Phisborough Phizzfest

Great day out in Phibsborough, where the Phizzfest was under way. I love it when our volunteers pick cool venues to sketch!! There was lots of free entertainment - a flea market, access to artists' studios on the 4th floor above the shopping centre, music on a barge on the canal, and we even came upon a drag show at the Bernard Shaw pub!

And I always thought of Phibsborough as being too far away, but the green line tram goes all the way there, so it was perfect, although I did get off the tram two stops too early and had to walk for a bit!!

The flea market was great, but too busy to sketch, so I headed to the artists' studios on the 4th floor of the shopping centre. Yes, that ugly building that dominates the whole street. Most of the windows are covered with a strange ugly plastic and you can't see through them. But a couple of studios had clear windows and the views were wonderful. I chose the view looking towards Glasnevin, with its round tower and the trees of the botanic gardens. I so enjoyed drawing every chimney and extension built onto the houses and the trees and vegetation that still survives Dublin residents' needs for extra space. Drawn in fountain pen, with a grey marker for shadows. Now that I think of it, I should have drawn the window and part of the artist's studio. But I ran out of time. The artist whose studio I borrowed was Dee Barragry. I was very careful not to disturb anything.

Then I went in search of a barge on the Royal Canal. I had gone the wrong side of the canal so I had to retrace my steps and arrived for the very end of the performance. I don't know who the band was, but they were great. And the concept of the wrong side is very subjective. Most of the other sketchers were on the "wrong" side, happily sketching the boats. I wasn't interested in boats. I wanted to capture the live performance. But I did draw a bit of the barge too, enough, I think, to show that it's a boat. The clue is in the gangplank! 

And then, the best part, we went to the Bernard Shaw pub, just on the bridge. Annah had booked tables for us, which was very thoughtful, as the pub was busy. Then, a drag show started, and a whole bunch of sketchers went over to the other side of the pub to watch it. I was looking after someone's bag, but as soon as they came back, I went over and started sketching like crazy. I had a fluo pink Posca marker and my trusted Sailor Fude pens and I drew and I drew. And I sang and I danced! I had a ball. Thank you to Miss Roots and Miss Taken! You made my day! These sketches might not look like much, but I hear Hold on for one more day in my head the moment I look at them!