Saturday, 2 May 2015

Short but Sweet in Melbourne



 
                                                Flinders Street Station  13cm x 19cm
                                                                   pen on paper

 
 
This week a spur of the moment opportunity arose to accompany my husband on a business trip to Melbourne for two nights. Once he'd left for work the morning after our evening arrival, I trotted off to catch a tram into the city centre. I had been very pleased that fellow art blogger Helen Cooper was able to meet up with me at very short notice. I have admired her work for quite some time and it was wonderful to be able to meet up with her in person. She is such a lovely person and we had a great day together, first we indulged ourselves with tea and cake at the Hopetoun Tearooms in the Block Arcade. I was lucky to get photos before too many people were around. When I visited Melbourne in summer a few years ago there were long lines waiting to get a seat and hordes of people taking photos of the cake display.


 
 The Block arcade was built in the 1890s and its wonderful character has been retained throughout the years.


 
Helen showed me around town for a bit and then we made our way to the art gallery. I was pleased that the wonderful display of handmade poppies remained from the Anzac commemorations from the previous Saturday.
 
 
 
 The gallery was hosting the WW1 Centenary Exhibition

 
http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whatson/the-ww1-centenary-exhibition/
which was very moving to see and then we enjoyed viewing the general painting collections. I particularly love seeing the Heidelberg School impressionist paintings.

We had a very late lunch in one of the cafes in the Block Lane which feels very European. It was so nice to have Helen's company for the day.

 
I did my sketch of Flinders Street Station the next day when I sallied forth alone. Afterwards I visited a lovely haberdashery shop in one of the old arcades and then trotted up to the Victoria markets.
 

 
There is a lot of character amongst the modern in Melbourne. By early afternoon it was time to head back to the hotel to meet up with my husband and make our way to the airport for the flight home.



 
It was SO cold in Melbourne - real winter weather in the mid-teens Celsius. Perth has been getting a bit cooler but it had been in the high 20sC exactly one week before I flew to Melbourne. Having to wear a scarf and boots was quite a contrast to the previous week when I had my last swim at the beach for the season. I had bought myself a cup of coffee and a piece of cake from the surf club kiosk and made the most of the beautiful weather before the autumn temperatures arrived (which they now have!)
 





 





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24 comments:

  1. Laura3 May 2015 at 01:54

    Great sketch Wendy. Love your drawing style. I think I would have been tempted by those beautiful looking cakes. Glad you had a good day. Take care. xx

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:31

      Thanks Laura! I love what you've been doing lately with your sketching and watercolours - very inspiring!
      I gave in to temptation and had a delicious slice of lemon tart!

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  2. Kaethe Bealer3 May 2015 at 05:30

    Loved your post Wendy! I always feel like I took a trip when you write about your experiences. Your sketch is awesome! How long does it take you? It looks so detailed! It was wonderful to hear that you got to meet up with a fellow artist, as well. The Internet has opened social door ways that otherwise would have stayed shut.

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:35

      You are too kind Kaethe! This sketch took around 45 minutes but as is the way when totally engrossed, it only felt like 5 minutes. I began it at 10.00am and it was 10.15am when I did the first clock and then it was 10.45 when I was all but finished and completed the second clock. I enjoyed depicting the time that was current as I was drawing them which is why they are different.
      Yes, it was so much fun meeting up with Helen - she is so interesting and was a great companion for the day.

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  3. Loree3 May 2015 at 12:20

    Lovely photos of the sea and of Melbourne. The Tearooms sound like my idea of heaven. I can never resist a piece of cake.

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:36

      Thank you Loree. Often I can resist a piece of cake (wish I could say the same for chocolate!) but on this occasion I couldn't - and I didn't regret it for a minute!

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  4. Joan Tavolott3 May 2015 at 13:29

    Looks like you had a lovely time in Melbourne and how great to meet a fellow blogger too! Great detail to your sketch of the station! Thanks for sharing photos of the places you went...and then those dreamy beach scenes too.

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:38

      Thanks so much Joan! Yes, it really was such a great little interlude to get away for a couple of nights! Looking forward to catching up on your blog very soon!

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  5. Unknown3 May 2015 at 20:01

    Dear Wendy,
    What a delightful post. I enjoyed reading and seeing all your wonderful pictures of Melbourne. I spent so much time there( shopping and art gallery hopping) when I lived in Point Lonsdale in 2001. Seeing your beautiful sketch of Flinders St. Station took me right back there too. great job on that. How lovely to meet a blog friend while travelling! The arcade tea room looks absolutely scrumptious!

