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

New Stylefile, big, long, wide, beautiful!

My ASA stylefile has been renewed. I added new four images! A new portfolio has become modern and looks very nice. A successful applicant may upload maximum 8 images after the panel's acknowledgement. The new Style File website features the work of 52 Australian illustrators, 23 of which have never before been seen on Style File.
Here's my 8 images. Which image do you like? In Stylefile, you can search by names, genres/styles/subjects, intended audience, media/technique to meet your project needs. 

Other wonderful features :

• An image rotation of each illustrator and illustrator's gallery on the homepage. 
• A featured illlustator speciality, browse by genres and styles. 
• A featured illustrator rotation on the homepage.  
• A "my favorites" function helps publishers and users keep track of portfolios. 

A new outstanding feature of Stylefile ; an illustrator can show publication's information together : a front cover, publisher, author, Intended audience, techniques, subjects. I posted the detailed information about "Moon." 

pp18,19,  "Moon" written by Matt Zurbo (Windy Hollow Books)

Intended audience: Adults,Family, Lower primary, Middle primary
Media/Technique: Charcoal, Pen and ink, Pencil, Watercolour
Styles: Impressionistic,Loose/sketchy, Painterly
Subjects: Animals, Country,Educational, Environments,Nature/Botanical, Weather
Yes, my information above is categorised and you can search for the best illustrator who will match your project! 

"Moon" Front Cover 

Now, my other images are below. Although some images are already familiar to you, I hope you will enjoy them all. 

I played with colours, focusing on a child's face expression in this illustration.

Daily sketches gave my imagination "reality" or supportive and concrete evidence. It's fun to produce an image standing between imagination and reality.

I've demonstrated portrait ability, too. This was a commissioned work.  

The Stylefile is famous for its high quality, indeed, the best of best Australian illustrators showcase. The Stylefile is the hot meeting spot for publishers and illustrators. Publishers "buy" illustrators from the Stylefile. Many illustrators have got projects through the Stylefile. 

Friends, it's a good idea to try Stylefile and begin an illustrator career. Here's the information of Application. ASA kindly assists you how to do it. It is very difficult to crack into market for emerging illustrators and artists. Yet, always publishers look for good illustrators who will meet their need. I hope all of us will fly into a bright future like a big pelican following a dream.  

Friends, Happy Painting and Illustrating!

New Stylefile, big, long, wide, beautiful!

Close Up Potratrait Finished

Finally, I finished up the paper work. Then, I moved onto new projects, while I'm preparing for the exhibition. 
Also, I finished "publisher and editor" Helen Chamberlin's portrait with a background. Yes, the original is the close up portrait shown in the past post. I added the background. Yes, finally, a background image came up in my mind.

publisher and editor Helen Chamberlin

Always eyes intrigue me most in portraits. I made a black and white of Helen after the watercolour. I started from her eyes and simplified all other information in the work. Her voice, speaking habit and body language remain in me, but the voice is quietly echoing in my ears. They have become my own "references" of Helen. If I was given only one photo, I'm not certain to create a quality portrait that gets into a model's inner world. Although resemblance might be a required condition for a portrait, an artist looks into a model's world and pursuits it, not surface similarities. You can compare the image below to the above.

Interesting. I've found my drawing lines and watercolour brush strokes overlap or show the similar lines. Which do you like the watercolour one or the black and white one? Helen likes both. Me, too. It's fun to have a chat with a model over portraits.

This is the watercolour original and starting point. 

BTW, Friends, what do you handle "stuck" in your working process? Sounds silly though, I will not dare to get on something in work until an inspiration comes up. When I follow a heart, the best work turns up. My drawing and painting are not theoretical movements (*I haven't studied at art school). A senior established picture book illustrator calls it "instinct." What do you think? I agree with it.

