City Botanic Gardens Brisbane Qld

What a challenging day.  Fun really.  It rained on and of this morning, but I still managed to get this sketch done.  

I started it out in the open, but a rain shower had me scurrying under cover at the gardens Club Cafe.  I had to change my plan and redrew my sketch from that angle.  I liked what I saw a lot.  All the trees and foliage with the city peaking behind.

I sketching on Bockingford 140ln cp paper, with Elegant writer 30 pen I used a water mister, and a water brush, and a few rain drops as well. :-)  Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of what i was sketching..

Ficus at the Epicurus Garden South bank

Sketching with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers. I had a blast using my Elegant Writer Calligraphy pens again..

 

 I used Bockingford 140ln cp 11" x 15" a waterbrush and a spray mister for the effects.

Moreton Bay Fig

I was sitting on a path behind The Jetty Restaurant at South Bank.  This gorgeous tree was begging to be sketched.  The wildlife kept me entertained.

I sketched this on arches paper, using elegant writer pens, and water.  

Can you see the critter?

Click below for a short video

Water Dragon

Sketching at the GOMA

I had a lovely morning sketching at the gallery of Modern Art  with the Brisbane USkers.  We sat behind the gallery overlooking the river.  I chose to sketch the cranes on the buildings across river.

Sketched on Bockingford 140lb cp paper 11"x 15"

I had a play with a set of Elegant Writer calligraphy pens I bought, and absolutely fell in love with them.  Totally love the effect I got when I added water, both by spray bottle and with my waterbrush.

Thank you for looking.

Boundary Street markets

The day started out beautiful weatherwise, but towards midday, it got windy and drizzly.  I didn't quite finish my sketch.

Bockingford paper 140lb cp
Bamboo dip pen and Indian ink
Watercolour

Newstead House

Newstead House is Brisbanes oldest surviving residence.  It sports huge grounds, which are now called Newstead Park.  It was designed  by Harry Moore, the early 20th century parks superintendent responsible for much of Brisbane’s distinctive style of vegetation, who lived in Newstead House during his tenure. Sketching there today was a treat.

I chose a lovely quite spot, looking at a magnificent Teak Crown Ash tree.  In front of the tree is an old piscatorium.  As far as I know it is still operational, but the caretakers have turned the water off to stop people using it.  There used to be information about the structure, but I couldn't find it today.

There are some amazing trees in the park, one, is a rare specimen of a crepe myrtle which was planted at the time the house was built. There is a beautiful 200 year old Cunningham Fig, in the circular driveway.  It is a "Talking Tree"  Voice activated with historical facts.  In the 1920s the Brisbane City Council constructed an electrical substation for its tramway system in the grounds of the House. Since the closure of the tram system in 1969 the substation was purchased by the Newstead House Board of Trustees and has been used as a Resource Centre and offices for management staff.  You can just see the corner of the substation on the right in my drawing.

Thank you for stopping by.

Qld State Library

We are having a heatwave.  37 deg Celsius today and the humidity over 50%  Where do we sketch?  Qld State Library in their "Red Box"

The library opens at 10.00am and we, the Brisbane USkers start at 9.00am so we chose to sketch in the Study Room beside the main library for the first hour, then head on up to the Red Box on level 2.  The red Box extends over the Brisbane river.  It is glassed on three sides and is an amazing place to quietly sit and sketch.

Sitting in the airconditioned study room 

Paper Bockingford I think 11"x15" Charcoal and watercolour 

 

 

Sitting in the RED BOX on Level 2
Paper Daler Rowney 11.7" x 8.3" Pen Artline 0.4 watersoluble Water brush to blend the ink.