Melbourne

We spent some time in Melbourne and it featured some rainy and cold weather. It didn't worry us much as we planned to focus on art for the entire week.

By art I mean, both the practise of art and the study of art.







We spent 5 hours at the Picasso Exhibition - 1935 - 1945, The Dora Maar years and came away with a whole new view on Picasso and in complete awe of him as an artist.

We then switched focus to Australian art and visited Heidelberg where the famous Australian school spent so much time practising their own art. To support this visit we also went to the Ian Potter Centre and visited the Australian art and enjoyed seeing the work of preeminent Australian artists such as Frederick McCubbin and Fred Williams.

We rode on the trams constantly - what a brilliant form of public transport they are! This allowed us to sketch and draw many people in public.

We also enjoyed the superb cuisine offered by the many restaurants in the city. This included this delectible delight...










And this one...

And when I came home, we relaxed here and enjoyed talking.

When I had recovered, I finally finished this. Now I can move on to new things... when I have the energy and time now that I am back at work and university study once again.

An unintended holiday from blogging...

But - now I am back. I've really missed blogging but have kept up reading many of my favourite blogs. Life has been a little crazy since I last updated this blog and still hasn't settled down but I hope that it will soon. I am feeling just marginally more in control than I have previously but still not as though my life is my own. That will come soon.

While away I have been busy with my second son's football -he has had a lot of representative duties that has almost taken over our life, I have completed two units at university, been to Melbourne for an art holiday (expect to hear and see a lot more about this) and have also tried to keep up with work, family and life in general.

I have still been drawing and while in Melbourne, joined that club that I resisted for so long. Yes, I am now a moleskine convert - aren't they fabulous. For so long I resisted but my sketchbook fits so well in my handbag and now I also take a tiny bottle of water and a brush as well as some selected watercolour pencils. It is filling rather quickly. I have even begun walking to work, taking my lunch and finding somewhere to draw while on my breaks! I have finally found a way to draw daily and not lose time for other things.

Anyway, here is a quick sketch that I did on the weekend, in my new moleskine sketchbook, with watercolour pencils. It is the wonderful old Roman bridge in Maastricht and I have journalled about it as well.