DAILY SKETCH - WENT TO THE WINDMILL CAFE ON WIMBLEDON COMMON TO DRAW

My new sketches are done with the Derwent Inktense Blocks, they are so different from my usual medium which is pen, watercolour and crayon. Here are my first two drawings

Dogs at the Windmill Cafe, Wimbledon Common

Windmill Cafe at Wimbledon Common, popular with cyclists and dog walkers

SKETCHES WITH THE GROUPS 'URBAN SKETCHERS LONDON' AND 'DRAWING LONDON ON LOCATION'

THE YEAR 2014 IS WHEN I CONTINUED SKETCHING AND DRAWING IN LONDON

The sketching this year is a bit different because some of the time I am going out with two sketching groups.  One is linked to Flickr and is called 'Urban Sketchers London'.  The second is a 'Meet-up' group called 'Drawing London on Location'.  Here are some of my recent sketches

Bonfire party at Allotments, Merton - MAGA

Booking Hall Bar, St Pancras Hotel.

Booking Hall Bar, St Pancras Hotel

Regents Canal sketching, Camley Street Nature Reserve,Kings Cross, London,

Coffe time, John Lewis espresso bar, Kingston on Thames,

Flags in Horse Guards Road, Whitehall, London

Kings Cross, London, children playing,

Trinity Square Gardens, near The Tower of London, lunchtime,

Kings Cross, steps by Regents Canal, Granary Square, London,

Poppies, The Moat, Tower of London, Septenber 2014, World War 1 Memorial.

Granary Square, Kings Cross, London, lunchtime,

Kingston upon Thames, view from John Lewis espresso cafe.

Parliament Square, London, red bus and tourists by statues,

LONDON DUATHLON IN RICHMOND PARK

RICHMOND PARK, ONE OF THE ROYAL PARKS IN LONDON

TODAY, SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER, IS THE LONDON DUATHLON IN THE PARK

I went along and did this watercolour sketch of some of the competitors, cyclists and runners, as well as the cheerers-on wearing green, from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Children, (NSPCC).  These young volunteers did a great job, cheering on the competitors, cyclists going in one direction and runners in another.  This spot is near Robin Hood Gate.  The park was closed to traffic all day today.

London Duathlon and NSPCC team supporters

Yesterday I went to Roehampton Gate cafe and did a sketch, and in the area nearby it was already covered in preparations for the Duathlon.

Richmond Park Roehampton Gate cafe

These sketches are part of my Urban Sketchers London art work.

http://londonduathlon.com/about/richmond-park

https://donate.nspcc.org.uk/

SKETCH AT THE TOWER OF LONDON, POPPIES IN THE MOAT

AUGUST 2014 - AT HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL PALACE AND FORTRESS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TOWER OF LONDON, ONE OF THE HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES IN THE UK

I went along to see the ceramic Poppies in the moat, and did a sketch in watercolour and crayon.
The Poppies are placed in remembrance of the 888,246 British and Commonwealth Military dead during the First World War (and that of course does not include all the civilian dead).   This sketch is  in my Moleskin sketchbook, which holds all my recent drawings as part of my Urban Sketchers London journal.

Tower of London moat with poppies

After drawing the Poppies I walked into Trinity Square Gardens, a nice quite spot with another memorial, this time to the Mariners and Fishermen fatalities during both World Wars;  I did another sketch of the green space, with the pigeons and crows, and a few people enjoying the sunshine.

Trinity Square Gardens, sketch, City of London

GEORGE BELLOWS AND PAUL GAUGUIN

GEORGE BELLOWS AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY, LONDON

I just made it to see this exhibition, a few days before it closed. It was well worth it!

There were some fantastic views of NY City, in sombre blacks and greys.

He used to work in New York and took his sketchbook out, particularly on the areas were construction was taking place.
A group of paintings were focussed on the the new Penn Station.
The huge hole in the ground, surrounded by cliffs of earth, made me look hard.
I have used Penn Station, and it does not seem possible that relatively recently it was just a mammoth construction side, with not a building in sight.

Also Bellows painted some fine landscapes, and there were drawings of the local scallywags, the poor boys who lived near his studio, playing in the city and swimming in the river, I suppose it was the Hudson.

Unfortunately you cannot take photos in the Royal Academy, so I have no images.
Will see if there is a link, though
Royal Academy information about this closed exhibition

THE COURTAULD GALLERY, PAUL GAUGUIN, SOMERSET HOUSE.

COLLECTING GAUGUIN

SAMUEL COURTAULD IN THE '20S

The largest of the exhibition spaces on the top floor has several prime Gauguins in oils in this exhibition, most of them very familiar;  still it is worth going to have a look.  Two are on loan, and I enjoyed looking at the works very much.  However, George Bellows is more my cup of tea, all that urban grime!  

The text as usual was informative and interesting.  In addition there are a numer of wood-cuts prints.

