Sketching Historic Norfolk Island

This was an idyllic week, pen and wash sketching with a fabulous group of ten enthusiastic participants. Every road on the island took us to yet another panoramic and beautiful location.

 

The light was wonderful, with morning sketches catching the early light on ocean, cliffs and beaches, while the afternoon light from the same location gave a golden glow but the scene was perfect to sketch looking in the opposite direction.

 

And the sunsets were amazing. One evening I collected orders of fish and chips (which were some of the best we have ever had!) and we all sat on the clifftop of Puppies Point watching the sun rapidly sink into the sea.

 



The lookouts on the island afforded uninterrupted views, but - as lookouts tend to be - were a little windy. Once the group began their sketches the wind was forgotten while recording the beauty of the place.

 

Sketching at Anson Bay

My pen and wash sketching tours focus entirely on the individual participants. My teaching philosophy is that everyone pays the same amount and everyone has the same amount of my time and individual tuition.

 

While it is not a sketching holiday for me in the sense I spend it teaching and not sketching myself, I do manage to find some spare time to do some quick sketches, even if they are only outlines, and I can work from the photos at a later time. Well, in theory this sounds feasible, but in reality I often dont get the time to revisit the photos, despite every good intention. Life just gets in the way once back home. However I do travel extensively without groups so that is "my time".

 

I loved the view overlooking Kingston and the penal colony from Queen Elizabeth Lookout, which also took in Philip and Nepean Islands. Every person dipicted this is a very different way, from a slightly different place.

 

Each sketching session finished with a review of what had been done. This not only helps as I give lots of advice and comments about what works and how it can be made even better - but everyone also benefits from looking at how the others approached the scene.



Sketches from Captain Cook Lookout



 

I only take a maximum of ten participants, which ensures the maximum of learning opportunities. So have booked the next tour for 2-9 March 2015.  It was a truly fabulous week in all ways.



Fiji in May

I will be taking a group to Fiji 11-18 May for a glorious week of botanical art and holiday sketching. The mornings are devoted to botanical art, and we paint from high on the hill in the yoga shala, with 180 degree views over Savusavu bay, Daku resort and the mountains. A soft tropical breeze wafts through the shala and it is the most incredibly relaxing experience.

 

The afternoons are spent at various locations such as beaches, visits to a Fijian village to experience traditional singing and dancing, town visits to shop, look around and sketch.

 

You can do as little or as much as you like. All skill levels are welcome and there is plenty of individual tuition and demonstrations. Non painting friends and partners are more than welcome and join in at all activities.

 

I have been doing this for 7 years now and have taught 17 courses there. The beauty and tranquility of the place is amazing. We stay at Savusavu in a family run resort. In Savusavu time has stood still in this hidden paradise. No hustle and bustle - just go with the flow. Still a few places left so would love to see you. www.botanicalart.com.au and www.holidaysketching.com.au

 

The evening sunsets are to die for
 

Some of the students paintings from last year

The view from the shala

 



Art Tours & Workshops

I am just having a little break from packing - as will leave home 7am tomorrow morning for the airport, and my flight to Norfolk Island for a week where I am taking a group of students for a very self indulgent week of sketching and painting.

 

It has been an incredibly busy week - I had to finish my third painting in a series of Australian native plants - this time of the Cooktown Orchid, which is the Queensland floral emblem. Only three more paintings to go but am on track for my deadline.

 



 

 

I taught a workshop on Saturday at WEA Sydney, which is always a joy to do - such lovely students and a great teaching venue. I have been teaching there for over 12 years and was doing regular weekly 3 hour classes, up to three times a week. Recently I have given the weekly classes up but still love my regular workshops on all sorts of topics. It helps students keep motivated and inspired, and of course to enjoy the company of like-minded people.

 

 

One week after returning from Norfolk Island I am headed up to Mackay Qld, to teach a workshop at the Botanical Gardens on all aspects of leaves. John Ruskin said "If you can paint a leaf you can paint the world." This is so true.

 

I know students want to get into something 'gutsy' but should think about the basics. If you cant observe and draw, if you dont understand colour and colour mixing and matching, and if you cant apply an even wash, or gradated washes - it is time for Back to Basics. My leaf workshops covers all this and much much more.

 

So I am looking forward to a wonderful workshop with the lovely ladies of Mackay.



Botanical Art Course in Perth, WA

I have taught in WA before, at the Albany Summer School, and several courses at Cranbrook Art Centre. So am thrilled to have a fabulous venue in Perth.

 

Many of my Distance Learning students live in WA, and it would be a great opportunity to not only meet them, but to have them along in the course, to get some personal 'hands-on' tuition with me.

 

All skill levels are welcome, and an integral part of the course will be individual tuition and class demonstrations.

 



Natural History at the State Library

There is a fascinating exhibition currently on at the State Library of NSW - 'Artist Colony: Drawing Sydney's Nature' and it is on until 11 May 2014.

Over 100 natural history drawings and paintings from the late 18th century showcase this prolific exhibition.

It relates and reveals the colonial thirst for knowledge and our emerging cultural history. It is an incredible insight into the fascination the colonists discovered in the unique and exotic flora and fauna of Australia.

There are a total of six album volumes. Some of the work has been done by the colonial officers, others by convicts which would often be artists or counterfeiters.

 

There is an amazing history about the paintings, why, when, where and how they were done, and for what purpose.



 

 

I cannot recommend the State Library of NSW's website highly enough. The exhibitions and other collections are beautifully presented.

 

See http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/exhibitions/2014/artist_colony/index.html. The website includes a film, images of the paintings including a facility for magnification of the exhibits, an interactive resource and other information pertaining to this exhibition.

 

Enjoy!!!!

Winter School at Mittagong

Each year I teach a Botanical Art Course at Mittagong in the Southern Highlands of NSW, which is about 1-1/2 hours from Sydney. It is a wonderful environment to teach in, and despite a little cool outside, we are nice and cosy in all the rooms.

 

Winter school is very relaxing with about half the students that attend Summer School. We are spoilt with the fabulous food and excellent accommodation. Five days of nothing to worry about but art!!

 

 

Why not think about coming down for a week? I take all skill levels in my classes and it is  individual tuition throughout the week. You will leave motivated and enthused, and excited about starting more botanical drawings and paintings with the knowledge you have gained.

More Paintings

I have been amazingly busy with painting, firstly for the upcoming Botanica Exhibition at the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens. The work goes in for selection on 14th March, and the exhbition is open to the public 24 May-15 June. Below is a small preview of one of my paintings. As an artist I try to be innovative and love a challenge.

 

I have been on holidays over January so there has not been much time to complete a few more paintings to add to those I completed prior to Christmas.

 

I have this amazing Begonia growing on my balcony and it never seems to stop flowering and is usually a mass of colour. So what better subject? The background is in graphite and watercolour for the actual flower.

 

 

 

For this exhibition I have worked on mainly Australian natives, but other interesting subjects as well. For all lovers of Botanical Art, the Gardens exhibition should be something special, judging by the painting previews. There will be some very contemporary work there with lots of new artists exhibiting.

 

The other project I am just loving and working hard to my deadline - is a series of Australian native plants to be put on a porcelain dinner set.  There are six paintings in the set and to date I have finished the drawings, ready to transfer them on to the watercolour paper. Then head down to do the paintings. It is exciting work, and I love working to a theme.   More on this commission later.