Wednesday 31 December 2014

Happy New Year!!

Micron pen on sketch paper
This was sketched straight onto the paper in pen - took a bit over an hour. One wouldn't want to build a tractor from this sketch as its innards are very inaccurately depicted and positioned.

After Christmas, we enjoyed spending a relaxing few days in the fishing town of Cervantes.  As well as being a great place for swimming in calm waters, the sheltered bay with its naturally compacted beach sand makes for excellent boat launching conditions. There is no queuing for launching ramps as the whole bay is at the boat launcher's disposal. In the mornings, old tractors jostle alongside modern four-wheel-drives to dispense boats from their trailers in the shallows. Most of the boats had already headed out to sea by the time I arrived at 7.30 in the morning. The weather was perfect for mooching along in the shallows and taking photos .
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I was stunned by the beautiful patterns the light made in the shallow little waves that were lapping on the sand.
 
 
I love the country-town feel of the sandy paths leading from the beach back to the streets. This one led to the caravan park.

 
Late in the afternoon I enjoyed watching the pink and grey galahs milling around in the driveway and decorating the power lines.
 
 
 
Over the past month or so I have been learning how to propagate native plants from cuttings one day a week with the Wildflower Society. During our morning tea breaks I grab one of the successful plants that is now for sale and sketch it. Below are two examples.
 

 
I had intended to paint them when I got home - but somehow I feared spoiling them. I did eventually colour the top one but felt I'd ruined it so I was pleased that I'd photographed it beforehand. I had also intended to paint the tractor sketch but I quite like it left in black and white.
I'm hoping to get back to my acrylics next year.
 
 Speaking of next year - tomorrow - I would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!! May it be joyful, healthy and creative!!
 

23 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photos Wendy, thank you so much for sharing! Your sketches are wonderful, love the one of the tractor!

    Sending you wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

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    1. Thanks so much Debi, A very happy New Year to you too!

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  2. Cervantes is absolutely beautiful - looks incredibly relaxing! :) Love your sketch. Wishing you a happy new year filled with unexpected joys!

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    1. Thanks Alexandra, I look forward to following your blog in 2015 to see the outcome of your lovely children's book illustrations. Happy New Year!

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  3. Dear Wendy - your sketches are wonderful. I especially enjoyed seeing the tractor - looks like home to me. So glad you had some time to relax and celebrate the holidays. Wishing you a blessed New Year. So glad we met and have become friends. Looking forward to many more visits with you in 2015. Hugs

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    1. Thanks so much Debbie, I have valued our correspondence over the year and look forward to continuing our friendship in 2015! Happy New Year!

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  4. Happy New Year!!! Wonderful sketch of the tractor! I'm impressed with your direct in ink sketching. Great photos too!

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    1. You are very kind Joan! I love the overview you posted of 2014! Happy New Year!!

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  5. Hi Wendy and a Happy New Year!
    I do enjoy your ink sketches and happy you continue to post them.
    I find the tractors towing boats down to the sea amusing for some reason! I don't think I have ever seen that.

    Keep inking...

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    1. Thanks David, yes it is a strange sight when you first see it.
      I was thinking of you when I saw a contrail in the sky over this fishing town!
      A very Happy New Year to you too! I intend to catch up on your blog directly!!

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  6. Happy New Year Wendy! I remember seeing those birds in April but we didn't know what they were called. Alexander is still sorting out this whole Christmas-in-summer deal. Looks like you had a great break and your drawings are great. I see you aren't doing the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I just don't have time this January. But I might do it in March...maybe. :)

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  7. Thanks Shawna! Yes, I feel life has been way too busy of late to take on the 30 day challenge right now - I admire those who are able to embrace it so soon after the festive season! You certainly pulled out all stops with your last painting marathon!! I hope your son managed to enjoy the hot Christmas!
    Happy New Year!!

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  8. What a beautiful place to spend the holidays! And your photos are so good! The pen drawings are excellent, Wendy. I hope you do more work with pen, I really like how you contour and shade so well. That's one of the hardest things about pen drawing, to me.

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    1. Thanks so much Katherine, your comments are very kind! I do hope to continue with working in pen and also hope to return to acrylics as I am missing them. I've so enjoyed following your blog in 2014 and look forward to the wonderful creations you come up with in 2015!

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  9. Happy New Year Wendy -- a beautiful post and wonderful drawings. It is colder than cold here. Your photos warmed me up!

    XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

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  10. Thanks Barbara, Happy New Year to you! I'm glad my photos warmed you up! I love your start to the new year - such a great ink portrait!

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  11. Bonjour chère amie,

    Merci pour vos bons voeux ! A mon tour je vous souhaite plein de bonnes choses pour 2015 !...
    J'aime beaucoup l'esquisse de ce tracteur ! Je suis certaine que mis en couleurs il sera extraordinaire !

    Vos photos sont magnifiques et comme j'aimerais me trouver au bord de l'eau ... juste pour rĂŞver !

    Gros bisous ♡

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  12. Thank you for such a wonderful post. I love the tracter! Nice lines! I would never know that you did not draw the innards correctly. Once again, I loved going on my little Australian field trip with Wendy! Happy New Year!

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  13. What a wonderful way to spend you holiday, great sketches, that tractor must have been difficult ! Wish you a very Happy New Year !

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  14. Hi Wendy,
    so lovely to while along the beach with you in your photos, you sure do live in a most beautiful part of the world, to have that splendour to wander in. I love your black and white tractor sketch, it looks great as it is for sure. That would be very enjoyable to learn about propogating native plants, it satisfying to grow something and watch it multiply. Will you plant them in your own garden/yard? this past year I gardened my butt off in prep for Holly's wedding in our garden, but this new year I'm going to concentrate more on natives as they are more suited to the conditions, and I wont have to work as hard watering! .Happy New Year, I hope you had a good holiday and celebrations.

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  15. Ola Wendy! I so love your tractor sketch! I am thrilled you did it straight onto the paper with no pencil! Great character and wonderful art! I think going right on the paper like you did adds so much excitement and pizazz to a great pen and ink! Very "Wendyish!" Also love your other sketches and photographs! Love all your photos helps me get such a wonderful appreciation of Australia! Oh, I am glad you didn't add color to the ink sketches. Pen and black ink stand well on their own! Good luck returning to acrylics! Would love to see photos of your plants as they grow? Also a huge wish for a fantastic off the charts great New Year full of great art and health for you, your friends, and family!
    Michael

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  16. Hi Wendy. Love the tractor and the plants. I still have no idea how you manage to sketch directly with a pen on paper. I couldn't do it. The photos look fabulous. Strange to see Christmas in the sun and on the beach but what heaven perhaps. Though it hasn't been too bad here weather wise recently. The social gardening sessions sound fun. Great for the health on many levels. Anyway must dash. Chat to you soon. Take care. xx

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  17. Beautiful sketches and photos Wendy! I wish you a new year filled with many great adventures and creativity!

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