Courtauld, Collecting Gauguins

VISITING THE CHATEAU AND GARDENS AT VERSAILLES

VERSAILLES IN FREEZING MARCH, 2013

We decided on an all-day visit to Versailles.  We bought our four tickets for use on the RER train at the Metro station Etienne Marcell, and from there we changed from the Metro at St. Michel to the RER Versailles train.  We knew that we needed four tickets for the two of us, but we did not realize that these tickets were all the same, with no markings to distinguish which ones has been used on the outward journey, and which were still un-used, oh dear .....

On our return trip, at the station at Versailles, we found that three of the tickets were not usable.  By mistake three had been put into the ticket slots at Etienne Marcell or at St Michel when we changed trains.  By then it was about 6 pm and there was a huge queue, as it was the rush-hour, and we thought the only solution was to buy one more ticket for the return journey.

Luckily a helpful man opened the Customer Service window near where I was standing, just in time. I explained the problem and he kindly sorted it out, pointing out that we had used three of the tickets but only two should have been cancelled,  so  BE WARNED!!!  Watch which tickets you use.

VERSAILLES

We bought our tickets to the Chateau and the grounds at the Tourist Office, which you pass on the way to the Chateau.  It was much easier to do this, rather than join yet another queue at the Chateau, although it cost a couple of Euros more.  I think it was about £37 for two.

We went into the grounds first and I took these photos, but found to my horror that the battery on the camera had died on me, so I could not take any more photos.  The gardens and parks are really beautiful, despite the cold spring which meant that no trees were showing any green.

IN PARIS TO SEE THE ART EXHIBITIONS - MARCH 2013

PARIS - Bd HAUSSMANN AND MUSEE JACQUEMART-ANDRE, 75008

We tried out the bus service in Paris, and used No. 29 from the Marais to get to Opera, near Gare St-Lazare.

THE OPERA

Crowds milling around on the steps and elsewhere, but this popular destination was closed for two days.  I took this photo of a jolly brass band playing on the steps.

On the steps of Paris Opera

It was a Saturday, 23 March and our first designation was LES PRINTEMPS, grand magazin (bit like Selfridges in London).

Here is a link to it

LES PRINTEMPTS DEPARTMENT STORE, PARIS

I wanted to find a particular make of French lipstick, which they did not stock, unfortunately. 

So we made our way to the roof where there is a cafe, and outdoor seating area with magnificent views. The cafe staff were not very interested in serving, there was a sort of help-yourself coffee machine, but good coffee.

The coffee taken, I then tried out the ladies loo on the ground floor which cost me 1.5€ - shock, horror! (that's just under £1.50)

Next destination, MUSEE JACQUEMART-ANDRE, so another bus, the stop for which was very difficult to find.  The official bus map for Paris does not show any clear indication of streets, just coloured lines and little boxes with bus numbers in, but finally we got on the No. 22 which passes the Musee  Jacquemart-Andre, going along Boulevard Haussmann.

Here is a link to the museum's website

MUSEE JACQUEMART-ANDRE, PARIS

and if you want the French version:

MUSEE JACQUEMART-ANDRE, FRENCH TEXT

There is an EUGENE BOUDIN EXHIBITION on, 22 MARCH TO 22 JULY 2013

EUGENE BOUDIN EXHIBITION, PARIS

This museum  is a furnished grand mansion on the Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, 75008, in one of the poshest parts of Paris.  It dates from the end of the 19th century and was built by Edouard Andre, a very rich banker and his wife Nelie Jacquemart, a painter.  They were lovers of fine things and had the money to indulge their passion.

The Boudin exhibition had started the day before, but nevertheless we were surprised to see the length of the queue to get in,  It was not moving at all.  It seemed like every rich, trendy, chic Parisienne or Parisien was in that queue, along with a sprinkling of Americans and Japanese.  Finally the queue moved and slowly, very slowly, the girl on the ticket desk printed off our tickets.

We walked round the permanent collection first, admiring the large collection of Italian religious paintings, very fine, such as this Botticelli Virgin and Child

SANDRO BOTTICELLI, VIRGIN AND CHILD

and there were French works, including some by Fragonard and Boucher.  The English and Flemish works were not so impressive.  

The rooms, and the staircase, are themselves were works of art, in their colours and textures, with impressive antiques and gilt panelling, with some high painted ceilings and costly drapes at the windows.  All well cared-for.

Then it was time to go to see the Boudins, a painter I particularly admire. There was a large collection of his work and it was well worth the visit.  The collection was borrowed from prestigious world galleries, and we commented that it was surprising that the condition of the watercolours, oils and pastels was excellent.  Presumably Boudin knew how to work with good quality canvas, paper and mediums.

The colours too are very beautiful, and the luminosity of the sky absolutely striking.  He visited a great many coastal areas, such as Honfleur, where he was born, and Trouville, and at the end of his life worked in the south of France.

Here is a link with some good information about Eugen Boudin, from the National Gallery.

EUGENE BOUDIN AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON 

AUDIO GUIDES

I thought it a shame that the people jostling around the paintings and drawings were, on the whole, paying a great deal of attention to the audio guide fixed to their ears.  

There was no necessity for this, the works spoke for themselves, and they were produced in an age when those who appreciate art could form their own opinions on its excellence or otherwise, without somebody else telling them the when, whys and wherefores.