Australian children’s art and craft classes

This is one of the jobs I’ve been working on recently. These classes for little ones are being run by my very talented friend Lisa. They are going to be available to the lucky parents and one to five year olds living in the Northern Beaches area near Sydney. If only we lived in the area I’d have my four year old Xavier booked in immediately. The reason I know that she is so talented is that when my three older children were little, Lisa looked after them in all of her university holidays. It was a delight to be able to work in my studio or visit clients knowing that my children were having such a lovely time with her. She has a magical talent with children and a real understanding of how to encourage their creativity. So if you have children between one and five do yourself a favour, pick up the phone and ring 0413 099 004 and get yourself booked into the classes.

Valerie reclining

45 minutes on Wednesday night.

480mm x 295mm watercolour on watercolour paper

Valerie hugging her knees

250mm x 330mm watercolour on watercolour paper

Valerie leaning

Ten minutes from last night’s life drawing.

220mm x 350mm watercolour on watercolour paper

Valerie sleeping

And another one from last Wednesday – this one took about forty-five minutes.

560mm x 320mm watercolour on watercolour paper

Valerie seated

Another one from Wednesday evening. This took half an hour.
330mm x 440mm watercolour on watercolour paper

Shaggy Blog Stories

Go on, go on, you know you want to buy it. And if you do you’ll be able to enjoy some hilarious blog stories in places where you can’t take your computer, with all of the profits going to UK charity Comic Relief. I submitted a written piece to this, but as a mere sketchblogger, my little offering wasn’t needed amongst the illustrious and very funny pieces by the best and funniest UK bloggers. Next Red Nose Day I’ll get my revenge — you’ll have to draw to get into my book!
The book’s publishers, Lulu.com, have very kindly offered to donate their share of the profits to Comic Relief.

Valerie

A so-so evening. This was the best of the ten-minute sketches. Valerie was a lovely sociable model who seemed really interested in the people drawing her. She’ll be there for the next two sessions and then that’ll be it with this group, as it only runs in the colder months. I shall miss it.

290mm x 210mm watercolour on watercolour paper

No naked ladies this week

My life-drawing sessions are three weeks in a row, followed by one session that’s a lecture or demonstration. So this week try and enjoy the sight of people on trains instead.

A couple of train sketches

A trip up to London today so a lot of drawings of people with their heads bent reading.

200mm x 145 mmin small sketchbook

And a thirty minute one

That is the last of the Donna drawings for now.
470mm x 230mm pencil and watercolour

Will someone please switch off the lights!

The longest pose on Wednesday night, 45 minutes – and yes the lights are a bit of a problem, strong flat overhead lights when many of us would love some kind of directional light.

560mm x 310mm pencil and watercolour

Trees near the Pré Hotel

This is a memory illustration of the trees we drove past yesterday evening. The location is the other side of town but every season the delicacy of the trees always seems to strike a chord. I must go back and record them properly some time instead of thinking ‘How lovely!’ as we drive past at sixty miles an hour.