Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Northcliff Hill

After weeks of gorgeous Spring weather our little band of only three sketchers decided to go up to the second highest point in Johannesburg, Northcliff Hill for the 360° view. It turned out to be a cold, windy, overcast day so John and I, in our light spring-y clothing, cowered beneath the ridge where we couldn't see much of the scenery, but were at least out of the grip of the chilly blast. Barbara came a bit better prepared in a warm jacket, so perched on a rock with more of a vantage point, and sketched us!
 I sketched the landmark Northcliff water tower, struggling with perspective again - although the top of the tower IS wider than the bottom, should I paint it so?... I thought not but should have - mine doesn't look much like the real thing - when John posts his version you'll see what it does look like! I spotted a little bit of Joburg skyline in between the long grass and somebody's eagle's eye home - what a place to live!

When our chattering teeth interfered too much with our sketching abilities, we decided to go back down to the suburbs and warm up over coffee and lunch at the Mugg & Bean. I faced the view that attracted me most - the display of yummy looking cakes and pies, managing to control my impulse to order one of each by drawing them instead.
Earlier in the week I had been painting a mural for the local primary school concert, as I mentioned before. I took a small break to sketch the children rehearsing below where I was on the stage, in the hall - very sweet but very lively and multitudinous!!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Dispite the weather both of these sketches are great.

I am inspired by the sketch of children rehersing. I have to go to some rehersals this weekend and now will attempt to follow your lead and paint them.

Cathy Gatland said...

Children are a challenge Sue, but fun - enjoy it, I'll look out for the sketches on your blog!

laura said...

Love the foreground in your tower painting--the variations in the colors and shapes. And you people sketches are always so full of life: delightful!

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks Laura - great to 'see' you!

Ginny Stiles said...

I want to just like when I grow up!
Do you really sketch these people directly with pen (no pencil first?)
Those if us in Brenda Swenson's 75 day Sketching Challenge are drooling over your pen and ink figures.

Cathy Gatland said...

Hi Ginny :-) I sketched the tower lightly in pencil first - I'm not confident with architecture! - but otherwise, no, the wonky ink lines help give liveliness to figures I think. Still can't comment on your blog - thanks for the heads up on the sketching challenge, I'm not taking on any more commitments right now - am struggling to keep up with the ones I have, but thank you!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Wonderful mixed post of your delightful children figure sketches and the Joburg skyline in the very very distance - yes awkward sketching tall buildings as the perspective alters the shape and you don't know which way to go.

Sydney said...

incredible. do you bring a pocket-sized water colour wherever you go
?? x

sydsense.blogspot.com

Carol King said...

Cathy, I really like your landscape with its muted colors. And those kids must have been very difficult to draw. They never stay still.