The Ephemeral City in Sydney Festival

French artist Olivier Grossetete is constructing a huge Cardbox City on Barangaroo Reserve in Sydney Festival. Sydney Sketch Club joined it! Why did I put the busker first? I met a musician whom I had sketched before in the Ephemeral city. He remembered me and talked to me. Oh, it surprised me so much. I was very happy. (**the posted sax player is not the same musician).  

The Ephemeral City is a large community participant event. Anyone can join constructing architectures. We can tape boxes and build them up. We are not strangers any more there. We are working mates to build the imaginative city! Amazing - especially it was great to see children so enthusiastic about understanding the concept of buildings. It sounds like a utopia? 

*Behind the building, you can see a man flying across the sky on a lift. There is a wire and you can fly between these constructing buildings like a flying fox. Ah, what a shame! I could not try it, because of my fractures. 

Indeed, that utopia certainly exists in our eyes, here in Sydney Festival! I felt the cardbox city, as if it were a miniature of our lives -- impermanent and momentaly, yet it has genuine relationships and friendship. In the Ephemeral city, we love, help and work together happily and joyfully. To lift up architecture needs timing and cooperation. Often close people work together. It is interesting to see the interaction of people. Often adults and children play around. Is it unrealistic paradise?  But it is certainly there and only for a short time. Also, I remembered the quote, "Our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness" by Vladimir Nabokov. That paradox makes me smile.

Indeed, in a temporal city, we are good friends and cooperators. The gentleman below in the sketch remembered me. We enjoyed a chat. I sketched his son and him about to lift up the building and a wife was ready to put another block. Many people talked to me and even took photos of my sketch of the building. I have no doubt that skething makes friends. 

Or I'd say, because our lives are such short and temporal, we want to love others well and be happy fully in every moment. Later, I'd like to visit this event again to check the progress.

Thank you for Sketch Club organiser Jennifer and all participants who gave me a wonderful afternoon. Many members kindly asked about my fractures and even cared for my difficulty in walk. They encouraged me so much. I'm on the mend and working hard for rehab. Friends, you are such nice people!
Happy Painting!! 

The Ephemeral City in Sydney Festival

The hand, the shoulder are recovering well!

Good news! The surgery of a left wrist is successful. A fracture in a left shoulder is recovering. A doctor says, "I did not expect you move the wrist like this. I've never seen a patient moving like you after 6 weeks (from a surgery). No one moves it like you."

= Function is very well. Thank godness for computing that has become a rehab for a wrist and finger movements. I do not need to see a doctor again untill I feel uncomfortable in the left wrist. I'm so relieved that the surgery went well. 

Time and physio will heal the fractures. The left writst is still puffed up than the right wrist and the left shoulder has dull pain. Full recovery will take a year. I'll take it easy. 

Thank you for lots of cheers, support and great friendship. I'll work on illustration and drawings! 

Friends, Happy Painting! 
*My most recent sketch above is one of Sydney Sketch Club members (*Hey, nearly 2,000 members now!). Yes, come and join us. There, you'll become my victims and models!? (*we often sketch each other for fun!) Cheers, wink, wink.  

The hand, the shoulder are recovering well!

Awesome Recycled Architecture Fair in Sydney Festival

Any family, come, join "Architectura de Feria" = "Architecture Fair" in Prince Alfred park in Parramatta. All the rides are free and run by manpower -- on nothing electronic! Parents and children play together from rides, shooing, a bicycle racing game to fascinating machines in a fairground. An artist, Jordà Ferré has recycled materials and turned objects to surprising machines/architectures. I sketched most of the works! They have classical, yet, unique, elegant and amazing shapes and brilliant functions! What an ecological and environmental friendly “Antigua I Barbuda Catalonia Australian Exclusive”!

A very sophisticated art work I realised is at the entrance of Riverside Theatres opposite to the Prince Alfred square. Friends, can you guess what the machine (below) is for? Can you tell how it works? “For a dentist use,” a lady said – Na! What else? Any one?

It’s a wine server! How graceful it is! Can't believe it? Here we go, its YouTube. A distinct and incomparable concept is the key of all the art works created by Jordà. 

I met the artist Jordà in person, while I was sketching a Ferris wheel. Lovely Jordà is a Catalan speaker. Come on, Spanish and Catalan speaking blog readers. Let’s have fun!  

