Welcome to my blog!
In my dad’s words, I am chuffed to have you visit, so thank you 🙂
Sketching Brunswick Street, Fitzroy: It started with the Belvidere Hotel and the 8 hour day
I began drawing Brunswick Street at the corner of Victoria Parade in January 2019, starting with the three storey building once known as the Belvidere Hotel. It doesn’t seem to have changed much since 1864,, at least on the outside, although I do wonder what those men with top hats were up to! Old news articles suggest scandalous behaviour and it is where union members started their fight for the 8 hour working day.
Fitzroy Library Exhibition November 2020 to January 2021: Brunswick Street Fitzroy sketches and urban history
Brunswick Street Fitzroy: sketches and urban history is an exhibition of sketches, illustrations, vintage photographs and clippings from old newspapers that share my long term passion for the architecture, history and community of Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. All of my artwork was drawn on location over the last couple of years, with watercolour added to the longer streetscapes in my studio.
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 not to keep...
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 took this...
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...