1)Sketching Statues 2) SCBWI Sydney Conference

Thank you very much for your patience to see this new post! 
Urban Sketchers Sydney enjoyed sketching "statues" in Hyde Park. Lovely to catch up with friends. Thank you, dear friends for warm cheers! The images : James Cook, Lachlan Macquarie, Queen Victoria. I've been very busy with the projects and organising a portfolio to an upcoming SCBWI conference this month. 

Captain James Cook

Click here, SCBWI Sydney Conference 2019. You can get the information. I'll submit my portfolio to "Illustrator showcase." Publishers will look around our portfolios during the conference. It's very popular event and highlight! My showcase site in SCBWI is here. You'll find my new illustrations for the project on haiku poet, "Basho." 

http://www.scbwiaustralianz.com/sadami-konchi/

Major General Lachlan Macquarie

I've joined SCBWI this year with mentors' advice, as the conference will be host in Sydney. Wow, I can't miss this and established author Libby Hathorn will help me, a novice, in the conference! I'll do my best for the portfolio. Exciting. I feel little by little, day by day, I'm making my dreams come true. Yet, certainly, I'm achieving it. I thank for all the supporters and peak bodies. Friends, keep your dreams and try them. I always send you my big cheers and hugs. 

Friends, Happy Painting!   

Queen Victoria (a half way through)

1)Sketching Statues 2) SCBWI Sydney Conference

USK Australia SketchMeet @ Cockatoo Island

Urban sketchers Australia had a great fun for 3 days in an ANZAC long weekend. USK Sydney hosted other USK groups across Australia such as Canberra, Newcastle and Brisbane and met each other in person! I joined Cockatoo Island and China Town. Cockatoo Island is UNESCO World Heritage in Sydney. The shipyards operated between 1857 and 1991. It has artistic architecture, rusted huge heavy machines, a camping place in beautiful landscapes. Special thanks to the hard working and caring leader Chris, team members and each group leader -- they did mothering and teachers of school excursion.  

This very eye catchy greenish building once was a "drawing office" in Cockatoo Island. I came there before and sketched it. Unfortunately, it rained on the day, very cold and windy, brrrrrr. But brave members created wonderful art works! I went to a heavy machine shop.   

This member was from Brisbane! It was wonderful we had wanted to see in person and our wishes came true! All of us enjoyed a chat and meals together. 

In the heavy machine shop, you can see these sorts of machines that stayed with dignity and beauty. Quiet... I imagined how they worked and working people around a system in a sentimental feeling. 

The inside of the room

This smiling gentleman had a walking stick that motivated me to sketch him at lunch time. 

Cockatoo Island, the wharf 

We chatted on the grass next to the wharf.   

Ta, da ~~, easy going Sadami popped up the second day in China Town and sketched members at dinner. These gangs (?!) were from Canberra. My serious question, hey, when we stopped laughing at a dinner table?! Yes, we kept chatting, sketching across the table and enjoyed food. 

We've made a wonderful bond! 

Group work is lovely and fun. Particularly, I love to know other branch members. We can foster friendship, promise "See you next time!" and give a mutual sincere hug. Oh, that's the beauty of group work! 

I deeply thank for the USK Australia team who have organised this wonderful event. 

Friends, Happy Painting and Enjoy Group activities in art! 

 

USK Australia SketchMeet @ Cockatoo Island

Spotlight Violet in Sketchcrawl#36

Hi, Friends, this is the exclusive,  on the story of my model, a shy lady in the 36th International Urban Sketchcrawl in Sydney. 

Queen Vitoria Building was chosen. It started from 10 AM. I, "architecture allergy girl" looked for a figure to draw. I met a lady at a lunch time. She seldom spoke in a group. I felt her like a violet, shyly looking down with a humble smile. I really love shy people or those who will not come up on a central stage. "May I sketch you?" I asked.  My asking a bit surprised the lady.  Other members told her, "Sadami makes a beautiful work! We want to be models!" (Thanks, members, great backup! Cheers for our mateship!)

I just sat besides the lady and shared a wonderful silence. She sometimes smiled and kept on drawing seriously. It gave me her image. When she looked at my finished sketch, she said, "Oh, you  flattering!," but happily she took a photo of my sketch.

Outside the QVB, I challenged sketching a statue and Town Hall. Thank goodness, Queen! Without her, I might have messed up the work. (*Often my tiny "handmade" paint kit amazes others. Daarrrling, size is not a matter! All we need is LOVE! xx!!)

Group work is fun. We, members were sketching each other. Could be a classic joke! (actually, this  quick sketch was a warm up for my right hand. I usually do some warm up before "get on.") This gentleman was a very productive caricaturist. He made the quick cartoons of most attendances. Amazing!

Later, we, members uploaded photos and sketches at our MeetUp site. The members gave me really nice feedback, particularly on the quick protrait. It's the lady's beauty. I'm dead honest with what I feel. Very happy to know my work made others happy, too. 

In work, I hope myself to spotlight violets standing against the wall as well as orchids, roses, party flowers. 
I hope my painting brings something heartwarming and shares joy with others.  

Friends, Happy Painting!! 