This Ferris wheel is run by a mom or a dad’s hands! Children ride on toilet seats. Hilarious and a wonderful humour! Of course, riding children are so happy. Look at this smiling boy. Only the shame is that I cannot enjoy it because of my weight (max. weight 45kg). Lovely staff always asks audience and children to put hands together for a volunteer's vigorous exercise at any machine. The art work and the event are very heart warming, comical and entertaining as well as serious and beautiful. 

All the staff centralise children and respect them as well as parents. The children and disadvantaged people are heroes and winners in the event. Parents wind up handles or spin pedals to work these machines for children. Below, at the right side of the Ferris wheel, you can find two tyres and a belt. THERE, a volunteer cranks a handle. Parents, it's a good exercise and sure, you'll be fit! 

But also the artist and the team have set special seats for exhausted parents like the rides offered for children. Only parents may take comfy big seats and children move fans, in turn of their parents’ hard work after all the rides! How’s that! How well-organised event this is! It is wonderful to see a sweet interaction between parents and children in family. I’d like to say special thanks to the staff, especially, the team who came a long way from Spain. It is their sensitive and enormous efforts that run this wonderful family event successful and happy for anyone! Children, please handle the staff with care, because they are fragile and easy to be broken. 

Let’s try another ride of a merry-go-round. Each ride in it is has a unique shape designed for a parent/carer and a child. Yes, the artist designed two seats for children and parents to have fun together. I love to watch each “art work” in carousels. I like the double seated red airplane most! Originality is outstanding. If you like, you can try another carousel. It has a cool airplane, a funny crocodile, a rocket and so on. Children, people, all cheer up Mom or Dad working hard for carousels!   

Ok, would you like to try something different from a ride? Here’s the shooting for children. You can try three times at a bicycle bell. Do you kne? The bullets are pits of olive! Each time, a child must EAT up an olive. Excellent humour!! According to staff, “No one has ever shot three times. Only twice. If you can make it, you’re the champion!” Kids, go and try! You may become a world record holder. What a clever setting! An out of mark hits piano wires and makes a dramatic and formidable sound in a low key. Another fun game is a bicycle race like "Le Tour de France"! Two people on station bikes move their miniature and tiny bikes in a course on a big table. We cheer up participants around the table! Children, go for it! You may beat adults! I love all the games and to hear people's hot cheers and big laugh, here, there, everywhere. 

Parents, children, you can't miss this fantastic and free event. Come and say hello to the wonderful team from Spain and locals. A local Sydney Festival staff talked to me. He said, "I saw you communicate people. Very open and approachable. You don't have a wall." His say was my great reward. Children, too, talked to me, sketching something. Oh, yes, nice live music is also free. The machines are beautiful in lights at night and in a comfortable cool weather. (*we're in summer!)  

Parramatta Prince Alfred Square (View map) 
7–26 January 
Tue–Thu & Sun, 2pm–8pm
Fri & Sat, 2pm–10pm
Closed Mondays
Cost: Admission is free.

Finally, I'd say special thanks for all the staff, anyone involved with the event and children and parents. You've brought us such a wonderful event freebie! You've also cheered me up to keep on these sketches. Thank you for your friendship! 

Friends, Happy Painting!  

Awesome Recycled Architecture Fair in Sydney Festival

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"!

New Yrs Resolutions and Review of 2015

Thank you for visiting my blog in 2015. How was Christmas and your 2015? What are you planning for 2016? I'll concentrate on picture book projects. I'm sketching around and exploring watercolour techniques. Chilren's body language is lovely. Architecture is interesting. These sketches are references for picture books.

My new years resolutions. 

1) Never hurry. Hurry slowly = never fall again! 

2) Make a progress in the current picture book projects. 

3) Try competitions more. 

4) Work with Wesley Mission/Welfare peak bodies for a project. 

5) Join group sketching more in 2016 : Sydney Sketch Club and Urban Sketchers Australia = no accident, healthy! 
I'd join book festivals, especially, for disadvantaged school children. 

2015 has become a very big year for me. I achieved these things : 

1) a trade picture book Moon launch = a picture book debut, (Windy Hollow Books) 

(*Children picture books have two categories : trade picture books and education picture books. Education picture books are not ratified in "children picture books" in publishing industry.) 

