Cygnet Cinema Como

Down in Como this morning with the plein air painting group, outside the Cygnet Cinema on Preston Street, built in 1938 and originally named the “Como Theatre” it’s a great example of Art Deco styling with a nautical theme. An ocean liner ready to raise steam….port hole windows, tubular handrails and a curving bow at one end, all in a delicate shade of pink! I drew out the perspective lines in pencil first as it was a complex structure (the curve and the fact that the building is set on a hillside sloping down to the river). Inked over with De Atramentis waterproof black then having erased the pencil, I went for it with watercolour in my trusty Pentel waterbrushs (broad and fine). The pink colour was a particular challenge, especially as I’d parked myself on a street bench in full sunshine which dried paint on the palette very quickly.

This second drawing is a quick ink sketch from the other side of the building looking up the street. I really love the mural of Alfred Hitchcock painted on the side of the wall, I haven’t really captured his haughty look, and some perspective is rather “off”, but it was fun scribbling.

Not a self portrait!

 This is an acrylic painting from last term….a studio painting class at Fremantle School of Art. The teacher wanted everyone to paint a self-portrait but I’ve done a few of those before and wanted to do something different. I’d had my eye on this sheeps skull on the shelf for a few weeks so opted to paint it instead. It was quite a challenge as it was really mostly cream in colour, only reflected light from the maroon walls and blue light from the window gave any sense of shape…plus the second week was very overcast making the skull very flat so I had to guess colour and form.

Cottesloe Beach

A stroll along Cottesloe Beach yesterday in the winter sun, this is the “OBH” (Ocean Beach Hotel) on the sea front at Cottesloe as seen from the groyne with the pylon in the foreground. The pylon was originally built in 1935 with the intention of installing a shark net to protect the beach, but the net was short lived although the concrete spike remains (has been restored a few times after battering winter storms).

 

 

These are the two seafront cafes at North Cottesloe – “Barchetta” and  “The Blue Duck” which have fabulous views of the Indian Ocean although the food is rather expensive.

 

 

This was painted with my new “micro” painting kit – an Altoids tin with 14 half pans in one side and a small mixing area in the lid (spray painted white), one waterbrush and a lamy safari pen (not pictured) with De Atramentis Archive Ink black. The paper is a Holcroft brand A6 “sketch and draw diary” with 225gsm paper

Bocelli’s Espresso Monday morning

 

An unscheduled trip into the city today…time for a quick coffee before catching the train home. Stopped at Bocelli’s Espresso Cafe in Forrest Place, not been here before, seemed fairly quiet… but then it was a damp Monday morning. Sketched some of the patrons who all seemed to have time to spare, tourists and retirees….

Getting more confident drawing people facing me….I have a lot of “back of head” drawings! The best ones are those who are so deep in conversation they never look at the world around them… leaving me to scribble un-noticed.

 

Lamy Safari Fine Fountain pen, De Atramentis black archive ink, various watercolours with Pentel waterbrush

Lonely Chimney Stack (Kalgoorlie to Ora Banda)

This is a watercolour sketch painted from a photo I took earlier this year of a lone chimney stack somewhere on an dirt road between Kalgoorlie and Ora Banda. It was part of an abandoned mine, maybe the house or an office – there were a few building outlines in red brick together with water tanks, old tin cans and wire. No name on the track to give any history…..a mystery…..

De Atramentis Black ink, watercolours: quin burnt scarlet, winsor yellow, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, raw sienna, white gouache. Pentel waterbrush broad and fine points. Quill 125 gsm paper

Easy Chair

10 minute sketch of an easy chair in the living room waiting for a customer…. lamp stand at the ready for the night owl….

Sailor fude fountain pen, De Atramentis black ink, Quill 125gsm paper

Acrobats and Children at Point Walter

 

A peaceful and sunny winters day down at Point Walter (Bicton) sitting on the grass in front of the Swan river. Families with young children on a day off from kindy plus a group of five athletic young people practicing their acrobatics – balancing on each others legs and arms…great strength, balance and poise.

 

Sailor Fude fountain pen (De Atramentis Document Ink), watercolours – permanent rose, raw sienna, cobalt blue, burnt sienna, ultramarine, large, winsor red, pentel waterbrush.