Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden

December 16, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

THURSDAY DECEMBER 12 ’13 Hello’ it’s Christy here. Today we were off to sketch ‘Wendy Whiteley’s Garden’, also known as the ‘Secret Garden’.  And the secret is out. This garden, snugly situated in Lavender Bay is  well worth visiting and our group were in for a special day of sketching. There were 3 of us on the ferry from Manly to Luna Park today, where we’d be meeting up with everyone. The ferry ride to the city always feels special […]

Categories: Art, Art to enchant, Harbour action, Out & About Sketch Classes, Public Art, Sketching Holidays, Sketching in Sydney, Travel Sketching, Uncategorized • Tags: Erin Hill, Garden, Luna Park, Sketching, Sydney, Wendy Whiteley

Shoes, Manly Wharf, & Mexican

July 20, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

THURSDAY JULY 18 ’13 First day back to the Studio, still life waiting and sketchbooks poised. For something to get our observation skills tuned up, but not too challenging after a break, we had shoes. Sneakers on one table and ladies shoes on the other. Plus a cacti with one, and soft yellow hibiscus with the other. That was to welcome Penny to our class, and it’s easier to get some simple flower shapes down while learning to visually measure. […]

Categories: Art, Drawings & Sketches, Harbour action, Manly Beach, Manly Sketches, Out & About Sketch Classes • Tags: Manly Beach, Manly Wharf, Sketching, Sydney

The 9.20am Ferry to Sydney

July 7, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

These are the sketches I did each morning on the way to Sydney from the Manly ferry. The first two days we sat up the front, tucked behind the other passengers to keep warm. Blue skies and sunny, but wait till you get out to the heads. Freezing. The third morning we got smart, and headed to the sunny end looking back towards Manly. Slow learners methinks. Fun sketches though. No they are actually not the same passengers! ©ErinHill2013

Categories: Art, Harbour action, Manly Beach, Manly Sketches, Sketching People, Sydney Harbour • Tags: Circular Quay, Ferry, Manly, Sydney, Travel Sketching

Sydney Harbour in all it’s Glory

July 6, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

THURSDAY JULY 4 ’13 Now this day is one out of the box for our last week of Term 2.  We have the most sensational winter days here in Aus. Unless it’s raining. Clear blue skies, sun shining brightly, green leaves budding, water sparkling, coffee and cinnamon wafting from cafes. You do get the picture by now. Most of us headed off on the 9.20am ferry from Manly, some of the others caught the Mosman ferry. Everyone seemed to be […]

Categories: Art, Harbour action, Out & About Sketch Classes, Sketching architecture, Sydney Harbour • Tags: Australia, British Lions Rugby, Circular Quay, Manly, Opera House, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge

Up up and Away for St Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

This is my surprise birthday gift!!! Only trouble is I was busily making other plans for Saturday which absolutely definitely could not be changed. And the surprise was for Saturday. Sunday was St Patrick’s day so I thought I was clear. Not so. Finally when everything looked like it would go pear shaped – the family had to tell me what the surprise was. After a split second I ditched my friends and went with Plan A. As you do! […]

Categories: Harbour action, helicopter over Sydney, Special Occasions • Tags: Aerial views, Saint Patrick's Day

Seashells, Waves & Surfers

March 2, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

It was all about the sea this week. We live next to it so we chose to sketch sea shells, surfers, beaches and boats. THURSDAY FEB 28 ’13 Sea shells are such glorious creations. When you study the fine details you can’t help but be amazed at their designs and shapes. We tried one sketch using just watercolour pencils, and a touch of waterbrush. Then for a second one, line and water-colour with a  bit of white chinagraph pencil scribbled […]

Categories: Art, Beach sketches, Food Sketches, Harbour action, Local Foods, Manly Beach, Sketching, Sketching Beaches, Watercolour Pencils • Tags: Beach Views, Location Sketches, Sketches, Surfing, Watercolor painting

New Year’s Eve Sydney

January 2, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

Not a black line in sight. Pure watercolour sketch. It’s too impossible for me to watch fireworks and sketch. I’m sure there’s a way, and if there is I’ll try to find it. So from my photo reference I present Sydney exploding at Midnight Dec 31 2012. It was a fantastic display – as it always is – and I hope I’ve captured here something of the essence of the night. ©ErinHill2013  

Categories: Art, Bright Colour, Colours of the night, Harbour action, Watercolour Painting • Tags: Fireworks, New Year, New Years Eve, Pyrotechnics, Sketching fireworks, Sydney, Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Hobart Race

December 27, 2012 by Erin Hill Sketching

This is one of the biggest yachting races in the Southern hemisphere. Every Boxing Day yachts as small as 30 metres and up to Super Maxis compete on a 3 day dash from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania. We didn’t get the Christmas day rain but we sure as heck had a huge southerly buster. Every year these adventurous folk get themselves into all weather gear, and hit the ocean to work themselves day and night till they arrive in […]

Categories: Art, Boats, Harbour action, Quick Sketches, Traveling & Sketching • Tags: Boxing Day, Hobart, Sketches, Sydney, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Tasmania

Sunday Sept 30 Sketching. Manly Arts Festival

September 30, 2012 by Erin Hill Sketching

Another amazing day. Blue skies and the feel of a hot summer to come. A lovely keen group for the final of our 3 Manly Arts Festival Sunday Sketches. People with a little experience had three mannequins in different poses to work on.  Those who had no previous sketching that they could recall, had the daises and lavender or the Endeavour. Once everyone was settled and observing their still life setup, came instructions on how to visually measure the height […]

Categories: Beach sketches, Flower Sketches, Harbour action, Life Drawing/Sketching, Sketching Classes, watercolour, Watercolour Pencils • Tags: Beach Views, Composition & Colour, Location Sketches, Manly Cove, Manly Cove Cafe, Travel Sketching