Free Online Sketchbook Revival

Free Online Workshops

I’m excited to announce that I will part of a great online event called
Sketchbook Revival.

My online travel sketching demonstration will be live on from  22nd April - 4 May 2019. 

Join me here

You need to register to gain access to not only my online video but the other artists videos as well. Click the link above which will take you to the registration site, where the organiser will explain about the free workshops. Just enter your name and email address.

Last year over 15,000 artists joined! And it is totally FREE. It will feature over 20 diverse artists from around the world, (fine artists, illustrators, intuitive artists, designers, art therapists, art journalers and expressive artists). You can follow along with their demonstrations and fill your sketchbook pages with watercolour, pencil, acrylics, college, ink, charcoal and more.

I am the only artist with a video demonstration on Travel Sketching with Pen & Watercolour Wash.

In my session you will have a list of materials and will follow me as I take you through the process of doing a pen and wash sketch, with various techniques, ideas and lots of tips as I go along. This will be a half hour demonstration and at the end, you will have own finished sketch.

The best part about the workshop is that it’s easy to join. No need to travel anywhere, book any tickets or rearrange your schedule. You can fit the workshop into your regular life and enjoy the sessions from the comfort of your own home, without spending a cent.

So what are you waiting for? Revive your sketchbook practice with fresh inspiration and motivation, new ideas and tips. All you have to do is sign up here.

Make creativity a priority while we sketch together. You are also able to access all other artists demonatrations.

Join me on my travels to Savusavu, Vanua Levu in Fiji…..and sketch along with me. There will also be a free gift at the end of the video demonstration.

 

www.holidaysketching.com.au

Art Tours, Workshops, Distance Learning Course

Beechworth Victoria Sketching Workshop

On a beautiful Spring weekend, I held a sketching working in the heritage town of Beechworth Victoria.

I have been going there for many years teaching workshops, and the history of the town and area always excites me.

The newly formed Mayday Hills Art Society has renovated buildings in the Mayday Hills estate in Beechworth. The society is going from strength to strength, with not only workshop areas, but artist studios to rent, a theatre, exhibition space, art library, and the list goes on. And it is run by an amazing group of volunteers.

A group of 12 enthusiastic students were both inspired and motivated on their weekend. Here are just a few of their sketches. What talent some of the students have, and every sketch is really a work of art and skill.

Students sketches of the Beechworth gaol, and part of the Mayday Hills estate.

Sketching the former wardens house at Beechworth Gaol

Sketching the telegraph office in Ford Street. Built in 1858

The flowers were in full bloom, and I have rarely seem more glorious displays. The town obviously prides itself on its gardens and the mixed varieties were magnificent. Many species I had not seen before, and the tulips and irises glowed in the brilliant sunlight.

These blooms deserved to be 'honored' and enthusiastically painted. I felt very passionate about these blooms.

So I am running a weekend Botanical Art Workshop at the Mayday Hills Art Society, Beechworth on 17th and 18th September 2019, called what else but 'Beechworth in Bloom'.

Another workshop for 'Landscapes of Beechworth'  will be held on 14th and 15th September 2019.

The surrounding hills and trees are really unique, and every time I drove through them, I thought they would be wonderful to sketch. So  the workshop is now in place.

Please contact for any further information on either of the workshops or accommodation  

Botanical Art & Sketching in Flores, Indonesia

I have just arrived home after a wonderful two weeks in Indonesia, the majority of the time in Flores. This is an incredibly beautiful island two and a half hours flight from Denpasar Bali. The first nights accommodation was in Udayana Ecolodge in Jimbaran Bali. The following morning my group and I flew to Ende, then a few hours drive to the beautiful ecolodge of Kelimutu Crater Lakes.

There is a series of these ecolodges throughout Indonesia and they have an International Eco Certification.  I am very pleased to be representing and supporting the ecolodges by taking my art groups there for workshops.  This year it was Flores, and next year will be Bali, with an optional post workshop tour to Rimba to see the orangutans.

Flores is known for its coloured volcanic crater lakes and on the north side of the island are the famous Komodo dragons. The drive from the airport to the Kelimutu Crater Lakes took several hours and we stopped along the way to visit an ancient village of Saga and to view some stunning vistas.

Traditional ancient village of Saga

Arriving at the Kelimutu ecolodge I was amazed at how well it blended with the landscape while being so functional and picturesque. The accommodation was firstclass and exceeded all my expectations. All the rooms had wonderful views, and from my villa higher up, I would wake each morning to the sun rising over the mountains and the spreadings its warm rays over the rice paddies.

The view from my villa

My villa

There were 13 in my group from many places in Australia. Some had been with me previously on art tours, and for some it was their first experience in Indonesia. Our morning workshops were done in an aula, which is an open sided structure and used in villages to hold meetings and important events. 

The aula used for the botanical art workshop

Some of students at the workshop

One of the benefits of painting in a different environment is the varied choices in plant and flower selection. Some of the same species found in Australia grow throughout Indonesia (and other countries in the world), but there are always a few unique, colourful and special gems to be found.

 

 During the afternoons there were some fascinating excursions to various locations where the group would sketch and/or explore the area. 

The Kilimutu crater lakes

Rice paddies at Moni village

 

The group trekking to the waterfall

Spinning and dying cloth for weaving

 We explored the local village of Moni, where the ecolodge owners have a long standing connection with the people. One of the highlights was a visit to the local school where we took coloured pencils, books, rulers and erasers. It was a special time for both the children and ourselves.

