Rock Climbing Models
Tasmania is chock full of climbing culture - so many different types of rocks and climbing for all of the varied climbers. I am married to an enthusiast so naturally, I am embedded into this world now too. Sometimes I get on the wall myself (top rope only) or try to learn less strenuous parts of the challenge like belaying. I have to protect my drawing hands after all, haha!
Going along for the ride can be pretty spectacular in itself though, with so many of the climbing locations being in remote and beautiful areas of Tasmania. This past weekend we travelled 4.5 hours north to Sister’s Beach.
The Tasmanian coastline is insanely beautiful all around.
After walking in to this area of national park, everyone got setup and the ink pens came out!
It’s kind of amazing how good this is for an illustrator - always trying to capture the essence of humans. I’ve attended life drawing classes/sessions of some sort since I was a teenager, so I am used to drawing fast. You kind of get to know the repeated moves that climbers make on the wall ( I still don’t know all of the lingo for it though).
This one is probably my favourite drawing of the weekend.
Dynamic posing in pristine natural environments - what could be better?! I was also obsessed with all of the amazing quartz rocks EVERYWHERE.
Closer to home, I tagged along on another climbing afternoon on kunanyi/Mt. Wellington. This spot didn’t offer the best drawing views so the results are mostly butts from me having to look straight up.
Well I won’t be sendin’ anything big anytime soon, but I will certainly enjoy drawing others who do! Stay safe!
Art & Fashion
As some people may know, I originally studied Fashion Illustration in college. If we go further back, I also wanted to be a shoe designer when I was a kid and I declared I would go to fashion school in New York from age 8. While I didn’t become a shoe designer, I did study figure drawing for fashion which has influenced my stylizing and technique. At the time Fashion Illustration/Lifestyle Illustration wasn’t being used as often and photography was more of the trend. A decade later I am seeing SO MUCH fashion and lifestyle illustration being bought again and I love it!
During quarantine I was able to join the Society of Illustrators fashion drawing evening and it reminded me of how much I used to love this. So I decided to run an event here in Hobart with the gallery/school I work for - Nolan Art Gallery & School of Art. Pairing up with Tasmanian fashion brand, Keshet Design, is the icing on the cake!
The fabulous models, Stefi and Marlin.
The Magnolia dress is one of Keshet’s most popular designs - suitable for ALL shapes and sizes, one of their core ethics.
Hope to see you there next week if you are local!
Tickets at www.nolanart.com.au/events