A CHANCE discovery of Mayday Hills Art Society while on a road trip has led to an artist, writer and publisher invited to be an artist in residence sharing her skills and knowledge. Canberra-based Bobby Graham has creatively explored storytelling through her narrative art combining travel since 2016. In Beechworth for two weeks, Ms Graham plans to capture by way of sketching on location as much as she can around town. “It could be a café or in front of one of the lovely old historic buildings, and I just sketch it in my own style,” she said. “My aim is to fill a concertina rag paper sketchbook on both sides. “I use gouache, watercolour, coloured inks and pen." Ms Graham, a member of Urban Sketches in Canberra, said Urban Sketches is an international organisation with chapters in many cities around the world with artists sitting on location. The artist said she has invited people to join her on Sunday for a two hour outside session to sketch what can be seen. At the end of the session artworks will be laid out on the ground - called a throwdown, photographed with the group then posted on Facebook to share around the world. “It’s fabulous and it’s free,” she said. “It gets you out there, looking at places, observing and meeting other people, and learning about art. “It’s quick and easy sketching and I have been doing this more or less full time since I left my job at the end of June last year.” Ms Graham said the only artwork she had undertaken had been in art classes at school. “I also draw on my iPad using a tool called Procreate - an app designed and developed in Tasmania and has taken the drawing world by storm," she said. “I do a lot of digital art and I teach digital art as well." Ms Graham said she plans to photograph all images with extended captions added and produce as a digital book. Mayday Hills Art Society’s co-founder Christine Cansfield-Smith is thrilled the artist will be sketching Beechworth through the Art Society. “She will also be giving a talk to people about her art bringing another dimension,” she said. Ms Graham said a valuable exchange of ideas had taken place with other artists while in residence. “It’s nice to learn from other artists and see what they do, and then to teach them some of the things that I do,” she said. Her talk ‘Sketching Beechworth’ will be held in the Art Society’s downstairs gallery located at Kurrajong Way next Wednesday, 21 May with a 5pm start. Everyone is welcome with RSVPs needed by Tuesday, 20 May by emailing bibart@bigpond.com. Drinks and nibbles with entry by gold coin donation. For information about this Sunday’s session contact Christine on 0412 126 219.
