Christmas Lunch and Sketchout

The Gardens Club is the former Curators Cottage at the Botanic Gardens Brisbane.
In 1855 Walter Hill was appointed as curator of the Botanic Reserve, a position he held until 1881. He began an active planting and experimental program. Some of the older trees planted in the Gardens were the first of their species to be planted in Australia, due to Hill's experiments to acclimatise plants.   The first cultivated macadamia tree is still living there as is the first cultivated Bunya Nut Pine.
By 1866 Hill had succeeded in having the extent of the Botanic Gardens enlarged to approximately 27 acres.  

I did this sketch in my handmade 8" x 7" sketchbook Lamy pen and watercolour..

The following sketches, I did in my Post card pad, while waiting for the ladies to arrive.

Christmas tree in King George Square

I was early for my "Greet" this morning, so I sat at my favourite cfe on the Square and had a go sketching the Christmas Tree.  This tree has different light patterns and is very beautiful at night.  It is totally run by Solar power..

My travel kit

Historic Melbourne Street, South Brisbane.

I sketched with the Brisbane City Sketchers in Melbourne Street this morning.  Melbourne Street is an older street in South Brisbane, and does still have some of the original buildings in it.  

I found a good seat outside Jo-Jo's restaurant.  Jo-Jo's is owned by Stefan Ackerie, one of Queenslands Billionaires, in fact he was one of the first.

My first sketch was looking up Melbourne Street towards the city, in my handmade sketchbook with pen and watercolour.

This is The Bach Living, a homewares store attached to Jo-Jo's it is now owned by the store.

Brisbane City Sketchers at GOMA

It was a wonderful morning, seven of us came out urban sketching, coffee and show and tell was fun!
I was sitting in the GOMA Bistro Cafe looking across river..

Sketched in my watercolour postcard pad, 4" 6" pen and watercolour