👋 Hello friends!
I have been lucky enough to take three weeks’ leave from my day job this month, and it has been wonderfully relaxing. There are only a few days to go, and I plan on making the most of it and trying not to focus on the "back to the grind" part! I have spent a lot of time working on my book about how to survive being married to a Royal Marine and am feeling great about the progress I've made. Mr Collier has had his first read through and we have some exciting additions and edits in the works. The project is taking longer than I thought it might, but slow and steady will get me there and the process continues to be very rewarding.
This month, I have the second part of my urban sketching project to share with you. I hope you enjoy!
🏫 Urban Sketching project : Duffy precinct update – part 2
If you missed part one, you can find it in last month's newsletter.
The long middle! Months and months of rain and mud, the removal of the old landscaping elements and the earthworks to prepare for the updated play area and forecourt provided endless opportunities for me to sketch.
Kubota digger that I dubbed the killer of playgrounds. The earthmoving equipment became a permanent fixture for several months and served as some sort of gritty art installation. Getting a good line of sight to sketch them meant peering through the gaps in the material attached to the temporary fencing. Awkward!
This little loader looked like it would be a lot of fun to drive!
The old playground equipment looked rather sad and forlorn, sitting off to the side. It seems they had not been gentle in dismantling it. There was twisted metal and broken bits of plastic strewn everywhere.
At least the temporary fencing and shielding material (I have no idea what that stuff is called!) was colourful during the long grey days. This one was sketched from the car because whilst there was a little sun poking through the clouds, there was plenty of intermittent rain too.
Getting to the shops for a while was a bit of a chore for a while. Naturally, the fencing was up to protect patrons, but it meant taking quite the detour to get to the supermarket or the coffee shop. There is also more earthwork equipment, this time between the diggers and the roller. I was amused that they wrapped the huge gum tree up to protect it from knocks. I am not sure what they wrapped it in would have protected it much from the heavy machinery though.
At about this time, the landscape contractors started noticing me sketching around the place a lot more. They appeared to be quite chuffed that I was sketching them this time around and came over for a look and a chat. These stonework walls are a consistent feature in the new design, and it took a lot of patience and precision to make sure the rocks fit together like a jigsaw.
It was an exciting day when I saw the new wooden playground installed! Things were taking shape, and the fun part of the refurbishment was starting to emerge.
Shade sails and the canopy for the covered seating area went in just as the colder weather arrived again in 2023. The playground had some new climbing elements added, too, but it was not yet ready to be used.
✒ Things I hit publish on this month
🙀 I sketched on location twice this month!
🎥 I finally filmed a sketchbook flip through of the sketchbook I finished in October last year.
🎨 My favourite creation this month
This gelliprint of my son.
👀 Curated Curiosities
🐌 The mystery of medieval fighting snails - these pictures have always made me giggle
🚘 Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs at the Grammys singing Fast Car is breathtaking
🌭 Everything you ever wanted to know about mustard
🧍♀️ The ten rules of being human
Thanks for reading! See you next month.