First Garden "SketchAbout" & Sydney Sketch Club

Hi, Friends, thank you for the cheers from all over the world!! The experience is wonderful!! I sketched "figures" in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

The most impressive thing is that organisers, Jennifer and others are so caring for all members while working on painting. They welcome me and incessantly talk to each member with respect and rapport. It makes anyone comfortable and feels at home. Also, each member is totally autonomous and free, regarding subjects and medium.

Particularly, Jennifer so much helps me, a new member with a walking stick. She took the photos for me. (*Click and enlarge it. You can see my tiny watercolour kit in the left hand.) Friends, a friendly atmosphere, no criticism but encouragements are just like Teri's "Twenty Minutes Challenge". Get the image of Sydney Sketch Club ? Isn't it nice?

The fountain is near at the entrance and so attractive. Technically, I used a very "limited pallet" learned from French classic artists exhibition at NSW Art Gallery last year. The Garden has many statues, too.

I'm still thinking how to finish it up or stop it now.
Simplicity and light is all my concern.

Of course, mischief Sadami always seeks interesting subjects. Here we go! A very cute scare craw, I'm afraid it easily makes friends with birds?! This little girl is in a section for pioneers' "first farm." Kerry from the Garden Trust explains the purpose of the event, "SketchAbout" (from March 12 to April 16) that has a competition and an exhibition at the end. The ultimate goals are public awareness of environmentalism and the maintenance of the Garden.

Kerry

The Garden has so many visitors from all over the world. A lady resting her sore feet was from New Zealand. While waiting for the meet up time, she happily did a model for me. It was her first Australia visit.
"Oh, wonderful. But someone should have told me, 100 degree slopes here!!" Oh, dear. I know! 100 degree is a play-up number. But Friends, the huge Garden is sitting on a large slope. So, walking through the Garden from corner to corner is a great challenging.It could be a reason that the Garden has a cute electric chu-chu train for visitors. Next time, I want to ride it and sketch it:).

Same minded people get together -- is absolutely fun. It is exciting to look at different techniques and unfamiliar media. The lady sketching me uses pastels. Her green hair is very impressive. Exchanging info on techniques and looking at varied skills are lovely treasures. I'm learning a lot! Some sketchers do architecture and landscape with watercolour & pen like my quick figure watercolour. Btw, a bit surprised that my A4 size is reasonably big among participants.
The event will be run till 12 April. The Sydney Sketch Club will always have a meeting every Saturday, shine or rain.
It's really good for me to challenge landscape and meet same minded people. See how it goes.
...but, Friends, don't expect me too much every week?! Sketching and making lots of watercolor at once consumes a huge energy, even though I'm so happy. Yes, my heart is in a heaven!!! Ahahaha!Friends, with your sent energy and cheers, I could enjoy the first garden sketch. I could park a car at a disability parking spot in front of St Mary cathedral early in the morning. I went into church and made a short prayer for Lord and Mother Mary with thanks and...for you, all readers of this blog!!

P.S. Today, I delivered this work for KuRingGai Art Society exhibition in St Ives. Yes, Friends, you loved it and me, too. Feedback from other artists is very positive. People, I love people so much.
Have a wonderful week!! Happy painting!

First Garden "SketchAbout" & Sydney Sketch Club