Sketching at the Iveagh Gardens

Probably one of the last nice days of the season. We sketched in the Iveagh Gardens, just off Harcourt Street. I brought limited supplies - a small set of watercolours, a handful of acrylic markers, 5 colour pencils and my Sailor Fude. I normally carry more with me, but my physio says I can't use a backpack over my left shoulder or hang my handbag across that side either, as I could destabilise it again. So, limited supplies it is. And no umbrella, even!

 

Pencils4Tea 19 February 2026

Fun hour with Pencils4Tea. I always enjoy these weekly sessions - there's always a warm atmosphere, and lovely chats before we start sketching. Kirsty is a perfect host for these sessions, warm-hearted, funny and kind. 

I used some highlighters I found in a local shop. I had been dreaming about these for a long time, but didn't need to buy new art supplies. At least I didn't buy them on Amazon! Actually, I have been buying very little on Amazon lately. I am making a conscious effort to buy local, and also to buy less (I don't always succeed on that front - my trip to Cotton Cottage alone - in Mumbai - justified my bringing an empty wheelie as hand luggage with me)

Ugly self-portrait

This is what happens when you don't read the instructions. I was doing the FindYourJoy Taster exercise on using limited tools. I just picked two tools and had fun. But it turns out that the limited-tool exercise had a lot more tools than I thought.  And in case you're wondering, Jule is the name of the ink colour!