After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 23 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and.2006. Each work is signed and dated by the artist. The series of drawings in the Picken Collection are invaluable assets for identifying architectural features and styles. The year in which the drawing was created is also a valuable record for house historians, as a number of the properties depicted have either been altered since that date or demolished.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink property illustration on drafting film by Margaret Picken.4 bright street -- kew (vic.), californian bungalows, margaret picken, bright street, woodards -- kew (vic), property illustrations