When I get stuck, I take a break, refresh myself and await an inspiration. Fortunately, editors understand an illustrator's difficulty in trade picture book illustration and give me more time. I go outside of a studio, enjoy sunshine and chat or move a body.
The same is true of my watercolour portraits. Until an image comes in me, I do not work on.

It is a bit hard to find enough quiet time for portrait work at the moment though, I want to more enjoy portraits between the ongoing projects in parallel. Thank you for your warm cheers!!
Friends, Happy Painting!

Close Up Potratrait Finished

Clear Writing is Illustrator's Vital Skills

Hiya, Friends, thank you for a great patience for my new post! This week, I'll chat over the importance of clear writing skills for a visual artist. Clear writing skills are as vital as good drawing skills. I've been working on paper work. Really, I'm under the pressure of the pile of papers this month. But I keep sketching to refresh myself. If I don't touch brushes, my hands cry out, really. I put colours on a black and white sketch (@the bottom of this post) from the memory. I also changed the use of colours to create a mood. It worked well, which gives me confidence to try this way -- sketch on spot and illustrate it in a studio!

Back to the topic, the importance of clear writing for a visual artist. In communication, we heavily rely on writing such as emails and documents in society. Competitions and any applications require writings. In the assessment of competitions and applications, good clear writing stands you out from other applicants.

Clear writing
Plain English is enough and essential, because, for example, application and submission limits words. "Write it even for an eight years old kid can get!" is my motto. (*My sociology tutor gave me the advice in uni.) My writing must get readers to follow my thoughts. I want them to say, "Ah-ha, Sadami wants to tell me that-and-that," after reading, don't you? "Smooth information flow" is the key. You do not need to write like a PhD thesis. Wishy-washy foggy sentences are "DON'T."

The tips for clear writing on a sentence, a paragraph structure and proof reading.

"Technical" rules on sentences. Basic and essential.

• simple sentences = short sentences in right punctuation, spell and grammar. 
• tell what you want to say straightforward. 
• tighten up sentences = delete unnecessary words. 
• use your familiar words, if not confidnet in a new word. 

Rules on the writing structure, paragraphs. 

• entire writing has a "theme" = what you want to say.   
• entire writing is divided into paragraphs that respond to the theme = easy to read.  
• a paragraph has a structure =  a topic sentence, a body and a conclusion.  
• each paragraph connects well by conjunctions = smooth information flow.  

A good clear writing has a structure. If you pick up a head sentence and a last sentence in each paragrah, you can get a topic and a conclusion.  

Do Proof Reading

• Get your friends to read what you've read! Get feedback! 
• Read loud your own writing. **Clear writing is easy to read out = if you cannot, your information flow is poor or stuck somewhere. 

The above is from my bitter experiences (outch!?). If they help you some, I'm very happy. If you have any more suggestions that I missed out, please let me know.

Regarding publishing industry, in globalisation, illustrators contact publishers all over the world. A formal and clear writing is essential in communication. An editor and an Illustrator exchange thoughts about texts and pictures by email. If an email does not covey an Illustrator's message, poor communication will mess up a project. As far as I know, successful illustrators and big names often have studied education, social science, particularly, English and linguistics. Many editors, too, are from education, English literature and language areas or experts of English/language.

This is the spot on sketch. 

He was trying hard to type out sentences on a keyboard.

Are you good at writing? I was not good at essay writing at uni. So, Friends, if you feel, "Oh, no I'm not, either," you are not alone!!! ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ  Aaagghhh, I'm under the pressure of a closing date of grants application. It's the beginning of March ~(*o*)~. I have to write more than 500 words in some parts. So, please pardon if I do not post each Monday. If you were a next door, I'd like you to check my draft. While writing the draft, I enjoy watercolour painting so as to post them for this blog. Thank you for visiting. Oh, you can't imagine how much I appreciate your warm cheers. I've learned lots how to say it in English from the communication with you, Friends.
Friends, Happy Painting and Writing, too!!

