Sydney Skies

Photos taken in Sydney a couple of weeks ago.  Blue and lots of grey… for Skywatch

and Creative Every Day (please scroll down all the way to the bottom).

Blue above the Town Hall

Grey over Skyview Observation Wheel

And more grey…

Still grey…

Skywatch

View from our hotel window… more grey with a bit of blue showing…

The same building as the previous image, with an artistic impression of a bluish sky…

Creative Every day

Happy New Year!

Sydney Hyde Park

These photos were taken in Sydney Hyde Park a few weeks ago. It’s a very green place and a lovely place to go to for a walk and/or people watching.

The War Memorial reflected in a pool of water…

Watery Wednesday: click on the link for more watery post.

This guy making huge bubbles is a hit with kids. See next photo.

The surface is just beautiful…

I pity this poor birdie, which has to live with the huge tag. This poor guy was the only one amongst the ibis with a number!

A section of Sandringham Gardens in the park

Have a nice week.

Maiko (apprentice Geisha)

Evelyn Howard, Acrylics, 12 x 16"

I am taken back to my time in Kyoto with this painitng. This beautiful maiko in her early teens was dancing with another on stage. They were both very graceful and it was a beautiful performance. A few days later, I saw a geisha in a taxi. She was probably on her way to work. Although I could only see part of her, I thought she looked very poised. And very distant.



I am intrigue. I wonder about about the individuals behind the costumes and make-up...



Creative Every Day

Christmassy in Sydney

 

It was very busy when I was in Sydney last week. People were busy shopping and it felt very festive. Here are some Christmassy photos I took around the city.

I saw many girls and boys selling reindeer headgear (?) to raise funds (above). The headgears were tied around their waists, making them look as if they were wearing green and red skirts.

  At the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), the Christmas tree reaches from the ground level to the top.

The top of the tree is adorned with a star. And the tree trunk is covered with crystals. The tree is made of lots and lots of Swarovski crystals and lights. If you are interested, here’s more info on the tree, plus a video on how the tree was built.

(The QVB is a gorgeous building – I will share more photos later)

At the Strand Arcade, the glitz of their Christmas decoration is overwhelming.

A Berry Christmas tree…

And Christmas wreaths

At the Rocks, the stall holder joins in the spirit of Christmas with a Santa hat… He had a free moment, so he checked the details of the night’s Christmas party on his phone.

Out in the streets, monkeys wear hats too, but one has lost his already… and it’s not even Christmas yet!

The Town Hall has a Christmas tree on its first floor balcony… It rained quite heavily one afternoon. I wonder about the state of the tree after the rain.

The train station is looking Christmassy too.

4 more sleeps to go :). Hope you are having fun baking/cooking and planning for Christmas.

Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Scooter

I have been inspired by Linda's lovely paintings, so I got out my paints recently. I was unsure if I was going to finish it - I've never finished something this big - so I waited until now to share... I will be looking at it for a little while before I decide if it's finish...

Evelyn Howard, Acrylics, 36" x 24"

Creative Every Day

Sydney photos

I was in Sydney the last few days, catching up with friends and taking photos.  I cannot remember how tiring it is being a tourist!

This photo is taken at Darling Harbour. It’s a busy place. Even without people, this photo looks busy… Please visit James for weekend reflections photos.

Another photo taken in Darling Harbour. So much to look at! There is a bridge below the monorail. This makes me think of the Simpsons episode on monorail! Have you seen it?

Visit Louis on Sunday for Sunday Bridges.

I was in Circular Quay yesterday, and I saw this machine pumping out snow and giant snowflakes in front of Customs House. Many people stopped to look. The kids were thrilled, and the scene made me smile. It is feeling like Christmas time :).

Chatting over coffee

2 sketches completed while I was out drawing with my firiend.



The weather was not superb, so we went to a cafe. We found a table, placed our food orders and settled in to draw. In the midst of drawing my coffee cup, I got distracted. I spotted these 2 ladies engaged in conversation (above). They were talking for a while so I drew them too.



At another location, I decided to draw my friend. She was the perfect model because she was so focused on drawing her subject that she did not move for a while. She was not even aware that I was drawing her.

 

I am currently away from my computer, and will catch up with all the happenings in a few days. I hope you are having a nice week.

Unloved playground...

This is a section of a playground. It is made of wood and unpainted, except for the little bit of black on the top of some of the posts. It's out in the country, with lush green fields on 2 sides. It faces the sea and is stituated next to a lovely cafe. It's got a fantastic location, and it blends in with the environment.



I love it... but it just doesn't work. I've never saw it being used. I saw a family with 2 kids (probably around 5 years old) crossing the playground. The kids did not stop to climb or to swing. No one plays here. No one loves this almost monotonal place.



I think of playgrounds I see in the city. I see kids and Moms. What also comes to mind is colours. Often loud colours. Often distasteful combination of colours...

Irish reflections

Galway reflection

When it got darker…

Lahinch reflection of a building.

I can’t remember the name of this town, where we stopped for a rest on the way from Galway to Dingle.

Another view of the sweet town.

Hope you are having a happy weekend. Visit James at Weekend Reflections for more photos.

Tree Sketches

 

A fun sketch.

(In case you are wondering... that horizontal line on top is the middle seam of my sketch book)

 

Another one... should have put a koala on this tree...

Hope you are having a nice week.

Creative Every Day

Web of Whimsy

Update: 

Thanks Diane for your comment. Check out this link for a photo of  tap coming out of an real tree.

Kitchen sketches

A couple of quick sketches in the kitchen... 

Soap dispenser and cloth. I enjoyed drawing the metallic surface... I could have done more with the cloth but...

Coffee or tea? I don't own a teapot, but I do have a rather under-utilised plunger.


Creative Every Day

Irish memories

Old bridge at Lahinch, Ireland for Sunday Bridges

When in Ireland, don’t forget to look out for leprechauns (specially for Kaori)

As you can see, they can be rather naughty

Look up and see what you find

Are you still looking up?

 

Don’t miss the colourful houses, with colourful doors

Seek out interesting bits here…

and there…

Scenic Sunday

Biscuit with jam

Thank goodness I've eaten, or I would not be able to finish this piece.

If you think there is something familar about this, you are right. I drew the background some weeks ago, and uploaded it here.



Have a lovely and creative weekend.



Creative Every Day.