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:43

      Thanks Sally! You must have wonderful memories of your time spent in Australia so I'm glad my post helped you relive some of them! I haven't seen much of country Victoria and haven't been to Point Lonsdale but I imagine it is a lovely place. Yes, it was so nice to meet up with Helen we had such a great day together!

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  6. Debbie Nolan4 May 2015 at 16:10

    Dear Wendy - your sketch is superb! All that architecture really comes alive in your work. So glad you had fun too in Melbourne. Hard to believe you are now wearing coat and boots. What a change from the beach days. This was a great post and I so enjoyed seeing this beautiful city through the lens of your camera. Glad to see you too! Hugs

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:46

      Thanks so much Debbie, yes, we are back to wearing boots and scarves, but we had a few unseasonably warm days just last week where if I'd had the time I could have had a swim at the beach! VERY strange weather!

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  7. Celia Blanco5 May 2015 at 13:09

    Hi Wendy, your sketch is wonderful! Melbourne looks like a fun place to visit and I am happy you were able to visit with your friend. Thanks for sharing your photos...wish I could have a piece of the delicious looking cakes!!

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:48

      Hi Celia, Thank you! Yes, Melbourne is a very dynamic city and is a lot of fun to visit. It was wonderful to catch up with Helen and enjoy the tearoom together. Yes, those cakes are to die for!

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  8. Karen Johnston Daily Paintings6 May 2015 at 15:35

    Love the sketch Wendy, you manage to get the detail but it still looks lovely and loose! I enjoyed looking at these photos of Melbourne, it looks like a wonderful vibrant place! I hope to visit there as soon as I can.

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:49

      Thanks so much Karen. Yes, you would love Melbourne and it would be great for you and Helen to get a chance to meet up again. Maybe on your next visit to Oz? I hope you will get back to Perth again too!

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  9. David Teter11 May 2015 at 02:36

    Hi Wendy,
    Great drawing! So well placed on the page. I like the line quality of that searching kind of line. I enjoy the photos too. Since I have never been to Australia it gives me some idea of what it is like there.
    And you have done 5 children's books! Are these recent?

    Keep up the Drawing...

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 18:56

      Hi David, I'm glad you like the drawing! I did have to think very carefully about where to make my first mark to ensure I could fit it in as I only had a very small sketch pad.
      These children's books were published some time ago now by a Melbourne publisher. I hope to do some more children's books in the future. I'm looking forward to catching up on your blog and hope your exhibition is going well. I haven't had so much time lately for checking out blogs and am missing it!

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  10. José Antonio Sánchez Rumí14 May 2015 at 22:56

    Hello Wendy;
    Very nice and interesting story of photos, I really like the pencil work, apart from my watercolors on my other blog the drawing I usually practice also, it is the basis of everything.
    Congratulations.
    Best regards.

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    1. Wendy Barrett17 May 2015 at 19:07

      Hello Jose, thanks so much! I'm glad you like the post. Yes, I agree that drawing is crucial in art.
      I look forward to catching up on your blog very soon!

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  11. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com25 May 2015 at 07:33

    Hi Wendy. I don't know how I missed this post. Glad I came a'lookin!
    Your sketches are always brilliant and I enjoyed seeing the city through your eyes. It is rather British is some ways. More traditional than I expected.
    The poppies must have been a stunning sight. 5,000 of them.
    Neat to see you met a fellow blogging artist. Last year I met two and it was lovely. I have become very close to one and am seeing her again, soon.
    Your beach is beautiful. I could walk along by the water, very happily!
    Hope you are painting/drawing away!

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  12. Wendy Barrett26 May 2015 at 05:45

    Thanks so much for visiting Julie! You are very kind! Yes, there is some very traditional architecture in Australia along with the modern. I have highlighted some of the more characterful places in this post - I have a penchant for old-fashioned tea-rooms and the like.
    Yes, it was a lot of fun to catch up with Helen. I'm pleased to hear that you've also had the opportunity to meet up with some fellow bloggers.
    I'm doing more writing than painting lately but hope the balance will change soon once I finish the book I am working on.
    Love your paintings!!

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  13. Unknown5 June 2015 at 18:07

    Your pen drawing is fantastic! And what a wonderful trip you had! Thanks for sharing the photos and the information. Add this to one of the places I'd love to visit!

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    1. Wendy Barrett7 June 2015 at 07:09

      Thanks so much Katherine! I hope you do get to Australia some day!!

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