City Botanic Gardens

I joined the Brisbane City Sketchers in the gardens this morning, for a sketchout and Christmas lunch.  We were few, but had an amazing time.  It was a lot of fun..

The Gardens Club is the former Curators Cottage at the Botanic Gardens Brisbane.
In 1855 Walter Hill was appointed as curator of the Botanic Reserve, a position he held until 1881. He began an active planting and experimental program. Some of the older trees planted in the Gardens were the first of their species to be planted in Australia, due to Hill's experiments to acclimatise plants.
By 1866 Hill had succeeded in having the extent of the Botanic Gardens enlarged to approximately 27 acres

 While waiting for the group to arrive, I had a delicious coffee, and sketched some foliage in my Post card pad.

Christmas Tree

Sitting in King George Square this morning, with my travel sketchbook, drawing this years Christmas Tree..

Melbourne Street Brisbane

I sketched with the Brisbane City Sketchers in Melbourne Street this morning.  Melbourne Street is an older street in South Brisbane, and does still have some of the original buildings in it.  

I found a good seat outside Jo-Jo's restaurant.  Jo-Jo's is owned by Stefan Ackerie, one of Queenslands Billionaires, in fact he was one of the first.

My first sketch was looking up Melbourne Street towards the city, in my handmade sketchbook with pen and watercolour.

This is The Bach Living, a homewares store attached to Jo-Jo's it is now owned by the store.

Sketching on the Brisbane River

It was a wonderful morning, seven of us came out urban sketching, coffee and show and tell was fun!
I was sitting in the GOMA Bistro Cafe looking across river..

Sketched in my watercolour postcard pad, 4" 6" pen and watercolour