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 22 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)The Ernest House (former) at 75 Walpole Street was designed by Harry Ernest in 1955/56. It is one of ten Victorian dwellings in Neil Clerehan’s important 1961 book Best Australian Houses, which illustrated cutting-edge residential design of the day. The house is also significant as Harry Ernest’s first residential commission, introducing elements that characterised his subsequent output.This drawing of the house is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2006. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 75 Walpole Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.75 WALPOLE ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~artist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 75 walpole street -- kew (vic.)

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 22 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)The Ernest House (former) at 75 Walpole Street was designed by Harry Ernest in 1955/56. It is one of ten Victorian dwellings in Neil Clerehan’s important 1961 book Best Australian Houses, which illustrated cutting-edge residential design of the day. The house is also significant as Harry Ernest’s first residential commission, introducing elements that characterised his subsequent output.This drawing of the house is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2006. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 75 Walpole Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.75 WALPOLE ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~artist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 75 walpole street -- kew (vic.)