Tag: watercolour

Sketching Fun!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting, Stories From Life

Yesterday, my Wife, Susan and I attended an Urban Sketch-meet that was organised by Urban Sketchers Blue Mountains. They were invited to sketch in the Gardens of the Norman Lindsay Gallery.

Norman Lindsay was a famous, prolific, controversial and award-winning Australian Watercolour and Oil Painter, Etcher, award-winning Novelist and a Sculptor. His creativity is on display at the abovementioned gallery which is situated at his former home on 49 acres in Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains West of Sydney Australia.

The Urban Sketchers Blue Mountains invited members of Urban Sketchers Sydney up for the morning for approximately 2 hours of sketching.

There were about 30 in attendance and it was a delightful Winter’s day. We were bathed in sunshine and blue skies and it was about 19C/66F. Quite warm for Winter in the Blue Mountains.

It was a wonderful morning of sketching and relaxing. I even took a poetry book with me and spent a short time after sketching just sitting in the Sun reading. It was such a peaceful location.

After the sketch-meet was over, we decided to go on the property tour and were blessed to see the actual studios where Norman Lindsay painted and etched. We then viewed the gallery, which also featured art by Norman’s Brother, Lionel who was also quite talented as well.

On the way home we stopped at The Bunker (cafe/restaurant/bar) in Springwood and also visited the ColourArt Australia Art & Craft store across the road. One cannot pass up an opportunity to venture to an Art store that you haven’t been into before… 🙂 Picked up a couple of things there.

All-in-all it was a beautiful relaxing day in picturesque surroundings.

I have just found out today that the next Urban Sketcher Sydney sketch-meet is early in September at the Sydney Opera House, which is celbrating it’s 50th anniversary this year.

Looking forward to that one.

Till next time, happy sketching and painting!

Written by David Johnson

20 August 2023

For more inforamtion:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/norman-lindsay-gallery/

https://halloffame.melbournepressclub.com/article/norman-lindsay

Within These Walls

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting, Poetry

Ocean Creatures – A New Adventure!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last year, as I was foraging through the Art section of the Argyle Emporium in Goulburn NSW Australia, (where they have 500,000 second-hand books), I came across a book, ‘Learn to Draw & Paint Ocean Creatures’ by Daniel DePierre. It cost the princely sum of $2.00, is A4 in size and is only 31 pages in length.

After the initial purchase, it sat on the shelf for some time. I would pick it up occasionally, look through it and think, ‘I should have a go at sketching/painting one of the subjects.’

I bought the book initially because I had never attempted to sketch/paint marine creatures and thought it would ‘get me out of my comfort zone.’ Every time I looked at attempting one though, I had thoughts like, ‘I really need to be less tired to do this’, or ‘I’m not in the mood to attempt this’ etc. This sort of thinking is not really helpful at all.

On the 23 January this year, I finally decided to attempt one, a Manta Ray. I am using the images as a reference to sketch from but I am not actually doing the tutorials. This was for Day 1,452 of a Watercolour Sketch a day. I was pretty happy with my attempt.

I had planned to do my next marine creature the week after (and do one a week) however, it didn’t work out that way. The next time I attempted one was on 14 May (4 years, 108 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day). This time, I attempted the Walrus and am pleased with this one as well.

Third one attempted was a Dolphin. Love Dolphins! Such intelligent, friendly creatures. The Dolphin sketch was the most fun thus far. This one was done on the 9 July this year (4 years, 164 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day). My Wife (who loves Dolphins even more than me), wants me to do an A4 version so we can get it framed and hung on the wall.

The final one I have attempted as at today was a Blue Whale which I did this morning as my, 4 years, 171 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day. Very happy with this one!

There are 10 more marine creatures left to in the book and some of them appear quite challenging:

  • Clown Fish
  • Emperor Penguin
  • Great White Shark
  • Deep Sea Angler
  • Moray Eel
  • Whale Shark
  • Lobster
  • Sea Horse
  • Sea Turtle
  • Octopus

I’m sure that the above list will be as fun as they are challenging, which are two great reasons to do them. I shall be revisiting the ones that I have already done, over time as well to see if I can improve on them.

It is really enjoyable, ‘stepping out of one’s comfort zone.’ Stepping out of your comfort zone really is ‘where growth happens.’

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?

Till next time, happy sketching and painting! 🙂

Written, Sketched and Painting by David Johnson

16 July 2023

Urban Wollongong Sketchers

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last Sunday, I met up with the Urban Sketchers Wollongong on a field trip for the first time. The meet was held at Port Kembla, near Wollongong, NSW, Australia.

Port Kembla is well known in Australia for Steel manufacturing and it covers a huge area of land near the Pacific Ocean. I can still remember going on a school excursion there back in Primary School. It was (and is a massive place).

Our field trip location was at the end of Christy Drive, Port Kembla and one of the subjects people were sketching appears below.

I had been down to this location once previously, with my Wife, Susan and remember remarking that, ‘wow, that would take some patience to sketch’, as I turned away to sketch something that I thought was easier to sketch…

So, here I was back there and this was one of the subjects to choose from.

Here is my effort below.

Overall, I am happy with the attempt however, I am conscious that I added too much water to the sky, particularly around the edges. Another learning experience, for sure.

Before we headed off for a coffee and lunch at a nearby lunch spot, I managed to complete a pen sketch of a nearby pier. I added the colour to it last night.

4 years, 162 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time meeting, sketching and interacting on a social level with the Artists from the Urban Wollongong Sketchers and am looking forward to attending the next field trip in August.

Happy Sketching/Painting!

