Illustration Commission of a Terrace House

Terraced Houses can be seen stretching across the landscape of Sydney’s Inner City Suburbs. This style of housing was built between the 1830’s until the 1890s coinciding with the population boom, due to the gold rush in the 1850s. They could range in size depending on the affordability, from single story cottages to 4 or 5 story houses. Often the foundations were set in sandstone, built with brick and stucco. 

I was commissioned to illustrate a simple two story terrace in Darlinton, in Sydney’s Inner West. The terrace had been in the family for years and was almost fully renovated solely by the owners, the illustration was to be a celebration gift. The colour of the terrace is a refreshing mauve-grape colour, which I used along with a subtle knit texture for warmth (lets face it, a lot of heart and sole went into this renovation). The terrace featured a cute little attic window and the risen communal walls, which many Sydney terraces do. I created corrugated iron roofing effect from the cuff of a jumper. 

I haven’t been past the home since I finished the illustration, I’m hoping the renovations are complete and that the family are now enjoying their revamped terrace home. 

Cnr Wilson & King Streets - Newtown

King St Newtown can be absolutely jam packed, often you are concentrating on dodging the obstacles in front of you (people, dogs, shopping bags, more people, artisan bread etc) and you forget to look around. Next time you are on King St, remind yourself to look up, above the awnings. The suburb is littered with ornate colourful buildings bordering the main st. 

The sketch for the corner of Wilson and King Sts took some time to complete. The detail in the top of the building was quite complicated, I would finish a section, put the sketch away, finish another section, put my pencil down, work on the Enmore Theatre for a bit, then come back to it again.In contrast to the Enmore Theatre artwork, I completed the majority of this piece in watercolour, which again took some time and patience. I used a subtle amount of fabric in some of the surrounding buildings, as well as in the road. I quite enjoyed to process of painting, leaving it for a few days and coming back to it with additions and gradually building up the colour. I finished off the painting with a touch of gold ink for some sparkle.

The Oxford Tavern - Petersham

The newly revamped Oxford Tavern is located on the corner of New Canterbury Rd and Crystal St in Petersham.The Daily Telegraph published an article about the iconic pub's closure, read it here. 

Although we all knew what the old Oxford Tavern was about, indicated by the nude neon female sillohettes outside, it has always had a mysterious aura about it with it’s dark windows and sealed doors.

The bar is now under new management and has swapped babes for boars, offering a southern American inspired menu featuring pulled pork. With bands, a beer garden and open windows the bar is a place that welcomes everyone, though it retains the famous nude neon ladies as a nod to it’s past. The pub was a fun illustration. I wanted this to be a night scene to make the neon really pop. I grabbed the fabric box and pulled out some heavy nits (I was doing this in winter) for the dark night sky. There was minimal watercolour in this one, just a few highlights.

Liverpool Road - Ashfield

 
Ashfield was established in 1838 and now Liverpool Rd is a place we go to often for dumplings and our favourite Asian food. At night the strip looks particularly colourful with the glow of the restaurants lighting up the street and buildings. Dinner is a busy time for these restaurants with people spilling out onto the footpath waiting for their number to be called.
I was particularly taken with the washed out glow of the building colour and the reflection of the VB sign in one of the windows. I watercoloured the buildings, making them look a little patchy. I added a denim night sky, with a slight sun down yellow glow.