Sketch by Erin Hill

Even with the harbour views, Erin Hill is fascinated by the ibis. For more information about her Sketchabout experience, visit http://erinhillmyblog.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/saturday-sketch-club/

Adam and Michaela's sketches

Interstate visitors Adam and Michaela joined us under the shelter of the Rathborne Lodge verandah on Saturday. They both freely admit to not having picked up a pencil since school and started their sketching afternoon with varying degrees of intrepidation.

However by the end of the session they were chatting with the other sketchers and had produced some wonderful drawings


Michaela drew the (lower half ) of the statue of Autumn with an ink pen


and Adam used a 2B to sketch Angels Trumpet (amongst other things)

Second Sketchabout

Although it rained constantly during the two hours we sketched, this wet, intrusive weather did give us another perspective of the gardens at least. One of my drawings in particular was a collaboration with myself using ink and mother nature providing the raindrops. It turned out to be my favourite.

Nicola's Sketches

These sketches are done using Chinese Ink with an emphasis on capturing the character of the Botanics rather than a literal representation. I wanted to give a sense of the raining weather and the fact that I was position away from the elements under a large tree. From this location it was relatively dry with only the occasional rain drop falling onto my work. The Botanics is a curious culturally specific beauty in being a very control environment where lawns are neatly moved and vegetation highly selected. I find the use of signs naming vegetation in the garden interesting this is why I have made it the focus in one sketch. The signs legitimize the plant like a passport to the space. I imagine those without signs are swiftly removed.

Nicola Moir
www.nicolamoirart.com

Alissa's sketches from Sketchabout Week Two

Sketched in the dampness







In the Courtyard Garden , under the verandah at Rathborne Lodge . There were moments of congenial silence and bursts of conversation as 23 of us sketched together




This final drawing of an Angels Trumpet was done at the end of the day - damp watercolour pencils on damp paper - all a bit soggy !

Sketching Class - The Bot Gardens for Beginners

It's week two for me in my first ever art class, bookmaking and sketching with Wendy Shortland, which I am enjoying very much.  To describe something my first instinct is to start writing, though whether it's words or ink, looking takes the cake. Here I may have bitten off to much,with this scene from the courtyard of the Moore Room. Still it's the luxury of a cacaphony of plants, that green thought manifest, the sense of riot and abundance, which makes it such a pleasure to attempt to translate the garden to paper. Next week I hope to turn a few  new leaves!  Carol J.

Sadami's Sketchabout#2

Hi, Friends, thank you for wonderful cheers for my adventure, "SketchAbout." I'll show you the Garden has precious historical, cultural and natural heritages of Australia for the future.

Government House

Despite rain, we enjoyed sketching. I also made some sketches Friday before rain (lucky!). But eventually, I finished them up in rain. A bit tough work was Government House.
OK, you and me, let's have a walk together in this huge Garden.Have a look of the map. Enlarge it, please. Get it? How big it is!
Opening: 7am to 6:30pm.A strategy, "How to Conquer the Garden" is essential. Otherwise, waste of time and you cannot go home?! (*no worries, in fact, so many rangers always patrol.) Let's walk around the left side of the mapHead to Government House and the end of the path to see Sydney Opera House.
From the Herb Garden to the Government House, there are beautiful greeny open fields full of biiiiiiig trees. How big? Good question! Trees are "monstrous" big and gigantic. Can you see a person under a tree? How small it is!

Sculptures are here and there along path ways or on lawns--some are extraordinarily big and contemporary art. The below depicts "waves," according to Toni from the Garden Trust. Ooohhh! Waves!! The left side, a white one is another huge sculpture of natural rocks and an inside is hollow where bats's sweet home. *Please respect a bat. Toni says, "One bad eats thousands of mesquites,"!! Salute bats!

Sculpture "Waves"

Still, we keep walking ahead. Now, left hand side, see "Government House" (*please see the first image and the map.) Although a bit miserable to sketch it under a tiny umbrella in rain, it has paid off. Wow, how gorgeous and elegant!! One more surprise is a freebie to see an inside. So, next time, I'll definitely try it and report you.

Finally, we get to the end of the path. Yey, "Opera House"! This egg-shells-like building is our cultural icon! Many people take a rest here and sit on lawn sunny days.

Sydney Opera House

From now on, I'll boast, "Hahahaha! Sydneysiders, we're living in the GORGEOUS castle and the Opera House is in my backyard!"
Yes, our legends are in the Garden!

Did you enjoy a walk with me? More photos are in my blog, "Sadami's Graffiti."Next time, I'll try the middle section or the right section.
So, come and join us, the event, "Sketchabout" ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ.