Sketching

I have to admit that I'm a wimp when it comes to hot weather. I do my best to avoid being out and about in the intense heat of the Brisbane summer. This means that I do very little urban sketching from December through to March. 

Yesterday however, I joined a group at the Brookfield Show Grounds. When out sketching, a quick stop for coffee is always first on the agenda. The Cafe` has a lovely shaded area at the rear of the building with large ceiling fans. An extra bonus was the cool breeze. From where I was sitting, I had a good view of the Brookfield Hall built in 1871. The decision to stay there all morning to sketch was easy. 

My second sketch involved nothing more complicated than sitting on the other side of the table so I could draw a view of the Cafe. 

Brookfield Hall from the Brookfield General Store and Cafe

I used Noodlers Black ink in a Noodlers Konrad Flex pen for the drawing, then watercolours using a Rosemary & Co 1/2" Dagger brush. Stillman & Birn Alpha Softcover sketchbook 8" x 10"

Interior View Brookfield General Store and Cafe`

This sketch was done with a Hero 812 twelve Running horses bent nib calligraphy pen, down to the last few drops of Noodlers #41 Brown ink. Stillman & Birn Alpha Softcover sketchbook 8" x 10"

Every few minutes, when the ink flow stopped, I would have to unscrew the body, wind the convertor up to push the last drops of ink on to the pen's feed - laborious and frustrating! A water brush created the washes. In spite of my struggles with the ink, I like the looseness of the lines.

A delicious lunch, a few sketches and good company made for a very pleasant morning. 

Sketching at the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane

Last week I spent a very pleasant morning with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers at the City Botanic Gardens. I intended to do just two sketches but on the way back to the river after the essential coffee break I was struck by Robert Juniper's impressive sculpture. I simply had to draw that as well. This meant that I didn't finish it - or for that matter the other sketch of the buildings and Story Bridge! Time ran out so I completed these at home.

I am really enjoying the larger size of the A4 sketchbook and love the unpredictable nature of the Zeta paper. The smooth finish is wonderful for ink - my pen simply glides across the surface.

Plant Form by Robert Juniper, Gardens Point City Botanic Gardens

Ink and watercolour in Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook

Yachts at Garden Point City Botanic Gardens

Ink and watercolour in Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook

City Buildings & Story Bridge from Garden Point

Ink and watercolour in Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook

Out and about with Zeta

This weekend was the 42^nd Worldwide Sketchcrawl. Sketchers met on Saturday morning - I was unable to join them so on Sunday, Australia Day I did some solo sketching. I found some interesting subjects in Racecourse Road, Ascot.

Racecourse entrance from Baguette Bistrot & Bar 

ink and watercolour in Zeta Sketchbook

© 2014 Carol Lee Beckx

The morning was made even more enjoyable by being able to enjoy delicious coffee and a snack at Baguette Bistrot & Bar. The staff members were lovely too - and because it was quiet with few people around, they were happy for me to colonise a table for a while. (Well quite a long while…)

View from Baguette Bistrot & Bar ink and watercolour in Zeta Sketchbook

© 2014 Carol Lee Beckx

I loved using the ultra-smooth Zeta Sketchbook by Stillman & Birn - the ink lines flow so easily and I love the way watercolour does its own thing.

Hamilton Northshore Sketchcrawl

The Brisbane Urban Sketchers were out last Saturday for the 41st Worldwide Sketchcrawl. The group used the City Cat service starting in the city and stopping off to sketch along the way. I could only join late - but luckily I was in time for lunch. The lunch at the Northshore Riverside Cafe was delicious. These are my sketches from the afternoon.

I used my Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook which worked well for these drawings.

Little Treasures - Fiona Foley Ink & watercolour 

 © 2013 Carol Lee Beckx

Hamilton Northshore Jetty - Inktense Indian Ink  

© 2013 Carol Lee Beckx

 Hamilton Northshore Ink & watercolour 

© 2013 Carol Lee Beckx