Welcome to my blog!
In my dad’s words, I am chuffed to have you visit, so thank you. You can scroll through all of my posts by using the dropdown boxes or by clicking the arrows to the left or right of each section below. Enjoy 🙂
Urban sketching at the Black Cat, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
This week we should have been exhibiting another year of Brunswick Street sketches at the Black Cat. But, alas, due to Melbourne’s coronavirus lockdowns it is now on the back burner 🙁. The Black Cat in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, is a Melbourne icon. It is Cool, with a capital C. It’s retro. It’s quirky. They have a DJ. They support local artists. Like us.
Urban sketching at Pete’s castle in Galway, Ireland
Three years ago today my husband and I were staying at the most fabulous Airbnb - Pete's castle in Galway, Ireland. It's also known as Cahercastle, Craughwell, and according to the Irish Times it is one of the most popular listings in Europe. I'd spotted it many,...
Brunswick Street, Fitzroy – six months of urban sketches and streetscapes
Almost every Tuesday for the last six months, since January 2019, I have been catching a tram down Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, to draw beautiful Victorian buildings on location. It started as a personal passion project to draw the street, and I have to say that I...
My watercolour palette for 2019
I have spent weeks (possibly months) pouring over my collection of watercolour paints to choose a new palette for this year. The fact that it is nearly the end of May says a lot! I am nothing if not indecisive, and I can um and ah for hours over whether or...
My watercolour palette for 2018
I am constantly asked to share the colours in my watercolour palette, but when you have this many that is easier said than done! I love to play around with different combinations, and I test new colours all the time, but this is my collection for 2018. I...
Carers Week 14-20 October 2018 – free poster
For years I have shared a free poster to celebrate Carers Week, which this year is held in Australia from 14 to 20 October. My annual posters came about as a result of my own experience as a mental health carer, and the website I created at...
Review of Moo’s cotton business cards for artists
I love the idea of having a tiny art portfolio that can be carried in my pocket. Moo cards make that possible, as you can have up to 50 different designs on one side of the card, with one on the other. I don't know where else you can do that. It seems pretty amazing...
Sketchbook tour – 2 weeks urban sketching in Ireland
A big portion of my ancestry is Irish, so visiting Ireland for the first time was something I was really looking forward to. From sunny (and often not so sunny) Melbourne it was hard to imagine the accents, the brilliant greens, the castles (yay CASTLES!!) and the...
Family tree calligraphy and my convict ancestors
I spent about six months in 1994 drawing up this family tree for my mum. She had done all the research over many, many years, the slow and painstaking way, long before anyone dreamed up ancestry.com! It was before my now adult children were born. I worked Monday to...
Standing up for my watercolour floral friend
I drew this a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed the process, the experimenting and then playfully adding polka dots just for the fun of it. I never shared it because there was such a mixed reaction from a few people - it is something you either love or...
Edinburgh – urban sketching through the red velvet curtains
When Beth googled "magical places in Europe" to visit during our big adventure, I noticed a shift in my thinking. It wasn't just castles that seemed magic, but it was like there was some indefinable sparkle in the air where almost anything seemed special. I suppose...
Drawing during the brownie ban
It's a bit rough when you are just trying to support your teenage daughter's future as a pastry chef and she bans you from touching the chocolate brownies that are sitting on the bench. Especially when she has just called for help in setting up a brownie photo shoot...