Spotlight Violet in Sketchcrawl#36

Sketchabout#3 & Daily Work

Hi, Friends, before the topics,
special thank you for great cheers for Japan. Art Auction for Japanese Disaster Relief goes well. Today, my Japanese blogger friends say, "Please pass our best wishes and thank you for your Friends and nice people. It really lifts us up!"

One more, very happy news is swimming has improved my muscles very much. 4 kgs increased, but the waist size gets tightened up. Hospital nurses say, "Look healthier and fitter. Keep up swimming." The podiatrist also recognizes my putting back muscles.

Now, Sketchabout#3. On a patchy rainy day, we went to the Government House. But I already sketched it last week. So, I sketched my new friends. See how we work hard...and chat more?!! (*Tiny dots on her shirt are rain drops, not salt.) Sadami: "Don't say, 'It's the end of our friendship!!' "
Friend just had a big laugh and we really had a great fun. Hahaha!!Friend: "Oh, that's nice. I like it." She'd like to use it for online.Sadami: "From next time, I have to charge ye (hopefully "millions"?!)." I will sketch members as many as possible.Another statue is a Scottish poet, Robert Burns.
To really a happy surprise, my admiring artist John Haycraft popped up the Sketchabout. He has been mentoring me for these years.
We really look forward to next Saturday! What a friendly club!

Now, my daily works. After joining the Sydney Sketch Club, I have begun to feel comfortable with landscapes. Sometimes, I feel like painting it like a figure to tell a story.

Awaiting You

This stair way is just in front of my favorite beach pool. So many steps and people do exercises. One day, I will climb it up smoothly without a walking stick! The pool water gets cold in autumn, while some blogger friends are celebrating spring. So, I'd devote this image, "Children, Herald of Spring" for Friends in the northern hemisphere. Kids are full of energy and always in spring or summer. These Pablo Picaso's say are my favorite.

It takes a long time to become young.

And...

Youth has no age.

Children, Herald of Spring

Experiment and first experience for a computer work.
"Photoshop" put together several quick sketches on the daffodils.
I came across a very famous caricaturist, Paul Moyse anyhow remade work to meet a due date by a "computer." His lesson scared me, a watercolourists and hand-only person, but an illustrator in publishing industry that chases up a dead line. So, I'd learn how to use Photoshop more.

Finally, my cartoon! Friends, do you use a paper for checking colours before painting? I do and always feel these colourful dots look beautiful. I turned it into for "Warms Hide&Seek." Thanks for cheers. With your cheers, I made the longest record, 1500m swim without cramps! Other regular people at the pool celebrated it, too. Anyone with disabilities, please never give up.
I have a dream ; one day I will see you, all blogger Friends in person on the earth ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ.
Happy painting!

Sketchabout#3 & Daily Work

2nd SketchAbout:How to Conqure Huge Garden

I'll show you the Garden has precious historical, cultural and natural heritages of Australia for the future. Thank you for wonderful cheers for my adventure, "Sketchabout." 

Government House

Despite rain, we got together and enjoyed sketching.
I also made some sketches yesterday before rain (lucky!).
OK, you and me, let's have a walk together in this huge Garden. Have a look of the map. Enlarge it, please. Get it? How big it is! For me, walking around is a very good job.
Opening: 7am to 6:30pm.A strategy, "How to Conquer the Garden" is essential. Otherwise, waste of time and you cannot go home?! (*no worries, in fact, so many rangers always patrol.) Let's walk around the left side of the map.
...and hopefully, I can over come my dislike of landscape during this adventure:).

Head to Government House and get to the end of the path to see Sydney Opera House.
From the Herb Garden to the Government House, there are beautiful greeny open fields full of biiiiiiig trees. How big? Good question! Trees are "monstrous" big or gigantic. Can you see a person under a tree? How small it is!Sculptures are here and there along path ways or on terraces--some are extraordinarily big and contemporary art. The below depicts "waves," according to Toni from the Garden Trust. Ooohhh! Waves!! ...sorry, in my eyes, it looked like a big warm. Of course, art is the thing to feel it, not understand it though ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ. The left side, a white one is a huge sculpture made of white rocks and inside is hollow where bats' sweet home. *Please respect a bat. Toni says, "One bat eats thousands of mesquites,"!! Salute bats!

Still, we keep walking ahead. Now, left hand side, see "Government House." (*please see the first image and the map.) Hey, we have a castle in Sydney!! One more surprise is a freebie to see an inside. So, next time, I'll definitely see an inside and report you. Although a bit miserable to sketch it under a tiny umbrella in rain, it has paid off.

Finally, we get to the end of the path, near the Queen Elizabeth II. Yey, "Opera House"! This egg-shells-like building is our cultural icon! Many people take a rest here and sit on green grasses.

Sydney Opera House

From now on, I'll boast, "Hahahaha! I'm living in the GORGEOUS castle and the Opera House is in my backyard!" Yes, our legends are in the Garden.

In addition, the organizer Liz asks me to make the portrait of her mascott Borromini. Gulp?! I'll just do my best. Did you enjoy a walk with me? Next time, I'll try the middle section or the right section.Happy painting and have a wonderful week!!

2nd SketchAbout:How to Conqure Huge Garden

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