Like easing your body off from the side of a swimming pool into cool water, entering the start of the Gold Creek track at Alouette Park, B.C., Canada was like an instant immersing and encasing yourself into a greenery that awed and fed your soul.
soothing greens
Spring green Huckleberry bushes
Mossy limbs
Gold Creek
Alouette Lake
Canada geese with their goslings enjoying their dinner at the water’s edge
We came across some random musicians who played a specially selected piece for parents 65th wedding anniversary. The violinist played and sang wonderfully. I suspect he is a concert violist.
I finished my day off by trying to do an indoor sketch. I didn’t get to finish it, but I am happy I started it. Sometimes a bit of a push is needed, so I’m happy with today’s accomplishment and the enjoyment the green time gave me.
On Edward Street, in the suburb of Glebe, Hobart, Tasmania, a cottage’s lime green exterior immediately peaked my interest.
I drew and inked the cottage on location, and then added paint when I got home.
Drawn and inked on location
My view that I drew the cottage from.
Decision Time
I decided because I wasn’t drawing the buildings next to it, that I wouldn’t include the shadows that the neighbour’s building was casting on its roof. It would just add confusion.
I was tempted to call this painting “done” and remain in my comfort zone, but I knew that I had to add some sky. I read my card from my daughter, poised on my shelf, ever-ready to provide that push of encouragement that I need, “Art is for the Courageous”, and took a deep breath to try to inhale some courage from it, and then swirled my paint brush around and around in the blue paint.
Cottage with bravely added sky and splatter
So, what do you think? Was it the right decision…. to leave or to add?
Some paintings you attach more emotionally with than others. This one I love. I think it is such a cutie!
Cottage on the main street of Oatlands, Tasmania Artline pen and watercolour on Khadi Mill paper made from recycled cotton rags
I drew it on location and painted it at home. I finished the painting and then I suddenly thought, Oh no, did I forget to draw the chimneys??? But I didn’t. It’s strange that it doesn’t have chimneys because with most country cottages that is/was their sole heating source.
I really enjoyed sketching this one. I might try it again and add the tree behind the cottage in the next drawing.
Oatlands is a gorgeous small town, population 728, located in the midlands of Tasmania. I love all the stone walls and buildings. It has Australia’s largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings. There are 150 of them and most of them are convict-built. https://tasmania.com/points-of-interest/oatlands/
The historic village of Stanley, in far north west Tasmania, is nestled at the base of The Nut, a sheer-sided bluff, which is all that remains of an ancient volcanic plug. You can walk to the top of The Nut, or take a chair lift, where you will find 360 degrees of spectacular views and interesting information stops all the way around the walking circuit. https://tasmania.com/points-of-interest/the-nut-in-stanley/
Heading towards Alexander Street with The Nut as the backdrop
The Nut with historic cottages on Alexander Terrace adorning the base
There’s more to Stanley than the dominating and striking Nut. One being, the wonderful historic cottages lining Alexander Terrace, including the only Australian Prime Minister that originated from Tasmania, which in fact came from the teeny-tiny town of Stanley! I highly recommend a visit of the birthplace cottage of Joseph Lyon’s that is now a Museum https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/lyons-cottage-historic-site.
I spotted this cottage along Alexander Terrace of the very quaint town of Stanley in Tasmania, with The Nut State Reserve in the background. I think it was the yellow front door that enticed me to choose it. I drew and inked it on location, and then added paint when I returned to my accommodation in Stanley in the evening.
I sat directly across the street to do my drawing. I think the drawing would look better if the rock wall was drawn straight across, despite it ending where I drew it for their parking space.
The house I drew. The photo is taken from the street below, not from my drawing spot.
Wishing you a great week with opportunities to pursue your hobbies and passions.
I’m having a short break and showing my sister, who is visiting from overseas, some of Tasmania.
Here we are earlier in the week, in Richmond, Tasmania, in front of the oldest, in-use Catholic Church in Australia
We’re now visiting St Helens, Tasmania, but I had to go to Stieglitz, a town five minutes south of St Helens to find pelicans. I want more photos of pelicans to use as resource photos for my art work.
