National Tree Day.

I went out with the Sydney Sketchers to Wolli creek and painted a couple more plein air studies. Another gorgeous Winter's day.

Angophora tree on National Tree Day (Moleskine Watercolour Sketchbook)

Leaf Litter (Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook)

Watercolour work in progress - Jacaranda Pods

I was recently asked how I go about doing my plein air studies so thought I'd post progress photos here.
The study is of a couple of Jacaranda Seed Pods, painted on Arches smooth watercolour paper.

The first pod completed

The second pod drawn in very lightly in pencil

The outlines painted in a very light wash and the pencil erased

First washes of colour

Next washes

Some shadow washes

The study 'Jacaranda Pods'... just needs some shadows...

Colours a bit washed out on scanner...

'Jacaranda Pods', winner of the Watercolour Prize at the Municipality of Lane Cove Art Award Exhibition 2013.

Plein air in the snow

A snow gum in Thredbo village. Handbook sketchbook.

I spent the week at the Snowy Mountains and only skied a couple of days, leaving time for some reading and sketching. My fingers got a bit cold but really the weather was stunning.


I took a few sketchbooks with me, including one I have had for a long time but not used so much made by Global art and bought in New York in 2007! It's the A5 landscape format that I love the paper is a little cream rather than white. It worked nicely though for the tree on the left.

I did a few sketches in my newish Stillman & Birn Alpha pocket sketchbook - at about A6 it is the smallest in their range. It takes pen, pencil and washes very well so is lovely as a take everywhere sketch/note book.

I also had my favourite A5 Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook with me, in the lovely landscape format that is so versatile for plein air sketching.

Friday Flats, Snowy Mountains. Stillman&Birn alpha pocket sketch book.

View from a cafe. Alpha&Birn pocket sketch book.

A gorgeous snowgum on the property where we stayed, painted in my favourite A5 landscape Moleskine watercolour sketchbook.

I'd like to see a Stillman & Birn Beta in that format. The Beta is great paper for watercolour - just a bit thicker and more textured than the alpha. I wonder if they make it?

Sketching in the Museum

The Sydney Sketchers spent a couple of hours sketching in the museum at Sydney University today. I tackled a couple of beetles - a Rhinoceros Beetle and a rather pretty one from South East Asia. Mostly done in waterproof ink with my fountain pen, with a little bit of colour wash. We were asked to use dry media so a good chance to use a neat water brush.

Chalcasoma caucasus South East Asia

Dynastes hercules South America