SUMMER TIME - AND THE SKETCHING GETS EASIER IN THE SUNSHINE

SKETCHING IN LONDON IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER - GREAT WEATHER SO FAR.

The Morden Hall Park May Fair is in a green oasis of river and meadows. but livened up every year for the popular May Fair, complete with animals and birds in pens to pet, the usual Dodgems and Roundabouts or Carousals, plus several Bouncy Castles.  Here are my sketches.

Terrier Racing, new to me but fun!

By the bouncy castle

Two small hairy pigs

The Dodgems

DEEN CITY FARM

A couple of weeks later I went to see the animals at Deen City Farm, near the River Wandle in South London.  A bit difficult to draw the animals here, as there were so many families busily enjoying themselves.

Families at Deen City Farm

NEW URBAN SKETCHES IN LONDON, SPRING 2015,

OUT DRAWING WITH THE URBAN SKETCHERS LONDON GROUP

To St Paul's Cathedral and the surrounding streets, sketching on a sunny Saturday in April.

The little model of Shaun the Sheep

Under the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames

The bronze memorial to the London Firefighters in the Blitz

DRAWINGS AT THE BOAT RACE, PUTNEY AND OTHER PLACES

DRAWINGS AT THE BOAT RACE, PUTNEY ON APRIL 11 2015

Saturday this year was fine and sunny so a good day for sitting out with my sketch pad and crayons. The first sketch was done from the Fulham bank of the River Thames, on the edge of Bishops Park.  There is a good view of the Putney bank, where the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race begins each year.  As it was late morning, there were no crowds, they all arrived later!  Then the plubs along the river bank are swarming, with long queues to get served for beers and the famous Pimms.

It was interesting to talk to a photographer, Harald Joergens, who was working on some images of the locality, and later, on the boat crews for the women's race, the first one to be held on the same day as the men's race.

View of Putney Pier, boat race morning, Star and Garter pub.

The next drawing was done from the upstream side of Putney Bridge, with its ornate lamp standards and the crowds starting to gather.  It was late afternoon.

Putney Pier, boat race afternoon, spectators.

Last sketch done while waiting for the start of the women's race, they come through the piers of the bridge before the race starts, then they turn round and go back through the bridge, to the start.

Oxford women's eight, Boat Race at Putney Bridge

DRAWINGS MADE IN LONDON - SLOANE SQUARE AND VICTORIA STREET

The drawing in Sloane Square, shows the famous Royal Court Theatre where there is a performance of  The Twits, from the story by Roald Dahl. You can also see the war memorial, the buses and taxis

Sloane Square pigeons, Royal Court Theatre

This drawing was done sitting in Christchurch Gardens in Victoria Street, London, not far from the Palace of Westminster. I was intrigued by the wrapping on the huge buildings, being refurbished I guess.

Wrapped building in Victoria Street, London SW1

URBAN SKETCHING IN LONDON - WINTER AND SPRING 2015

ON SITE WITH MY SKETCHBOOK AND RELATED PAINTS, PENCILS, CRAYONS

Drawing with the Urban Sketchers London Group twice so far this year, once in the British Museum and then at the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Also out with Drawing London on Location group to the South Bank, London.

My art materials are a mixed bag, usually a watercolour box, some of the water reservoir brushes which you can buy at Cass Art, some water soluble sticks, Derwent Inktense, a few black pens, white gouache paint, and some old crayons.

The museums in London have various regulations for artists.  For instance the Victoria and Albert Museum does not allow any water, so watercolours are out, unless of course you use the water reservoir brushes I mentioned, and they have to be used very carefully.

The British Museum has similar regulations but is not so prescriptive. You can usually find a folding stool to sketch sitting down.

I have also been out drawing on my own, weather permitting. Here are a few sketches

British Museum, tomb figure, Japanese Collection

V & A Museum, Ceramics collection

V & A Museum, entrance and Info desk

British Museum, Napoleon and the British,

British Museum, Samurai armour

Winter garden colour

Royal Academy Allen Jone exhibition, sculptures

Morden town centre, buses

South Bank, Nation Theatre cafe bar

Snow, London garden

Krispy Kreem Vintage Car rally

SKETCHES TO END THE YEAR 2014

TO KEEP SKETCHING, THAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO IN 2015

I hope you can do the same, already I have noted on the calendar there is to be a "meet-up" of the group called Drawing London on Location, this month, January. It will be in the Festival Hall on the London Southbank, so hope for fine weather!

I was on my own or with a friend, when I did these sketches, but like to go out with the Urban Sketcher London group when possible.

Here are a few of the latest images from the two sketchbooks currently on the go.  I was using a combination of media, watercolour, ink pen, water-soluble crayons, black wash, white gouache.
Happy New Year!

Armistice Day, Westminster November  2014, poppies

Somerset House, Tom's Skate Lounge, skaters

RAF Memorial, Thames Embankment, Westminster

Victoria & Albert Museum, cafe fireplace

Summer fountain, South Bank, London

Rod Stewart tribute act

Girls just want to have fun....

Punch Tavern, Strand, Christmas tree on the bar

National Portrait Gallery restaurant view of Whitehall

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,