Parramatta Changing Into Australia's Great City

I sketched architectures to show changing Parramatta in both black and white and colour. Unlike my figures with graphite, my architectural drwaing takes time. It's not a loose style. You will say, "Didn't you hate architecture?" I've got the way out! This is my "treatment" to cure the dislike!? (*Otherwise, I will never learn it!) The point is to give myself joy in architectural drawing. 1) Find a favorite medium. 2) Stick to the most favorite style. They've worked out! I enjoy sketching of Parramatta deveolping into Australia's great city in the near future. 
(**I made a blogging techincal mistake ; my reversed empty post will come up in Friends' blog rolls. So, *this week, I upload two same posts at different titles, "Parramatta Changing Into Australia's Great City" and "My dislike of architecure cured by Parramatta sketches!" Sorry and thank you, Friends.) 

     St John's Anglican Church and Parish (*All work size is A4)

Mentor Ann's say gave me a clue to explore a pen drawing. "Your architecture drawing is quite accurate. I can't draw like you!" Hummm.... Her say was my surprise. I remember when I was young, I sketched mechanics very meticulously. I loved exactness. Little Sadami was so happy to sketch it again and again. I eventually memorised the quite complicated machines and drew them by heart. Also, the use of a pen for Sydney uni had been good. So, I've chosen a pen and started sketching buildings accurately. Oh, it works well! Fun, fun, fun! I've giggled  like a little child. black and white drawings have turned out joy. 

Then, I decided to stick to my "original joy" in architectural drawings -- accuracy. I remember Robert Ingpen, one of my favotirtes and admiring picture book illustrators, as you know. "Afternoon Tree House" (Robert Ingpen) and "Memorial" (Shaun Tan) are the most influencial works about a tree and landscapes. I've been reading them years after years since I fell in love with them!  

...and my most and only favourite editor has been Helen Chamberlin who edited both picture books  mentioned above. I dreamed to work with her. Today, she has become my editor and the mentor. Although I made a gulp from a high tension, I sent Helen these drawings on Parramatta. Wow, her feedback is very positive. "Your architectural drawings all look really lovely to me, Sadami - I don’t know what you are worried about! All the best Helen"  Hurray! It put me into a heaven.  

The restaurant on Church St called Eat St 

Btw, does anyone have difficulty in architecture like me? Let's share my technical findings. Architecture is not hard than what I expected. I always seek for the most big "chunk" in a building. A building consists of very mathematical lumps like cubes in 3D. Check if they are symmetry or not. Then, rebuild them in your mind. Once you get it and the perception is correct, it's reasonably easy to pin down a subject on paper. I put priority to my first impression of a building and do not too much care about details.

Emotionally, we need to feel joy, don't we? After choosing a right material and tool, I've realised that I'm very keen about a ratio of buildings in drawing.That excites me and thrills me in drawing architecture!  It is fun to find an object matching to another object's size in drawing one after another. It means I love drawing a scene correctly and setting the content properly. So, viewers will not feel "This work is weired." (*Of course, in the world, there is a very wise guy like Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher who used trickery and illusions in art work such as impossible constructions. I admire him!) Anyway, I could find joy and confidence in architecture drawing. Ah, I can go on.

Regarding colours, I'm playing with them, whilst sticking to reality at the moment. I need more time to develop my own watercolour style in architecture. My figurative drawing and loose painting has taken years to come to the current loose style from a traditional classic style. Or I may stay with this accurate drawing in architecture? See how it goes.

Back to another topic. Parramatta interests me by her strong contrasts : historical vs modern, chaotic vs neat, back streets vs promenades. European settlers marked a first step on Parramatta. Already, this city has become the CBD that has collected Departments of NSW State Government, Court etc as well as City in Sydney ( = Gov Depts have dual addresses equally in City and Parramatta). Their function is increasing. The development plan will transform Parramatta into Australia's big city in commercial, cultural, medical and social phases. 

In order to enhance Parramatta's function and upgrade the quality of life, reconstruction and refurbishment has started. In the very near future, sky high towers will stand in Parramatta : Western Sydney University, Cumberland Newspaper/News Ltd Site (Media Centre), Westmead Medical Research Hub, a shopping centre etc, etc. The new huge car parks are ongoing that I sketched. Dynamically and dramatically, Parramatta is dressing up herself! I look forward to what sort of lady will come up. 

Did you enjoy my architecture? It seems that I made mistake in the option of a style and medium. Although in years, I may be able to loose up architecture, my most favourite work remains in my eyes and heart. My adventure is going on, while keeping my own stance. Editor Helen's most important say was/is "What's your stance?" I'll always remember it in my art work. Thank you, Helen. 
Any feedback is welcome. If you like, I'll post them more, picking up an interesting topic. Local shops and Parramatta Heritage Centre welcome my sketching. Passer-bys cheer me up. They are very nice and supportive ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ. Thanks guys!!
Friends, Happy Painting! Work on your style! 

Bibliography

Parramatta Council (2015) "Building Australia's Next Great City-- Changes Ahead,"

http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/your_council/news/changes_ahead

Parramatta Council (2014) "Parramatta Major Development" 

http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/work/economic_development/major_developments

Parramatta Changing Into Australia's Great City