Jan Powers Farmers Markets

What a glorious morning to go to the Power House at New farm and sketch with the Brisbane USkers.  I chose to sketch the market stalls.

Sketched on A5 Canson 270 gsm rough

Lamy pen and watercolours

               (Photo: Circa 1950 State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #74913)

The first stage of the New Farm Powerhouse was built in 1927-28 as part of the growing need for Powerhouses for the Brisbane Trams. The power station began operations in 1928, was decommissioned in 1971. It was renovated and re-opened as a modern entertainment hub in 2000.

             

Saint Stephens Cathedral Brisbane

Sketching at St Stephens Cathedral

St Stephen's Cathedral was opened on 17 May 1874, superseding Old St Stephen's, which still stands alongside it. A Gothic Revival building built of porphyry and freestone, the new Cathedral was built in stages: The foundation stone was laid in 1863, with the intention of constructing a grand building to the design of architect Benjamin Backhouse. With the economic crisis of the 1860s, work on the building ceased in 1864, and when construction was resumed in 1870, it was to a smaller and simplified design by the Brisbane architect, R. George Suter. Two sandstone towers were added in 1884, and the sacristy and simple transepts were added in 1922.

 

I used a Tombow Dual Brush pen and a Waterbrush for this sketch,  Done on Saunders 140lb rough

 

Looking across the famous Kangaroo Point Cliff to the Brisbane CBD

It was a beautiful day today, up on the cliffs.  Quite hot for Autumn though, still wearing very light summer clothes.

I had a super vantage point for my "Tower of Power sketch today.  I could see the Wheel of Brisbane, Stefans Sky needle, Parliament House, and in the background Mount Coot-tha and the icon television towers.  I think I'll turn this sketch into a painting.

This sketch, I drew looking through the fence to St Marys Anglican Church.  It is a beautiful old church and was  built in 1873 by Alfred Grant to a design by diocesan architect Richard G Suter. It replaced a timber structure built in 1849 on land closer to the river.

 

 

Can you spot all the landmarks I mentioned up there?

 

 

I was sitting in the Cliff Park, being eaten by ants, but was too excited to get this sketch done to move.

Sketching in Anne Street Brisbane

I had a super morning out with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers sketching around ANZAC Square.

Sketched on an A5 (8.5 x 6.00 inch) Canson watercolour pad.

Pen ink and watercolour.

Gas Stripping Tower - Brisbane Qld

I went to the Davies park markets today, and behind the markets is an iconic, historic Gas Stripping tower. It is the only one of it's kind in Australia.

It is a demountable cast iron tower was manufactured in 1912 by Robert Dempster & Sons Ltd, of Elland, Yorkshire, and transported in segments to Brisbane, where it was erected at the West End Gasworks in Montague Road operated by the South Brisbane Gas & Light Company. The South Brisbane gas and Light Company was established in 1885, in direct competition to the Brisbane Gas Corporation. The tower was decommissioned in 1949.  It is on the heritage register.

Bockingford 140lb 11" x 15' cp Uni Pin 0.5 pen and watercolours.

Sketching at the University of Queensland

I went out with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers this morning.  We had a lovely morning, weather was gorgeous.  I had a blast using my Elegant Writer Calligraphy Pen and another pen I bought called Micador.  Both are watersoluble and a blast to use with a water mister bottle.

First sketch I sat on a wall looking towards the Goodwill bridge.  I sketched the shelter and CityCycles.

Next I went for a walk with two others and we sat on the verandah of Old Government House and sketched the Technology Buildings

I really was taken by the clouds on the glass building.

Thank you for looking.

General Post Office Brisbane Town..

The history of this site predates the 1872 construction of the Brisbane GPO by John Petrie. During the convict settlement the Female Factory or women’s prison was situated here, deliberately isolated from the rest of the settlement to keep the women away from the unwanted attention of other male prisoners and officers.
With the old prison and one time police quarters demolished, colonial architect FDG Stanley came up with the Italianate design for the GPO and twin Telegraph Office. Although the GPO was completed in 1872, the central tower (a scaled down version of a more grandiose proposed clock tower) and Telegraph Office weren’t built until 1877-79.

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.

 

Bishopsbourne Chapel

10" x 11" piece of Bockingford 140lb watercolour paper - Mechanical pencil 2B - Lamy pen - Watercolour.

I sitting on the veranda of Bishopbourne House - (St Francis Theological College Milton) looking at the Old Bishopsbourne Chapel.  

Old Bishopsbourne is a heritage-listed house at 233 Milton Road, Milton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Benjamin Backhouse and built from 1865 to 1959. It is also known as St Francis Theological College and Bishopsbourne. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992
 

Saturday Sketchout - Dockside Brisbane Qld

Saturday, six of us braved the overcast skies and occasional spit of rain and went sketching at Dockside.

My first quick sketch while I was waiting for a friend at the Holman Street ferry.  In between sketching I was talking to visitors to the area about our wonderful city.

Sitting at the Medley Cafe Dockside with the group looking out over the river.

I used my watersoluble Derwent graphite for these three sketches

Sketching the group while they were sketching.

All these sketches were made in my Holcroft A5 225gsm sketchbook

Still sitting in the Medley cafe sketching the Story bridge behind me.

Sitting on Dockside walkway sketching the apartment buildings.

 These two sketchers were made in my A4 Holcroft 225gsm Sketchbook Lamy pen Noodlers black ink, and Artline 210 0.6 marker

 

Sketching at South Bank Brisbane Qld.

What a fun morning it was. Great sketching and great conversation.  I do enjoy going out with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers.

It was lovely down on the river, not to hot.  I got one sketch done, in my Fabriano Venezia Sketchbook - High key this time.

I sketched with my 2B mechanical pencil

Number 1 Williams Street (The Tower of Power) fascinates me.  I am having a blast sketching her as she grows!

First sketch for 2016

The Brisbane Urban Sketchers met for our first sketchout of the year at the Collectors Cafe at the Brisbane Museum & Sciencentre.  It was a rainy day, so we hung around under cover.  Here are my two sketches of the day.

Looking across at the still, tallest building in Brisbane, the Meriton building.  The glass Pyramid is on the forecourt in front of the Collectors Cafe.

I moved up the stairs to the cafes seated area which is still under cover, and safe from the rain and sketched this view.

Taken from the Collectors Cafe

The fog over the city was magical.  I took this photo from the walkway as soon as I got off the elevator that brought me up from the busway below.