Clear Writing is Illustrator's Vital Skills

Just Do It! is Answer, but Never Be Alone

Thinking wastes my artistic life. If you've got a new idea, just do it next moment, before the idea will be gone. I'm becoming crazy busy with the projects and preparing for the book launch and the exhibition. In it, sketching buskers refreshes me. What do you think, Friends? Doing is the only answer in drawing. All of us know that even a good idea is a half baked potato. I'm an instinctive artist and a believer of experiences that teach me and foster me. None of theories is perfect. 

These ukulele players at market were from Melbourne. Interesting. An ukulele has only four strings (*a guitar has six!). Sketching music players is not so hard. They repeat same movements. So, pick up your most favorite or dramatic one and pin down it on paper. To simplify all other information is effective to demonstrate the drama.  

Here are my black and white created in the evening show. You can't see colours at night. But a very strong spot light intrigued me. I omitted all the necessary visual information which worked well to capture the moment. 

When I've reviewed the sketch books, an idea hits me, "Can't I use that tech in watercolour direct painting?" So, next time sketching, I want to try it! 

Also, we, Sydney Sketch Club went to Doung Moran National Portrait Exhibition 2014 in Paddington Reservoir Gardens.  I came late and only have 30 minutes to sketch architecture. I kept my motto, "To learn watercolour painting takes life long... plus 30 minutes!" ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ 

The Moran exhibition always inspires me. Another sketch club member gave me nice comments. "I'm not interested in a crystal clean work, but a work that tells a model and an artist's inner world." So am I. We enjoyed a chat, looking around the finalists. I copied one work, "Workshop Magician Paul Taffa" by David Naseby. In the copy, I emphasised masculinity.  Without our club organiser's important utter, "A model is a man!" I might work on a wrong way. In the sketching of David's work, I learned a lot how to harmonise colours in a limited pallet and David bravely omitted all unnecessary visual information in the work. An outcome successfully sends a very strong message. His approach overlaps my idea above.  

"Just do it!" has become my another motto. Finally, when you get stuck in your art activities, never be alone. See anyone else or other artists/same minded people are preferable. Chest off your pains and share joy. Don't get stressed. Join a sketch club is a good option. How much I appreciate the club's activities that refresh me so much and lift me up.
Then, I can keep on.
You, too, Friends, Happy Painting!

Just Do It! is Answer, but Never Be Alone

All Work Is Process Of Our Growing

I'm enjoying a close up portrait again. In this work, I've focused on publisher Helen Chamberlin's enthusiasm for work. Always a model's "eyes" fascinate me most. I'm looking into her eyes and do not weigh on other areas. A mood comes up well and I'm happy.
The other day, I met a wonderful artist in a sketch club. He said, "All is process" about our drawings from his rich teaching experience. In his eyes, some people try so hard to draw meticulously accurate and struggle to create masterpieces, which forces watercolour to behave like their expectations. Outcome disappoints the people. "But watercolour does not like that way!" the upset artist voiced. In his say, a personified watercolour amused me so much and true! He called himself a tough or unwelcomed teacher and whispered me the wise say with a mischievous smile. I perfectly agreed with him. I said, "All work is experiment. My growing process." He smiled back at me.

Publisher and editor Helen Chamberlin

I added, "Through my experiences, I know the importance of "let paints work freely," yet, a watercolourist controls paints' freedom. Then, the beauty of watercolour shows up on paper."  We enjoyed a chat over art and teaching. 

Regarding portraits, I feel an individual personality is like universe. An artist wants to explore universe and express it on paper as s/he likes. I'm drawing this model in different angles and with different styles. If a person is universe, different portraits will come up tens of millions, even from a same model.

But a sitter is not always happy to be depicted in an "ugly" or unfavorable way by an artist. This episode is famous that Archibald winner Ben Quilty took time to negotiate Margaret Olley for his model. Fortunately, Helen allows me to express what I feel freely on paper. She well knows the importance of freedom for artists. What about you, Friends? Do you have or have you ever experienced difficulty in the working relation with a model for portrait work? If you have, let us share your pain.

