Hello dear Readers,
This week's theme is - TREE. I adore trees and I often sketch them. One of my favourite trees is the Queensland Bottle Tree. It's botanical name is Brachychiton rupestris and this is one I sketched on location way back in 2010.
I decided to go with Queensland Bottle trees for this week's theme too. This is as far as I have managed but I have a lot more elements to add, including some Aussie wildlife....to be completed and posted at a later date so stay tuned... I sketched this with ballpoint pen and my trusty Platinum Carbon fountain pen, when it doesn't decide to leak into the lid, that is. I love sketching with fountain pens!
To see the work of other Scribble Picnickers for this week, click HERE.
Last week, two of my sons and I took a trip up to Tamborine Mountain, one of our favourite destinations. The weather was a bit iffy but we didn't let it stop us.
As I've said before, I adore trees and love to sketch and photograph them. Check out this tall boy.
What could be better than a rain-forest trail walk with trees galore?!
We walked to Curtis Falls
Rocky area beside the falls
Mountain views
Bradley, my eldest, with Aaron, my youngest.
Sculpture - Visiting Earth Angel
After a lovely day on the mountain, we headed home. I'm so glad we didn't let the forecast of rain stop us as there was only one light rain shower the whole time we were there.
I hope you are all enjoying a beautiful week!
What an interesting tree as is your beautiful sketch! Your sons are beautiful, enjoyed your post today!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous place, Serena. I know you find much inspiration when you visit there. Love those beautiful trees.
ReplyDeleteLove your take on the Queensland Bottle Tree. Where we lived before we had the Desconso Gardens, and I loved the huge variety of trees. You have very handsome sons too...they look like they would be strong is spirit like the trees you draw. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteHi Serena - I LOVE this Australian tree and your art with the beautiful handwriting accompanying it and telling of your special day.
ReplyDeleteI have seen amazing trees in your area too and want to share these links to posts I did of that trip. I can see from the map I pulled up that I wasn't very far from Tamborine Mt. when in the Nerang area and then in Springbrook Natl. Park, Numinbah Valley etc. I stayed with the friends who have that awesome 'country retreat' where I stayed in the rainforest shown in my pix. I was so excited to think you might live around that part of Queensland which is SO absolutely stunning. I was overwhelmed by the ferns growing out of the trees. I also stayed on the Gold Coast - lovely coastal area which I'm sure you know well too.
Hope you have a few minutes to look at these posts - and I'm thinking YOU probably know what a pademelon is. Most people don't when I ask them!
http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2012/01/down-underits-not-all-surfing.html
http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-from-rainforest-then-heading-for.html
Happy week Serena - I'll miss the next couple of weeks but hope to join the 'picnic' again when back from Italy.
Hugs - Mary
Terrific photos! I love your post from your earlier journal. That makes great inspiration for future sketches!!
ReplyDeleteI love your journal entry from earlier! And such great photos of your trip, a beautiful spot!
ReplyDeletethose views are amazing!
ReplyDeletevery nice tree sketch :) good idea turning them into houses they alzo remind me a lot of faces
tree homes, are they? I like the idea. I can imagine little creatures hurrying here and there...
ReplyDeletelovely tree and mountain views. looks to be a nice place to take an adventurous walk.
have a lovely day.
Good thing that you did not let the weather report stop you. We have had rain forecast here and rain has filled our days and nights.
ReplyDeleteLove your trees, they are so interesting. Fun that you have one that holds memory and the other sketch is whimsy.
Fun seeing your photos also, your trees are so different from the ones around here.
Serena - I just read your lovely comments on those two posts I linked you to of my visit to your area. Thanks so much for taking the time to read them - yes, those tiny sweet bananas were awesome, and I also recall eating Lamington cakes. Loved everything about the rainforest - except course that nasty leech experience!!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I would love to visit Australia/NZ again as we've never been together - I traveled with my best friend - he was there ages ago. We're always looking for an affordable way to do it - perhaps on a cruise - it's such a long way but perhaps some day before we get too old, haha!
Happy weekend - enjoy more time with those handsome sons!
Hugs - Mary
Glad you were able to enjoy a nice day together up in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteI had never seen one of those trees until your blog. They are unique.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous place to hike. Fantastic pictures. I can't believe Aaron is all grown up!! :)
Serena,
ReplyDeleteThat is a fascinating tree. I never heard of it. I love how you made a little house in it in your sketch. So cute. Would fit with the fairies. :) I enjoyed your photos. Where were these taken? Tambourine Mountain? Curtis Falls?
Blessings
Janis
www.janiscox.com
Absolutely wonderful pictures, Serena, and I like the direction you are going with the recent drawing and esp love that older bottle tree sketch page. What an incredible tree and yes, I have read about it too before. you liv ein such an amazing par tof the world but I dare say I woudl NOT like the humidity! Lol. Thank you so much for playing along this week and for the great write up.
ReplyDeleteSorry it took me a while to get here...been super busy but here now. Oh and btw, the new themes are finally up on the blog.
Serena I love your sketch and your new drawing is so whimsical, but what a great place to have a little village in those bottle trees. Looks like your hike was full of adventure.
ReplyDeleteWow... what amazing surroundings you have!! Never mind your sketch (which I love btw)... Your handwriting is an art in itself!!
ReplyDeleteThe trees you posted are all so interesting and beautiful. I love that there is such variety in God's creation! The tall white one especially caught my eye. I wonder what determines the abrupt change on the trunk to white. Thank you for taking us along on your trip in your gorgeous part of the world! Do you still use a sketch journal when you go places?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Mum! Love the Queensland Bottle Tree sketches, especially your latest one with them as houses for the animals. I think that's a cool idea! Love the photos of the trees in the rain forest also. That was a great day! Great scenery photos also, great photo of me and Aaron together! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your Queensland Bottle Tree sketch, what a gorgeous looking tree! Me too, I love trees, and forests. And mountains. Drawing and sketching trees is something on my list to do more often. They're a bit challenging though. What a gorgeous view from up there! Just reminds me of my plan to take more day trips this year...
ReplyDeleteAhh that tree is a perfect inspiration for one of my scenes in a story (not as actual houses like in your lovely sketch, but as storage vessels for magic, the trees "bottling out" more as they fill up, and they must be "tapped" on occasion but one must know how to do so. . . ) So happy to have learned about them from YOU today! Your sketches are just amazing Serena and captures the whimsical, magical essence of their shape and name perfectly. And beautiful pics of your surroundings and sons too! :)
ReplyDelete