Train Monster

 You might sense some hostility in the picture. Trains are usually a lot of fun. Usually. Here are some of my not-so-great experiences coming back from Phillip Island.  A week ago, the return train ended before my town, and I was stranded at night. I slept in the local park, on a board walk lookout. I had my sleeping bag and travel mattress so no biggie. The next day the linking coach ('train replacement') driver refused to take my bike and I had to wait for the next bus which had a different driver and allowed my bicycle on no problemo. In both cases there was heaps of room for bikes in the underneath compartment.  

This last trip I thought I had just narrowly got that late train that would go through to my Gippsland destination, but I could not open the doors and it left without me. Unbelievable! There was no station man to make sure passengers had no problems. I ended up getting another train which did not get to my destination. Instead I stayed with a cousin who lived halfway there. Next morning I had a few hours to wait for the train.

  The bonus though is that the last train trip did not cost me a cent as I had a free Seniors card return ticket. Even the ferry ride was free on the weekend trip. Why don't I drive? Well, because fuel is expensive and driving is boring. I can't draw while I drive. And I wouldn't meet half the people I meet. I haven't met any octopus monsters yet, except metaphorically.

Cowes Foreshore

 Here is another sketch from my recent trip to Phillip Island, Victoria. This is the first beach you would come to if you came off the ferry from Stony Point, as I did. I had some time to kill whilst waiting for the next ferry to leave the island. I did another sketch with that park bench with two elderly ladies who were pals, and one was from Queensland. they bought the picture so I can't show it here.

Grossard Cedar Tree, Ventnor, Phillip Island

 This is the second time I have drawn this magnificent cedar, one of the first European trees on Phillip Island. it has heroically withstood the ravages of ocean winds whilst sheltering Captain Grossards' lonely grave.

Grossard Lookout, Ventnor

 This is one of my recent pictures of Phillip Island.

Cowes Phillip Island, A View From The Hill

 There is a hill that overlooks the Cowes beach. It has pine trees, picnic tables and gas barbeques. It is a good place to perch to have a rest from 30 C heat and to draw a few pictures. I sat at a picnic table the same time a Malaysian family resident in Melbourne came there to have a picnic. I was astonished when the younger woman produced a box of packets of biscuits and chocolate bars and gave me a handful of them. When I drew my picture I included one of the men looking at the beach. They took a photo of my picture, and the intellectually impaired older boy insisted my picture taken with him.

  In the two-page picture the magnificent trees are on one side, but I have scanned the drawing as two pictures.

   

Trains, Jetties, Ferries & Bicycles

 A few days ago I put my bike, with camping gear, on the train and headed to Stony Point to get the ferry to Phillip Island. It is a long story, full of adventures, annoying mishaps and pleasant experiences. One annoyance was having to wait for the ferry for two hours at Stony Point jetty, but one thing about being both a reader and a sketcher is that no waiting time need be a wasted opportunity.

  So, I drew a Japanese woman and son fishing. The boy was an expert on fish and explained to his mum what each of the two fish, he caught were. he also knew that a particular variety of whiting had 'no limits' on size catch.

  The two pictures were actually part of a single pic but I scanned the two pages separately and added some tints to make them two pictures.

  The mother took a photo of my drawing.

Portrait group in Pink (& Yellow)

 This is a January sketch of the regular portrait groups I attend once a month. I used black gel pen, fineliners and pink markers on shiny paper. After scanning the picture I added the yellow tint and enhanced the pink.

  My sketches tend to be finished in the first twenty-minute session whilst others do more work in the subsequent ones. In other words my pictures are a bit impressionistic, and I also have time to draw the artists as well as the subject.

  That item at far left is part of a furniture piece but it looks a lot like a female nude profile!