One example of using a pelican photo resource
Last time I was here, there were heaps of pelicans in St. Helens and Stieglitz. I don’t know where they have gone…”where have all the pelicans gone? Long time passing. Where have all the pelicans gone? Long time ago. I was happy to to find three pelicans on the beach and three in the water!
Three pelicans
Before we headed back to our B&B, I drew this house.
A very bright day for urban sketching
I’m annoyed that I forgot to draw a rectangle on the page first. It really helps me draw to size so that I can draw the whole building. When I don’t sketch regularly, I forget my strategies so quickly.
This is a simpler, older holiday house in St Helens and Stieglitz, more reflective of the character and charm of what the town used to be, in my opinion. Most of the newer builds are modern, large homes.
65 Peron St, Stieglitz, Tasmania
Now, we’re off to see some of the Bay of Fires’ glorious beaches.
I hope that your weekend is going well and that you’ve had time to draw or do something you enjoy.
When I lived in Vancouver, BC, Canada, I loved walking down the back alleys and peering into people’s backyards through the gaps in fences or bushes. I think a back yard gives more of an insight into people’s personalities, imagination and how they spend their time in this space.
There aren’t many back alleys in Tasmania but there is a beautiful walkway running between backyards and the Derwent River in Geilston Bay.
Our starting point with some of Mt Wellington in the background
There are several houses with no back fences along this walkway. Here is one that I decided to sketch.
I decided to tackle the garden with a paint brush rather than try to ‘draw’ it. I did the entire painting outside on location. Usually, I do my drawing on location and then add paint to the sketch when I get home.
The house. It’s so obvious from the photo that it is leaning back, not forward, like I drew it.
and one of the many Tasmanian Native hens that are hanging around to greet you. Look at their long toes!
Tasmanian Native hens have the nickname ‘Turbo chook’ because they can run very fast, reaching speeds of 50 kph. They are not related to domestic chickens. They belong to a group of waterfowl known as rails.
A cottage home with a delightful café on the side, named “Vintage on High”, located on High Street in Oatlands, Tasmania. The garden is fabulous and full of fruit trees.
I thought of stopping here and leaving the café unpainted, but now I think it will be better to paint the entire picture (so many decisions to make)!
There is a gate and rock wall behind the car. The tree will be a good addition too. I’ll have to go back out on location to finish the drawing.
One of many white picket fenced, old cottages found in Tasmania. I sketched this Harbour Master cottage, Circa 1880, while sitting on my three legged fold-up stool on the other side of the road, today.
The Government House hosted a Lunch on the Lawn event today from 12 noon until 2 pm. I arrived at noon and I made my exit at 1pm to package and pack the car for Salamanca Market tomorrow.
The government house is an ornate building and with only an hour to tackle it, I thought I would apply paint first and then draw into it. I was hoping this approach may help to speed up the process, help me draw more loosely and not get too bogged down with the details. I didn’t finish the drawing but I think it did help me to partially achieve the above goals.
My painting/drawing so far
Close up photo of me loosening up. I’m pleased with this because I am stepping out of my comfort zone and approaching drawing in a new manner.
loosely drawing the crenels
My view – the formal entrance to Government House
A different perspective for me, seeing the Tasman Bridge over the Derwent River from the Government House gardens.
This cottage is located in the renowned Arthur Circus, in the suburb of Battery Point, Tasmania. Here’s a link, if you would like to read a little about the history of this special spot. https://batterypointwalk.au/locations/arthur-circus/ I think that this article is a little dated because today a small cottage at this location costs two million plus.
Cottage on famed Arthur Circus, Tasmania
I sat on Arthur Circus’ lawn to draw this cottage. I drew and inked it outside, and then added paint when I was indoors. I think that over the years Arthur Circus’ cottages would have posed for thousands of artists.
The Unfurling Artist: journalising creative journeying 