A week after the first lot of drawings, the lion dancing performances intensified but I still fitted in some sketches in between all the rushing around. If you would like a larger view of the sketch, just click on the image
This is a shop entrance that sells Chinese ornaments and decorative hangings. If you think the doorway is jam packed you should see the inside.
Usually around 3pm we get to have something to eat, usually…
This is a pole jumping performance, where the lion jumps, runs, swings, bounds, cavorts ;P across a series of 4-10ft poles with very little cushioning below. As you can see in the tree it was a bit windy that day, not great conditions for jumping.
While waiting for our next orders, I sat on the footpath opposite Market City (a shopping centre) and started to sketch the old features of the building. I didnt get far as I bumped into an old family friend I hadn’t seen in a while.
Our next performance I tried to capture the firecrackers going off behind the lion, but it just looks like a christmas tree. Ha, ha!
The school also does dragon dances, which I dont have the muscle for (you have to hold it up with a pole, run and move it from side to side). This was drawn at our gym where everything was stored for the new year.
Again waiting for the lion dance to start. This was out at Flemington in front of the local bbq shop. A queue started to form which wasn’t there when I first started.
Back in Chinatown for another peformance. The Sydney mayor and other politicians were doing the rounds with us, but I think the crowds were more excited by seeing about five lions together. It looks like a paparazzi moment.
Getting one of the vehicles ready to head out for a performance.There is an art (or science) to packing a vehicle full of lion dance equipment.
One of the last venues on my schedule was the Randwick racecourse for a corporate function. Unfortunately we couldn’t wait around outside where the horses were, but hidden away from the approaching guests until we had to perform. I would have much rather drawn them than a boring race track.
Wow! Seeing your sketches made me feel like I was there! Such colour and movement in monotone. Cheers, Carole
HOI! My name is Robin and I was a lion dancer myself in high school, and we also had a van to carry around the lion heads. These are some very lovely sketches. Did you freehand all of these without drawing a base sketch?
Meegan, If you’d like some art references, or would like to chat with me about art or lion dancing, you can talk to me on my blog, Liondrake (liondrake.wordpress.com). I’m always happy to meet a fellow artist and lion dance enthusiast. 🙂 What’s the name of your lion dance troupe, if you don’t mind me asking?