Btw, technically, interestingly, I "correct" my pencil drawing or an initial sketch by putting colours. See the process. I do not erase wrong lines. The remainded lines help me capture a subject better. My colouring repairs line work. I've felt I'm not a line dominant drawer, but a colour oriented painter. In my work, a black and white drawing is a simple "assistance" for colour painting (Does it make sense?). Lines are the fewer, the better for me. I admire an artist who can use strong lines, for I'm not good at drawing! I want to study how to use lines more.

If these drawings are ongoing process, all the created work is also in the past. I'm not going to cling to a good work done yesterday. It was only mere a passing point in my life. I want to keep creating more today. Messy work is fine and welcome, becuase all is process. I'll have more fun and grow myself as a person tomorrow. Although I love portraits and watercolour is my medium, I want to be brave to seek for other styles and explore techniques in order to freely express what I feel in a model. My goal and starting point is to bring up uniqueness in my style. 

I hope myself to enjoy working on more portraits of this model! 

Now, we know "All is process." If we are growing in art, our styles and techniques are changing and will move on. If I remain in exactly the same style, it means I'm not growing. Gulp?! 

Friends, Happy Painting! Let's give it a go and grow in art!

  

All Work Is Process Of Our Growing

Ab Solomons' Wage Packets Sketchs in Sydney Festival

Friends, we, ordinary people's lives are all precious and unique. Ab, a shoemaker kept drawing small sketches with short sentences on wage packets. What a practical and romantic way Ab did, the art on wage bags for his wife, Celie! A real work size is smaller than my palm like playing cards. The record of love was from 1920 to 1980s. 

The drawings are full of history and love.

Ab, a shoemaker was Jewish. His cute drawings show war, Hitler, religion, sickness, new technology = telly, movie, video, etc, etc. Above all, their relationship! First, they were a young couple, had two sons, conflicts between the couple, but they still loved each other till Ab had a bored head, Celie with wrinkles, a double bed changed into separated single beds... etc, etc. So, sweet and many ups and downs, but a very commical depiction makes viewers smile and laugh. 

Technically, the drawings develop a wonderful style from stick figures with a pen to bright watercolour, full of humour, wit, heartwarming writings. Oh, it touched my heart. Already the drawings have become a theatre play.

I always feel the beauty of old couples. I can see their long history and love in their body language.... It is wonderful. I love them all and admire them. We cannot stay together forever. In our human relationship, we have journey and separation, yet, the triumph of love over everything... Love is the miracle on earth. If so, we have miracles here, there, everywhere. I'm sure many unknown Ab and Celie should be here, there and everywhere. Ab has successfully captured love and life on his wage packets. Yes, that's what I want to depict in my work, too.

Like Ab did, I want to capture ordinary people's lives in ordinary ways...with love. In this post, I just uploaded my daily sketches of "us, ordinary people." Paradox. It's extraordinary, because an individual is so precious and unique. Yet, we are universal and common. So, we can share our emotions in art work. Technically, my work might not be standing out nor being sophisticated. But if my work has love, it will touch others hearts, like Ab did. The opposite is true, as well.  We sometimes forget technically astonishing work in a few minutes, becuase it did not have love and would not reach at our hearts. We know, even a clumsy work with love, that reaches our heart will remain in us forever -- I often experience it in the work done by children, nameless people and people with disabilities. 

In my solo exhibition, I want to show the best selection of my daily sketches as well as picture book illustrations! I hope visitors will smile and giggle at the sketches. 

I do not mean to create a masterpiece. I want to draw us, ordinary people with love. I want to show the beauty of being imperfect and special in YOU, Friends!  

Friends, Happy Painting!  

Ab Solomons' Wage Packets Sketchs in Sydney Festival