Purple Jacarandas and Green Trees

November 2, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

THURSDAY OCTOBER 31 ’13 Hello’ it’s Christy here. Erin would be joining us a little later this morning, and so to get started I met with the sketchers at the studio before heading to the first sketching point, the Jacaranda tree nestled in a side road across from the studio. We had a cheerful lot today, 9 in total, as we headed for the Jacaranda tree, which we found standing proudly in all it’s purple glory. This particular tree, if […]

Categories: Art, Out & About Sketch Classes, Sketching Cafes, Sketching Flowers, Sketching Gardens, Sketching in Manly, Travel Sketching, Uncategorized • Tags: Color, Jacaranda, Paint, Sketch, Sydney, Watercolor painting

Seashells & Sunlotion, The Wharf in Chinagraph

August 10, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

THURSDAY AUG 8 ’13 Are those raindrops on the windows? Are those rainclouds on the horizon? Are those puddles I see on the pavement? Well guess what!  Rain never hurt anyone, least of all sketchers. Today’s warmup sketch was to be a Fijian moment, with Sunhat, sunscreen, Hibiscus and seashells, and what better day to do just that. Umbrellas were shaken and left damply in a corner, and smiles appeared at our sunny still lifes. People happily started, still remembering […]

Categories: Art, Boats, Mixed Media, Out & About Sketch Classes, Sketching techniques, Sydney Harbour, Travel Sketching • Tags: Hibiscus, Manly Wharf, Sketch, Travel Sketching, Watercolor painting, Wharf

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

Sketching demos – watercolour & white space

January 8, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

Usually the demo sketches stay in my sketchbook. These are 2 from a recent lesson which I thought showed my use of layers of watercolour. In other words not pre-mixed in the lid of the paint box. These two were done as the client was sketching the same views/setups. They are done incredibly fast as I’m explaining what I’m doing as I go. Hence the loose look. Just what I want. Less is more as they say. I love to […]

Categories: Art, Bright Colour, Food Sketches, Manly Beach, Painting Techniques, Sketching Beaches, watercolour • Tags: Color, Jacaranda, Paint, Sketch, Watercolor painting, White paper

Student Sketches

January 4, 2013 by Erin Hill Sketching

It’s always very rewarding for me when class members so enjoy their sketching that they send me email and text images of them. Here are some for you to enjoy……… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… August 23 ’14. Two more sketches from Therese in those chilly Arctic regions on her Canadian cruise. I’m sure the 11am champagne loosened up your sketching arm and we are delighted to see these from so far away. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. August 8 ’14. From Therese away on her Canada adventure, […]

Categories: Art, Flower Sketches, Landscapes, Line & Watercolour, Sketching Beaches, Sketching Flowers, Uncategorized • Tags: Beach Views, Line drawing with Watercolour, Sketch, Sketches, Sri Lanka, Travel Sketching, Watercolor painting

Friday August 3rd. Pages, Hibiscus and Trees

August 3, 2012 by Erin Hill Sketching

It was 8 degrees first thing, but by start of Friday’s class was 18 degrees. A magnificent blue and sunny day. Perfect for what we had planned. For 2 new sketchers, it was good to have a flower still life to try. For others who had a previous class or two up their sleeves,  they could choose flowers or the books. Each of these sketches were a joy, both to themselves and the class. Both groups had to complete sketches […]

Categories: Art, Flower Sketching, Plein air painting, Sketching Classes, watercolour, Watercolour Pencils • Tags: art, Friday, Location Sketches, Sketching Plein Air, Watercolor painting

Tiny Travel Watercolour Set

September 26, 2011 by Erin Hill Sketching

This shows a similar travel size watercolour set to mine, which I’m so passionate about – which I bought in San Francisco a year or so back. If I’d had a spare minute I’d have sketched this one for you. Please forgive me in my excitement. A mere photo! I hadn’t seen any as small in Australia, but had seen larger ones at outrageous amounts. So when people asked where to get one like mine, I felt I should find […]

Categories: Art, Art Materials, Line & Watercolour, Sketching Locations, Watercolour Painting • Tags: Quick Watercolours, Watercolor painting, Watercolour Travel Sets