Down at Manly Cove
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: January 19, 2012
Down at Manly Cove
This one began life as a little sketch I did while sitting on the steps in the sun, at Manly Cove.
It’s 2nd life was when the colour was applied and it became a greeting card and print.
Third time lucky was the large line & watercolour sketch I did recently. But it’s luck ran out. I wasn’t happy with something about it.
Forth life is above. Thick acrylic on watercolour paper and then free line sketch over it. Now I’ll give it a break. Now it’s working nicely. Lucky you Manly Cove, or you’d be quaking in your matt, wondering what else I would do to you. Maybe it’s forth time lucky.
©ErinHill2012
Ferries Passing, Balmoral
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: January 11, 2012
Ferries Passing, Balmoral
Well this is different. For me anyway.
By using a sketch as the reference, which I’d done on location at Balmoral Beach, I decided to block it in using my acrylics straight onto 300gsm Arches Aquarelle.
Interesting how you get a slightly illustrative look, because it’s already that way in the sketch.
Also has a pastel look, with the soft edges.
I’m thinking of doing another in this technique to see if I like it, and if I can do it again with another sketch.
Actually, the ferries do pass right there in front of Balmoral Beach. One coming from Manly, and the other going to.
©ErinHill2012
Mixed Media Acrylic – Balmoral & French Window
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: January 7, 2012
'Waiting for Shakespeare'
An entirely different work from the previous ‘Intense Colour Sketch’.
Again based on a sketch done at Balmoral Beach when sketching one day, this was about 5pm in the afternoon. People were beginning to spread out their picnics and rugs and get out the crisp white wine. Tonight at 8pm sharp would be a performance of a Shakespeare play in the rotunda.
This time I prepare an 18 X 24 inch canvas with scrunched paper towels which are then gessoed over and left to dry.
Once it’s ready to paint on I do a pale wash line to mark where the big areas will be. Then simply start applying the acrylic paint, looking at the sketch to remind me what is happening. I do move elements about and allow things to be take their own place. Time to stop looking at the sketch and concentrate on making sure this is working as a painting I’m happy with.
I am doing a series of ‘French Window’ paintings and this has joined those. Actually I do like it. I like paintings which you can back to and see more each time.
©ErinHill 2012
Colour Intense Sketch
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: January 5, 2012
From the Island, Balmoral
I’m trying some serious colour for a new series of sketches. Done on 300gsm Aquarelle Arches. Good solid strong colour.
Mask off the area and get the acrylic paint ready.
Because I’m looking through my sketches for good compositions I don’t need to do any drawing or indications on the paper at all. I like to keep a real spontaneity about my work especially if it’s not the first time I’ve done a subject.
Then it’s a matter of blocking in the big areas with acrylic paint, and following with small shapes. Finally the black pen gets ready for it’s star performance. Go. No turning back now. Whee.
And there it is. It’s on an easel for all to see – and comment on.
©ErinHill2012
A Shiny Brand New Year
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: January 1, 2012
- In: Art | Art to Eat | Food & Wine | Line & Watercolour | Sketches
- 4 Comments
New Year's Day 2012
The sun was streaming through curtains and woke me. 6.15am on the first day of ‘Next Year’.
Time to get my ‘wake up’ cuppa tea. Wow, it’s glorious out there. I can hear cicadas and tweety chirpy birds, happy chat from early risers walking off their Christmas pudding, a boat engine as chaps go fishing. Pretty quiet overall. Fills one with happiness. Sketched the early calmness with the dark horizon before everybody started pouring onto the beach.
Before the day got away on me, put out the breakfast things, and sketched that. Love the big camphor laurel chopping board from Nicky & Adrian. Not the sort of thing one buys for oneself, but boy the old ones are not in great shape anymore. Lots of history in those boards.
Not breakfasting on the raspberries, boysenberries, black currents from the fruit salad we took to Stu & Yvonne’s last night. Milton is keen to make a ‘Summer Pudding’ with them, using some sponge cake intended for a trifle. It’s an English recipe traditionally using bread, but hey, can never waste old sponge cake.
Looking out to the garden, noticed the Garden Orbweaver web was just a couple of strands. His smaller mate on the other side is still there. Maybe he trapped an enormous bunch of insects ( what is a bunch of insects called – a flock, a school, a tribe. mmmmm.) Perhaps he wanted to have a brand spanking new 2012 web. Something minimalist maybe. Just tossed out the old cluttered one.
And the nice bottle of wine with ‘thank you’ card. That’s a sketch.
Milton was walking with Amelie and somehow these lovely visitors were wondering where was best place to see the 9pm fireworks. By this time most of the foreshore positions were snapped up with rugs, chairs and families with baskets of yummy food and drinks. Milton suggested they could have the box seats on our balcony overlooking the lot. We were going to friends elsewhere anyway. They were thrilled with that, and we found this very nice token of their appreciation on the outside table when we arrived home at 2am. Already ‘next year’.
©ErinHill2012
Christmas Eve Moments
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: December 25, 2011
Christmas Eve Moments
The Sun is out. Perhaps beginning to go down. It is 6.22pm.
What a difference the sunshine makes. This is the day before Christmas. People go at dawn to the Seafood market, as fish and Seafood is one of our revered Christmas Day meals. Of course we still follow tradition and have Turkey, ham or Roast Pork. I know all will be on offer at our Family lunch tomorrow. We even have plum pudding with all the trimmings. Usually it’s sweltering outside but we must stick to tradition or else. Of course it’s nuts but we so look forward to it.