Written, sketched and photographed by David Johnson

8 July 2023

For more information on the Urban Wollongong Sketchers:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/UrbanSketchersWollongong

Urban Sketching Inspiration

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Books

Earlier in the year I turned 60 and received two copies of the ‘Atomic Habits’ book. This past week I finally decided which book I was going to replace one copy with.

I have been doing research on and off for a fair while reviewing books on the subject of Urban Sketching and finally decided to purchase the book below, ‘Urban Sketching: the complete guide to techniques’ by Thomas Thorspecken.

The book only arrived yesterday morning and I have already been inspired by it to start sketching people. I haven’t really done a lot in terms of sketching people, and always seemed to ‘shy away’ from doing it as I had this belief that it was either too hard, or some had some other limiting belief around it.

Apart from that, I have only had a chance to have a quick flip through (as it has been quite a busy Long Weekend). Looking forward to sitting down with a cuppa tonight to explore the book more.

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

12 June 2023

Art After Dark

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Last night, I attended ‘Art After Dark’ at a local, small Art Gallery, called ‘The Alan Baker Gallery’ in Camden, N.S.S. Australia. It’s about 3 minutes drive from where i live.

This was the third (and last for now) such event held there. I couldn’t attend the first one due to illness, and the second due to a prior engagement so I was pleased to be able to attend last night.

It was an intimate gathering, featuring a local musician Ria Brcic who provided a beautiful voice accompanied by an Acoustic Guitar in the background, whilst Artists’ demonstrations like live portrait painting carried on through the night.

There were also local Artists on display such as, Verena Heirich with her exquisite wearable art and Natalie with her ‘Creations Couture, both of which added a special flavour to the event.

The event ran from 6pm – 8pm and I enjoyed it immensely. Apart from seeing the creations of local Artists, it was a great chance to mingle, chat and share artistic experiences.

Looking forward to the next local Art event!

Written by David Johnson

29 April 2023

https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/community/support/cultural-development-and-arts/alan-baker-art-gallery-at-macaria/

As We Honour Them

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

Missing Monochrome…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

One of the types of Photography I really enjoy, and do miss is Monochrome, aka Black & White. For many years, pre-digital, right back to 1983 when I started learning Darkroom skills.

I had an LPL 35mm Enlarger and later, I purchased a Durst 606 Medium Format Enlarger off one of my Uncles. The latter was for developing the negatives from my battery-less Yashica 635 Twin-Lens Reflex with which I used a hand-held meter.

Whilst I wasn’t as adept in the Darkroom as some of the other Camera Club/Photographic Society members over the years, I did enjoy going into the Darkroom, developing, printing and experimenting.

Fast forward to the Digital era and certainly it is easier and quicker to get the image and there are many more options for manipulation these days compared to the Darkroom.

In recent years my focus has been squarely on learning Sketching, Watercolour, Line & Wash and Oil Painting as I remember ‘always wanting to learn them’ when I was younger. Myself, like everyone else, is not getting any younger, having recently turned 60 and I have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy these mediums. There is still so much more for me to learn and explore!

It shouldn’t be a surprise to people that I canned my Photoshop and Lightroom subscriptions a few years back. I still have a DSLR, however, I am looking to go in a different direction Photography-wise… A smaller, mid to high range compact and an iPad, which is a far cry from what I used to carry around. Much lighter too.

These days, I can see myself with a small backpack containing a compact camera, sketchbook, pencils, pigment liners, Watercolour field kit and sundry items.

I can see myself returning to Photography via Monochrome as (apart from when I used to take Slides), Monochrome was my favourite way of shooting images.

When I’m out and about this little kit complete with a small camera will allow me to elevate Photography once again in my life.

I’ve included a some images below of some of the things I used to like to shoot in Monochrome.

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

9 April 2023

4 Years and Counting…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

I’m a bit late getting to post about this as there has been a lot happening in our Family and Life in general over the past three weeks…

On Australia Day, 26 January 2023, I achieved somewhat of a milestone with my Watercolour Sketch a Day project.

On the above date, I had completed a Watercolour Sketch a Day, every day, for 4 years. As of today, it is 4 years, 17 days.

As the 4 years straight of Watercolour Sketch a Day fell on Australia Day, I chose to do a Line and Wash sketch of a mammal that is unique to Australia, the Platypus.

It was my first attempt at sketching/painting this subject and I found it rather challenging!

I feel sure that I will attempt this subject again.

For more information on this unique creature, visit the following link.

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/platypus/

Written by David Johnson

12 February 2023

A Generous Gift – Italian Handmade Watercolour Paper

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last year, a good friend, business associate and mentor, left for a business trip over to Europe. On her return, She presented me with a gift, a pack of “Amalfi Hand Made Watercolour Paper.” Alison said she saw this paper and thought of me. Thanks, Alison!

I was indeed very grateful as for one, I wasn’t expecting a gift at all and certainly not a pack of fine Italian Watercolour Paper!

Last year was an extremely busy and life-changing year and I struggled (particularly in the latter half of the year) to find, not only quality time but the state I wanted to be in to try the paper.

Today, for my Day 1,431 of a Watercolour Sketch a Day, I thought I would do it. Today, is New Year’s Day Holiday in Australia (as NYD fell on a Sunday), so it seemed like the perfect time to try the paper.

When trying any new paper, I’ve read that it is a great idea to try some small samples so I cut one of the 30cm x 30cm sheets into 6 pieces and I shall use them for my next 6 Watercolour Sketches a Day. This way, I can see how the paper performs, how it takes water and colour etc.

I also thought I would sketch a subject I had done before. It will take time for me to get used to the paper as it is many steps up from what I have been using up till now.

Here is Day 1,431 of a Watercolour Sketch a Day.

Written by David Johnson

2 January 2023