Saturday at Twin Ponds - Alissa Duke

On Saturday the weather was finally fine enough to go outdoors. I visited the Gardens Shop to spend a gift voucher I had (decisions, decisions..) and then asked about the recent sightings of the tawny frogmouth. I was pointed in the direction of the Twin Ponds. I did not see the bird (unsurprisingly) but I did spent time amongst the trees, enjoying the bird calls and sketching the fascinating tree bark. I love the way paperbark peels off the tree, and the shinyness of the eucalyptus.

More than an hour later I wandered out of the Gardens via the Opera House gates. Although I was tired from a day in the sun I felt as though I had to do just one more drawing.

A Few More Sketches in the Afternoon of 12 November 2011

Unable to make the morning of the last day of the Spring Sketchabout, we did some sketching in what turned out to be a beautiful afternoon.

From Governmet House by Barbara Gray

From Government House by Carole Solomons

 

Fountain Government House by Fred Marsh

The Band Lawn by Barbara Gray

The Band Lawn by Fred Marsh

Thanks to the Sydney Sketch Club who have revived the ancient and timeless joy of sketching in a Garden with the Spring Garden Sketchabouts. Here is everyone (almost) at the last one this Spring on 12 November. See you all again soon we hope.

Last Spring Sketchabout

We started the Spring Sketchabout at the Palace Garden. As I'd been to the zoo, and my sketchbook is full of animals already, I decided to draw a lion. This one is truly king of the jungle - well, the Palace Garden anyway, as he has a crown of roses.

I snuck off down the stairs away from the main group to draw this jacaranda. They are blooming all over Sydney at the moment. I wanted to be sure I drew one this year, so - no time like the present. They are so ethereal looking.

We took our lunch to the lawn behind the Main Pond, where we always meet to catch up and look at one anothers sketches.We sit in the shade of this big tree and I always look at the intricate patterns of its bark. I've wanted to draw it before and this time I summoned the energy. I didn't think to look what type of tree it is, so I just called it 'The Lunch Tree' because that is what it is for me.

As much as I wanted to capture a few roses on our last Spring Sketchabout, it was a little bit daunting. So I settled myself in by first painting these flapjacks.

Made a few attempts at some roses, but my style is so rough, it doesn't quite capture the delicate, intricate petals of a rosebud.

Finished off the afternoon in the Oriental Garden, more just to escape the sun. Too tired to capture the entire scene, I decided to pick my two favourite sections and paint them separately.

Spring Sketchabout - Alissa Duke

After a cool grey start, the blue sky sun came out mid morning as a group of about 20 sketchers enjoyed the final Spring Sketchabout. We went to the Palace Rose Gardens, learnt a bit about their fascinating history before finding flowers, statues and vistas to draw and paint.





Kerry from RBG mentioned the sustainable planting of the Rose Gardens. I quickly found some ladybirds on the rose stems, doing their job.




We stopped for lunch in the shade of a large tree and after chatting and comparing sketches,a few of us continued on for one or two more sketches. This is the view from the Band Lawn, across the Pond to Sydney city.

a wonderful day

Last Spring Garden Sketchabout 2011

Hello Everyone,

It’s the LAST Spring Garden Sketchabout 2011 with the Sydney Sketch Club on Saturday 12 November, 10 am – 12.30 pm starting outside the Garden Shop – as usual.

We are thinking perhaps the Palace Gardens might be the site of choice this time. There are 2000 blooming roses, grown without any chemicals, lots of amazing history, over-the-top sculptures, graceful old structures and, of course, lovely fig trees.

BYO Picnic afterwards if you'd like to stay on and continue socialising.

Hope to see you all there for a final spring fling with those paints and pencils.