But now as the afternoon passes into evening, The shadows are getting long, the birds are tweeting, cicadas singing and the big Garden Orbweaver waits in his web as it swings in the slight breeze. That spider has the best view in Sydney. He seems to do well judging by the size of him.
The chattering excited children seem to be inside now, all being bathed and getting ready for bed. And if like I was at that age, a 4am wakeup to see if Santa has been.
Mostly our work is done, wrapping and cooking. I took some time out to sketch some little moments that appeal to me. I’m not attracted by the buildup and stress that can come with Christmas. I do however notice the little things. The couple having coffee on a park bench with their santa hats on. People meeting on the pathway and having loads of laughs. White cloths spread on Park picnic tables and champagne for the family, Cars being loaded with Christmas packages. The sound of Christmas music. The Church bells ringing.
Well it’s now a perfectly hot Christmas Day. Clesr blue skies, sweat dripping as one tries to finish the contributions to the family lunch. Nicky our ‘bride to be’ stayed over so we toddled down to beach first thing for a splash about. Milton said he’d come if we weren’t doing serious swimming!
A quiet moment, a cup of tea, before we hit the traffic and cross the city for the first of 2 events with more food to consume than we normally do in a week.
Have a great day everyone. We’ve started ours and yours is coming soon. XXXXXX
©ErinHill2011
Come Sketching in France for 2 weeks
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: December 16, 2011
Welcome to our home in the of South of France
A fantastic opportunity to join me in the South of France, in a very tiny village called Trausse, where I’ve been painting since 1999. The owners of the 3 beautifully restored stone houses use one of my paintings each year as their Christmas card and a lovely way to keep in touch with all the clients who have stayed in the cottages over the years.
Because I’m now teaching Sketch Classes in the Studio, I’ve decided to take a small group of interested people on a Sketching and Food Tour to this area in the Minervois wine growing region.
You may never have sketched, or you may be an experienced painter, but to be in these historic locations and have the chance to sketch there, is an exciting opportunity for artists of all abilities.
We’ll start with a week in Paris prior, but here are the dates for Trausse,
Week 1 – 16 – 23 September 2012
Week 2 – 23 – 30 September 2012
We have a second week for those who’d like to stay longer. You can have 2 full weeks or just a few extra days.
We have limited places available, so do check with me, to see what we have.
For the full story, go to the menu bar above and check our ‘Sketching in South of France’ details.
We welcome artists and food lovers to a magical time in this tiny village of Trausse and it’s surrounds.
Thursday. Rain…. but no what’s this!
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: December 9, 2011
Warm up sketch at Bacino bar
The caffeine queue
It was absolutely pouring when I left home – dressed in my raincoat, hoping my hair wouldn’t go curly.
Got to Bacino bar where we’d meet up for our Sketch class. They have an outdoor area outside the doors to the cafe, with proper French tables and woven chairs. Very chic! and because that’s where we wanted to sit to get the best sketches, it meant getting a wet bottom if you couldn’t get the seat dry enough. No worries we dried off later, shaking our feathers.
We had such a good time. Observing the comings and goings as people arrived, ordered, waited or took a table. The sitting ones usually stay longer I said, so easier to sketch. The little dog was there waiting too, with a vacant look while it’s person ordered. Obviously done this heaps.
Before long we noticed the rain had stopped. My iphone didn’t mention this in it’s hourly updates. But all was forgiven. Amazing what a bit of sun can do to one.
So off we trotted to ’4 Olives’ round the corner for a yummy lunch and some more sketching. We had a few laughs over each of our versions of the caffeine people too.
©ErinHill2011
A Paris Sketch from 2008
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: December 5, 2011
20 Rue Breguet
Another of some sketches I’d done when staying with Joanna in Paris. We stayed in this tiny 7th floor studio before moving to Beaumarchais the following week, and where we’d be for a month or so.
I wasn’t paying much attention to sketching at this time, and did only a few – which I now regret. Instead I concentrated on watercolours which I’d work on most days. I now see sketching as being a most wonderful way to express myself and record the moments I want to savour. And there are so many of those.
You live and learn! So many moments which never made it to the sketchbook. Not any more. Nope. All will be recorded on my next Paris Sketch week.
One is on a mission with sketching. One is so busy looking, observing, waiting to record the loveliness of the moment. You could never feel alone, even if you are, so so much to do.
And the sheer pleasure of the attempt. One could say it’s an addiction, or a passion. Mmmmm. Oops Pardonnez-moi traffic, I didn’t notice you all banked up there, I just want to finish this sketch of the Arche de Triomphe from right in front here.
©ErinHill2011
Rain. It must be Thursday.
Posted by: ErinHillArt.Travel Journal on: November 30, 2011
- In: Art | Public Art | Sketching | Sketching Classes
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Waiting Outside the Art Gallery
Sketching the Bathing Costumes
We are getting very good at smiling through the rain. I like everyone to be able to sketch anywhere, anytime but….. some old fashioned sunshine would be nice. Is anyone listening up there?
So it was that we headed for the Manly Art Gallery to sketch any exhibits which caught our eye, but especially the Bathing Exhibition, which feature all the items we used to wear in earlier times, plus the picnic, surfing and play gear. Most interesting. Trouble is while we’re all fascinated with what people used to go to the beach in, I’m horribly aware that I used to wear those frilly flowery rubber bathing caps on display, and those stylish bathing suits. OMG. Well at least I didn’t wear the gold lamé 2 piece!
Because of the bright colours of the exhibition, the sketches worked well, and with the colour added while at lunch, everyone was pretty happy.
Tomorrow is Thursday. Guess what the weather forecast is showing!
©ErinHill2011
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