Itinerary!

Ok here is the proposed meet up points and approximate times.

I have adjusted this from the original a little just because of the expected temperature on Saturday.

Of course you don't need to stick to this! create your own route and let us know what you see!

Beginning at ...
10am - State Library of Victoria
(Cnr Swanston & Latrobe sts)
Look out for Architecture, Ned Kelly, Statues, Trams, People!

then perhaps some lunch at ...
12noon - Victoria Markets (Cnr Elisabeth & Victoria Sts)
Look out for Food, Buskers, Spruikers, Animals.

need a change of scene? onto...
1.30pm - Bourke St Mall (Cnr Bourke & Elisabeth)
Look out for Buskers, Shoppers, Trams, Architecture.

And then wander though some of Melbourne’s laneways...
Maybe grab a coffee or check out the zines at Sticky in the Degraves St subway before making your way to...

2.30pm - Federation Square
Get cool at the NGV, Look out for that big train station and the large public space across the road, rowers on the yarra,

And then the strong of constitution may continue onto Southbank or Chinatown to round out your day!

If you get lost and want to re-group call Janice on 0404 240 602

Non-sketching Sketchers

Inspired by Tina-m i have been inviting non-sketching sketchers on the crawl to explore the other artistic aspects of the word sketch.
I've been encouraging people to explore the non drawing aspects of the word; so we are inviting poets, prosesters, photographers and videographers to join us in documenting the day in melbourne.
I have already heard from one writer who will be joining us and would like to have a chat with a few of you about her long essay on Melbourne.
Also there will be a few zinesters who are not frantically getting ready for the hawthorn fair who may join us.
Can't wait to see you there!

Susan Wald at Ochre Gallery

Hello Sketchcrawlers!
Just a very quick update. I have just walked in the door from meeting Helen and Michael at Ochre Gallery, their current exhibition is the Figure work of Susan Wald.

Why I'm telling you you must go see it is twofold; 1. the exhibtiion is easily two thirds sketches and 2. they have two of Susan's sketchbooks on display which you may respectfully flick through.

So get up, get out, and see some art this weekend!

Ochre gallery is open 11-5 on weekends and is easily accessed by catching the 109 tram from the city and getting off at wellington st/tribeca.

Please Visit their website for more details http://www.ochregallery.com/

(I would have an image but there seems to be none about on the web- take my word for it and go!)

My kits.

Here are the two kits I use on a day to day basis;
The very basic kit;
Sketchbook: in this case a small moleskine
Waterbrush
Staedtler pigment liner 0.05
and a pallete made from scribbling my caran d'ache water soluble crayons onto some sheer heaven.



And the more comprehensive kit, I will most likely have this type of setup with me on the crawl.

Containing:
Sketchbook: one I made myself shown here
Travel paint kit: gouache pans in a vintage tobacco tin
Pens: in my fantastic stand up pencil case I carry a variety of drawing implements and water brushes.

I'm a little obsessed with Sketch kits and drawing implements, for details of my obsession visit my personal blog or my flickr

The Creativity kit.

Well I've heard from a wonderfully diverse group of people who hope to join us on our crawl, writers, photographers, journallers and artists all of whom will seek to capture something unique about the day.

I thought I'd write to you today about the Things one might bring with you on a sketchcrawl. As i am an artist of the visual persuasion I'll focus on those tools but I'm sure Writers and photographers have their own creativity kits which they carry with them.

Your Sketchbook
Now sketchbooks are very personal things, some of us carry the trusty Moleskine, some of us love a Black hardbound book like a Daler-rowney, others like a spiral bound book and a few of us like to make our own. Whatever takes your fancy you local art shop has a large range!
Of course if the Blank page is too intimidating then feel free to find an unloved paperback, phone book or magazine and graffiti it's pages with your impressions of the day.

Your Pen(cil)
From Sharpies to fountain pens your tool of choice is as individual as you are. need to loosen up? grab the chunkiest marker you can find or cut your pencil into a chisel for a wonderfully thick and thin contrast. (check out Asnee on flickr for wonderful examples)

For a line I like the the staedler pigment liner for it's waterproofness and the fact that it comes in an ultra thin 0.05.

Why do I need waterproof? well that brings me to...

Paints
An entirely optiononal extra is adding colour to your art, I have tins of solid paints, some created from tins collected from that tin guy at st kilda and filled with half pans of goauche and water colour, others repurposed lolly tins and toy painting kits and teamed with a pentel waterbrush make for a wonderful travel kit of colour.

Another way to add colour is with watercolour pencils or even watersoluble crayons; like caran d'ache neocolors.

Essentials
Of course there are some essentials for a day outside, sunscreen and a hat are pretty much up there with a pen and paper for a sketchcrawl. if melbourne turns out a day like last saturday it would be awful to be a lobster by 3pm.

Bottled water is also a handy thing, keep yourself hyrdated, remember you are responsible for your self, no one is going to mother you and tell you to put suncreen on and drink more water on the day, we'll all be too busy drawing!

Optionals

A sketching or camping stool (soemthing you will want to carry around all day)
Camera (unless youa re a photographer and then, well let's not pretend we have to tell you)

My advice
Carry only things you will be happy to carry all day. I'm an "everything including the kitchen sink kind of girl" but I'll put together my kit in the next few days and show you just how little I will be bringing! I spent saturday sketching at the children's farm in collingwood and I can tell you standing surrounded by people encourages you to be minimalist in your approach to tools.

best of luck!
See you all on the 25th!
janice

One month to go!

Well we are just one month out from the big day - the murmers of response are starting to solidify and word is spreading throughout the appropriate communities.

I thought it was time to give people somewhere to sign up so i have created an event on facebook
If you use facebook join in and rsvp - if you don't feel free to let us know you are coming by leaving a comment below!

Facebook event - http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=28823697662

Inspiration

If you are looking for inspiration check out Mike Utzon Popov's Exhibition at Australian Gallery's Works on paper gallery
His large scale drawings are segmented and an inspiration to anyone looking to see the world around them in a slightly different way.