Fresh Start from Sydney Sketch Club, "Ashfield Park"!

I made a good start from a Sydney Sketch Club first meeting in Ashfield park. There, I sketched members and a bronze statue of Mary Poppins. It is a memorial to Pamela Travers, the author of Mary Poppins who lived in Ashfield. Do you know she was originally from Australia?

Anyway, I'll show you the whole process of my portrait work. I quickly sketched a new member at the meeting, while organiser Jennifer was talking about our exciting event "A to Z of Sydney." A fabulous leader, Jennifer has planned that we will sketch around Sydney! A first place was Ashfield park. (*NOTE: We, members do not know where to go. It thrills us!)

The new lady looked a little bit in high tension in an unfamiliar group. I'd like to relax her. My sketch made her smile, laugh and chat! I was looking up her from the bottom of steps. The angle always fascinates me. We are in summer. Her hat, face expression, light, green and the freshness of summer breeze strongly remained in my eyes.

So, I put colours from memories in a studio. Mmm.... This work urged me light and green in her back. But I often failed with a single colour background that did not match my work. Then, I played with colours in a background. You saw the first image. Not bad, I felt. I really enjoyed experiments. This work has given me confidence to put on colours on a face and create a background from impression. I will explore this methods! I thank for the new member who allowed me to sketch her. It inspired me so much. 

While we were sketching around the park, we were chatting over lots to catch up and the unveiled fact -- the author of Mary Poppins was Australia born. Btw, I felt metal was too boring and lack of a dream and put on colours on the bronze statue. Only me, I coloured Mary in the club members. The statue was not thin or tall. I wondered if I illustrate that story, what sort of lady would come up.  

This is Ashfield park. People have a walk and bowling games. I'll enjoy landscapes in 2016. First of all, I'll do value study of landscapes = work on black and white.


A great bonus of our group is we could get teaching/information from other members/artists in person. We often chat over technical stuff over lunch and coffee. So, I say, you should not miss out our socialisation! It's a fantastic time. The last of we dozen sticky-date-puddingers didn't end up leaving the bowling club till 5.40pm! What a wonderful way to start the new year – 33 members, a great turn up and wonderful artworks! We, all members deeply thank for Mother Jennifer's hard work and unique ideas of a yearly schedule. 

How is your new year start? I hope each of us will make / has made a nice and fresh start. Soon, I'll see doctors to review the fractured shoulder and the hand. I hope I can bring good news. I want to draw, draw, draw~~!!
Friends, Happy Painting!

Fresh Start from Sydney Sketch Club, "Ashfield Park"!