2) two solo exhibitions : "Moon," "People of Parramatta,"  

3) Accessible Arts NSW Quick Response grants, 

4) Wesley Mission, "Building Dream project." Watercolour painting workshops for people with disability, 

5) a finalist of City of Ryde Women Competition, 

6) a front book cover design of "Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice,"  (Oxford University Press) 

and other new projects are ongoing. 

I've learned a lot from grants application and solo exhibitions. Always so many people have helped me. Thank you. These activities are establishing more network that is developing my projects now. With those experiences, I hope myself to grow as a visual artist in 2016. 

Btw, I finally came back to an Urban Sketcher Australia meeting this Dec after the fractures. I bumped a sketcher at Queen Victoria Building in City several weeks ago. Fortunately, the street was closed for construction! No traffic! Another member's great idea, "Sadami, let's draw it now." We could not miss very the best opportunity to sketch the QVB from the front. Yes, this sketch is, too, my reference for an ongoing project.  

It was wonderful to sketch QVB with the friend. It lifted me up. The fractured shoulder was very painful though, we really enjoyed it. In all, I spent two days to finish it up. 

I am on the mend. Soon, I'll see doctors. I hope I will get good news. 

May 2016 be a wonderful year for you all. 

Friends, Happy Painting. Have nice holidays! But don't hurry.

New Yrs Resolutions and Review of 2015

1)Style File calls for next round 2)Animal drawings

A little "Christmas present" for you. Australian Society of Authors calls for Style File next round of assessments. Friends, the Style File gives emerging illustartors a great chance. It has a great reputation in publishing industry, particularly, among picture book publishers. Because of the high quality of registered illustrators at Style File, publishers directly “buy” illustrators from the file. Here’s the application site.

http://thestylefile.com/apply

Friday 22 April 2016 is the closing date of the submission.

Also, a currently featured illustrator can update images. All new images are subject to approval of the Style File assessment panel. I’m thinking of changing images or not, now. I still have a time to submit images. 

This is my stylefile site. You can include other information as well as images. I've added a CV. Have a look around in the Style File and you can get a feeling.

Btw, I've loved to draw animals since childhood. 
I see those blue wrens at Narrabeen beach. Yes, we're in the middle of summer in Australia. Another is my dear friend's dogs. Their eyes always capture my heart.

I'm working on two picture book projects, whilst looking after the fractures. I'm getting better. Now, Publisher/Editor Helen Chamberlin and Mentor Ann James are on a holiday leave. Yey!!  

Friends, Happy Painting and have a nice vacation! 

1)Style File calls for next round 2)Animal drawings

Sketch Nativity @ St Mary Cathedral

We, Sydney Sketch Club went to St Mary cathedral to sketch their famous "life size nativity." I so much enjoyed sketching the nativity for the first time that I had longed for sketching in my life. The famous scene that Jesus was born had many symbolic animals, in my eyes. A donkey, a white dove (in a shepherd's hand) and sheep which has meanings and roles in Bible. I imagined... and a little bit changed statues -- Mary and Joseph are smiling at a little Jesus. Baby Jesus is smiling back to them.  

The Bible is an interesting book. It does not tell us in which season Jesus was born or his appearance such as race, height etc. Do you know? The Bible does not have the depiction of Jesus's laugh and smile. I often wonder and imagine when He smiled and laughed. Whilst sketching, I was thinking over, when He was born, He had no Christmas tree nor Santa Clause etc.... 

After the sketching, the Sydney Sketch Club members had a very friendly dinner, plus, my graffiti, a portrait session! It was a great fun and members love it. Usually, I respect new members and they become my "victims," hehehe?! Sketching people always makes me happy. Insanely happy Sadami keeps on laughing from a heart! Members said "You never stop!" I smiled at their say. I have to admit "I can't stop it." 

It was really good and a great comfort for me to join meetings again. Nice. Same minded members cheer me up in a friendly mood. Thank you, organiser Jennifer!! I also thank you for all other members, particularly, models, who gave me nice chats over dinner and while sketching!

The left shoulder is healing and less painful. I'm doing rehab of the left wrist. I'll get well! 

Friends, Happy Painting! 

Sketch Nativity @ St Mary Cathedral