pencils. This is then washed to create ink wash effects. When dry, using dip pens and Art Spectrum Acrylic black in detail is added over the top.

This is similar to the previous Drafting film exercise, but working directly onto the paper, not onto film.

Rat: reference from 2  images - low res internet download . On Lana 300gsm Cold Press paper A4 

Brown Thornbill: Reference from personal photography. On 300gsm Fabriano Artistico Hot press A5

Eastern Rosella: Reference from personal photography. On 300gsm Fabriano Bright White Artistico Hot Press A3