At The Heide

While in Melbourne in July, my friend and I went to Heidelberg which was once home to Australia's most famous art school. The countryside was so beautiful and we wandered around the grounds for some time.

Even though Australia is a relatively young county, we do have our own artistic history. Significant Australian artists including Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin were members. You can read more about Australian Art History by going to this site, or on this page of The Age newspaper.

I took some beautiful photos while I was there and here is one that I have drawn on Canson pastel paper in coloured pencil.

A weekend of drawing Louis

Those of you who visit here regularly may be aware of my little dog Louis, who is my dear, loyal little friend. For those who are not, here is a photo of him.

I have made a number of attempts over the past couple of years to capture Louis in drawing, watercolour pencil etc. It has always been my aim to capture the essence of him, his spirit, personality and mischievousness. This has never happened.

Here is a pen drawing from August this year. You can tell it is him, but it doesn't really capture him. 0.3 unipin fine line pen on moleskine.

And here is another of him from a few weeks earlier. Better but I wasn't brave enough to try his face. Watercolour pencil on moleskine.

As I live in a small country town considered reasonably isolated, especially from tutors of the art world, we are fortunate enough to receive funding via the RADF (Regional Arts Development Fund) and this provides the money to pay for tutors through the Flying Arts Programme. We are lucky enough to have a Flying Arts tutor visit Roma twice a year and this weekend was Flying Arts weekend. We were able to enjoy a weekend class "Drawing from Nature" with tutor Sharon Muir.

Yesterday we worked on various methods and techniques of using charcoal mainly on cartridge paper. Here is the result of my work yesterday. It is Louis again and finally, I have captured him. Here he is in all his arrogance and love.

This is charcoal on cartridge paper and I am quite happy with the outcome.

Abstraction studies

Tonight I have had some fun abstracting the bottle tree I drew the other day - see my previous post. They are such an interestingly shaped tree, especially their trunks and hold lots of possibilities. For a long time I have considered their potential for a piece of textile work so started playing with some abstract shapes with that in mind.

I think that there are some possibilities in these ideas and I will look to developing the idea a little more when I have finished my university year. Only 5½ weeks of the semester to go and then 3 whole months to focus on artwork. You can see why I am looking forward to it.

Bottle trees

These trees are synonymous with the area of south west Queensland where I live. Bottle trees are native to this area. They are not Boab trees (which are found in Western Australia) which are entirely different and not related to the bottle trees at all. I do not know the Botanical name for these trees and there are many different varieties. This particular one is a deciduous variety and it has almost lost all its leaves - yes some trees in Australia do lose their leaves in spring unlike those native to the northern hemisphere which are currently losing their leaves in the northern autumn.

There are many better specimens of these trees that I could have drawn but his one is available to me in the grounds at work so is relatively easy to access in the limited time I have available at the moment. It is an unfinished drawing and will likely remain so but it will give you an idea of the very interesting shape of our native trees.

These trees are also culturally important in our town. Following World War 1 a tree was planted for each of the 100 soldiers of the surrounding area who did not return from the war and this is know as Heroes' Avenue. Each Anzac Day returned soldiers and other groups march along the avenue to the town's memorial where the Anzac Day services are held. As the parade passes each tree a wreath is laid in memory of the soldier the tree honours.

A few years ago some of the trees began to die and tree surgeons were called in to give them some special care. Some trees survived and others were replaced and we still have a tree representing each of the soldiers.

Walking on the Stock Route

A recent discussion on the Everyday Matters group has been around sketching our place, meaning the area around where we live. I live in a small country town in south west Queensland in Australia. My home is on the outskirts of town so I can walk out along a country, gravel road and be in the endless plains in a matter of five minutes.

The road is part of the stock route. Australia is a very dry continent and at the moment we are in desperate need of substantial rains. Coming out of winter the grasses are grey and yellow and there is little sign of green anywhere. I walked along the stock route this morning and the grass, such as it was, crunched underfoot, was dusty and by the time I got home I was sneezing as if I had hayfever.

I will explain the stock route. Because the country goes through such frequent dry spells there is an area of government owned land along roads and between private land that is reserved for stock. In very dry times it is normal practice to come across stock being driven along the stock routes and feeding from the grass there. Cattle graziers whose paddocks are eaten out will pack up, sometimes their whole families, and drive their cattle where they can find feed. The well prepared might have a caravan but others will camp in a swag under the stars, protecting their cattle. Temporary fencing is erected to keep the cattle close by. It is not unusual to drive along the roads in dry times and have to contend with herds of cattle on the roads.

Back to my sketch /walk this morning. There is a new estate being developed just outside of town where Louis and I walked this morning. Louis is my fox terrier and was most upset with me when I stopped and started sketching this scene.

Pipes have been laid awaiting burial for the new estate. It will be interesting to watch the work as it progresses. Three of the blocks, approximately 3 - 4 acres in size have been sold and no doubt the owners are anxious to begin building as soon as they can.

Poppies and a Grand Final Win!!!!

Today's watercolour painting of flowers is poppies. I continue on my journey to become a watercolourist. I have a long way to go but I am enjoying it very much and facing the challenges that come with it.

And tonight a great win by the Brisbane Broncos in the 2006 Rugby League Grand Final!!

That's My Team!!!