There were so many exceptional places we explored, and above all the group were very excited with their paintings for the week. It was a treat to  be able to spend 5 mornings without interruption working on the paintings, with individual tuiton, except when we stopped to enjoy some very special freshly cooked pancakes, slices, fruit, scones and various other delights for morning tea. 

The time came to farewell Kelimutu and its wonderful staff, who cooked the most wonderful meals and really looked after us. I felt I had been on a health retreat - walking every afternoon when we were on excursions, eating very delicious healthy and low fat food, and sleeping like an angel.

The local villagers performed their traditional songs and dances for us on the final farewell evening. 

No wonder I am so looking forward to my next Botanical Art workshop with Ecolodges Indonesia. This will be at Udayana Ecolodge in Jimbaran Bali, which is a quiet area, and afternoon excursions will be locally and so avoids any heavy traffic. There is always so much to see and do. 

TOUR DATES: 4-11 June 2018  Contact me for further information leonienorton@iprimus.com.au

Sketching Central Australia 2017

I am thrilled to be taking an art group sketching to Central Australia in the first week of July 2017. This is somewhere I have always wanted to explore, and to be able to experience the incredibly red earth, the unique flora and to explore the gorges is going to be magic!

Here is some information:

1 - 7 July 2017

Sketching Central Australia with Leonie Norton

Capture some of Australia's most stunning landscapes and natural features on this amazing tour of Namatjira Country. Sketch and paint the majestic gorges, rolling hills and mountains, crisp white gum trees and much much more!  Flights, accommodation and most meals included. Optional balloon flight over the MacDonnell Ranges and a helicopter flight over Glen Helen Gorge.

For more information, brochure and Itinerary:

www.aussieredbacktours.com.au

www.holidaysketching.com.au

New web page for Central Australia in progress

A-Z Travel Sketching Part 3

Here are a few pages from my current article in Australian Artist magazine - Part 3 of the A-Z of Travel Sketching.

There is much more information in this article, on the Rule of Thirds when sketching, more sketches, top tips, perspective and how to actually create a sketch with comprehensive compositional information.

It is now available at all Newsagents. Next month is the final issue in this four part series.

A-Z of Travel Sketching article

My new article for Australian Artist Magazine is out now at newsagents. If you subscribe to this magazine you should have your copy now.

It is going to be featured in following issues with more information and sketches.

Here are a few pages from the article and some sketches from my recent Fiji trip where I took a group of enthusiatic participants to Koro Sun Resort in Savusavu.

Page 26

Page 29

Bulikula Beach - Savusavu Fiji

This was sketched from the workshop room I used while at Koro Sun Resort, Savusavu

The pattern on the cover of one of my Fiji Sketchbooks represents the traditional handmade tape cloth of Fiji. These are fun ways to decorate your sketchbooks from various destinations.

Fiji - Painting in Pardise

Just back from an incredible week at the beautiful Koro Sun Resort in Savusavu, Fiji. I had a group of 11 participants for Botanical Art in the mornings and Travel Sketching in the afternoons. Some of the group became so engrossed in their botanical paintings they also spent the afternoons in the Workshop Villa. It is actually the Seaside Restaurant and the hotel gives it over to me for the week. It is the best location I have had for my workshops - a 180 degree view and ample room.

These are some views from the workshop villa.. It is a wonder we get any work done. What a unique space to be in.

Each morning at 10.30am precisely, a delicious morning tea was provided. A chef was appointed to prepare some delicious treats for us each morning, and these arrived still warm from the oven.

Some of the group enjoying morning tea

The group consisted on both absolute beginners as well and experienced artists, and I was amazed by what was produced. Most people explored the gardens and rainforests of the resort to choose their plants. Even though Cyclone Winston hit the resort in April 2016, the staff had worked tirelessely to have it back to standard for new guests. Nature did its part for us, and the trees that were ripped bare were making up for lost time by blooming profusely. Some of the gingers were produing up to five flowers from the top of the main stem.

Here are a few of the botanical paintings done in the week.

 

The resort is set between the rainforest at the rear and the lagoon and sea at the front. It is the epitomy of 'tropical' and I love every day I am there. This was my tenth year teachng workshops at Savusavu and each year I find new places to go. or to just relax in some free time and soak up the atmosphere.

It is extremely rewarding to be with such wonderful participants and to see what they produce for the week.

The resort spa. Enjy a massage while listening to the sounds of the waterfall

The infinity pool with sunken bar - just the place to watch the sun set.

We were so spoiled with the quality and presentation of the food in Koro Sun. Every meal was an absolute adventure. The chef's creations were not only totally delicious, but the menu was so well considered, that they was always something for any palette or even food intolerance (which seems to be more common these days). What we all appreciated was the serving sizes were not huge, and we always found space for dessert or a refreshing sorbet after mains.

So now I am back home and into my routine, which is working.........

Before I go I will leave you with a few images of the some of the group sketching in the rainforest, and the beautiful Mela, who does the best massages in the Spa, and is also an expert  on the medicinal properties of the plants on the island. She takes a Herbal Walk where she explains about the plants and their uses in traditional medicine.

So perhaps I will see some of you in Koro Sun next year - May 2017, for another extraordinary week. It is certainly hard to settle down to an 'ordinary' life..