FEBRUARY IN LONDON, SKETCHING AND COFFEE IN 2016

PLACES TO SKETCH ARE SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO FIND

I like to sit down to draw, and if possible to use watercolours in my sketching.  The paints I use are Windsor and Newton Artists Watercolours, and I have two fairly big boxes, a tiny box and an even bigger box that used to belong to my father. His one is heavy and I don't take it sketching.  He did though. He retired to Dorset and loved sketching the landscapes around Sherborne and Yetminster.  My preferences are more urban and if possible I include people.  

DESTINATIONS SHOW AT OLYMPIA LONDON  2016, A VIEW FROM A COFFEE STALL

Destinations Show, Olympia, London

DOORS TO THE RESTAURANT IN THE CENTRE OF THE WALLACE COLLECTION, MANCHESTER SQUARE, MAYFAIR

Wallace Collection restaurant, London

A FINAL CUP OF COFFEE AT PRET A MANGER IN ORCHARD STREET, MAYFAIR

Pret a Manger coffee shop, Orchard St, London

GARDEN IN THE WINTER - LONDON SUBURBS - AND THE BUSES OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY

WINTER GARDEN FROM THE WINDOW, EARLY JANUARY SKETCHES, CRAYON AND WATERCOLOUR

This garden is in the suburbs so has a mild-ish micro-climate. Nevertheless, lots of plants die right back in the cold frosty weather. I have quite a few hardy sub-shrubs like tree heathers, lavenders and santolina.

Watercolour, January garden, 2nd sketch

Watercolour sketch 1st sketch of garden January

My visit to the library gave me the inspiration to sketch the buses - red London buses, and the bright orange barriers around the on-going building works by the traffic lights.

Red London buses and road works, London suburbs

Another day I travelled to Waterloo station in London, one of the huge terminals which has been modernised over the last few years. 
Only the original clocks remain. I found a seat to sit and sketch, using pen and a little colour.

Waterloo station sketch, January, London

One warm and sunny morning at the Wisley Gardens, run by the Royal Horticultural Society, it was nice enough to sit outside, drink a coffee, and draw the groups of people also enjoying the sun. I used water-soluble crayon on damp paper.

Outside Wisley Gardens, RHS, Surrey, winter 2016

SKETCHING IN THE NEW YEAR, 2016, IN CANARY WHARF

SKETCHING WITH THE URBAN SKETCHERS GROUP AT CANARY WHARF IN JANUARY

A large group of sketchers met up one Saturday in January, excellently organised  by Katherine Tyrrell who explained the layout of Canary Wharf, with its confusing centres of shopping and the viewpoints, such as the garden right on the top, called Crossrail Place Roof garden.
Link to Canary Wharf group website 

We two chose to sketch outside overlooking the massive excavation work going on for a new block.  

In this area of the old docks, you can see three of the original cranes, which are now preserved as part of our industrial heritage. Poor things looked a bit lost in the wide open desolation.

The second sketch is indoors, we had to thaw out a bit! It is a sketch of the Jubilee Shopping complex, not as busy as usual. 
On a Saturday the workers are mostly absent.
Link to information on Jubilee Place shops at Canary Wharf

Cranes at Canary Wharf, London docklands

Saturday shoppers indoors in Jubilee Place Mall