Summer Umbrellas

These are six A5 drawings done from photos that I've taken over a couple of years, mostly from my car window when stopped at traffic lights or the side of the road, or while my husband was driving. I've always loved the sight of these women walking along with their umbrellas shielding them from the hot sun and wanted to sketch them - but they're moving, and I'm moving and it's been a bit impossible. So when I was thinking what to do for the Night of a 1000 Drawings charity event I decided to pull out my blurry photos and make a little series to donate. I kind of want to keep them now, but too late - they're on their way to the big night on Thursday. It's summer though, and there'll be plenty more bright umbrellas bobbing along pavements for another little - or big - series!

St John's College

Not many kilometres away, but a million miles in other respects from the graffiti, vendors, noise and smells of Newtown, are the hallowed grounds of St John's College, a prestigious private school where three of us went sketching on Saturday. With historic stone Herbert Baker buildings arranged around immaculate gardens and sports fields, every direction we looked held another perfect scene waiting for our attention. In fact - apart from having a quick look at the north side, where the wind was blowing and school buildings far too imposing and intimidating to draw - I didn't stir from my first chosen spot in the shade (on a steaming hot Spring day) in the David Quad, just turning to face front, left and up!

I took ink, dip pens and an array of sharpened sticks, determined to try and sketch in the medium of Kiah Kiean, whose work about brings tears to my eyes it's so beautiful. Of course mine is nothing like it, as it should (or shouldn't) be, but I enjoyed the different lines and unexpected results, in spite of my attempts to control them. An organist practising in the chapel nearby, over and over and OVER again was the only slightly jarring note after an hour or two, but I took it as a lesson - practice practice practice!