April Art in the Park outing

In April six Islington Art Society members and their guests met at the Museum of London Docklands. There is a fascinating view outside the museum of the West India Quay, various boats and barges, old cranes, tower blocks and the Docklands Light Railway. Several of us worked outside through the morning which turned chilly and became a bit of an endurance test.

Inside the museum there are examples of boats, old dockyard items and a remodelling of the old Sailor Town with full Dickensian atmosphere. We had good fun sketching.

This location is probably better in warm weather as there are many artistic possibilities outside. The museum is free, has a café and facilities. There are more choices for lunch beyond the museum.

The next sketching date is Monday 18 April

April's Art in the Park outing is to the Museum of London Docklands on Monday 18 April. We meet at 11am, but late comers are very welcome. The Museum is best reached by public transport either from West India Quay on the DLR or Canary Wharf on the Jubilee Line. The 277 bus also goes to Canary Wharf from Highbury or Dalston. There are plenty of sketching opportunities, both inside and out and there is a café on the ground floor. Entry to the Museum is free.

Revisiting Alexandra Palace

On a beautiful if cold March day, ten IAS artists and guests went to Alexandra Palace. The view over London from the terrace was stunning as was the Palm Court inside the building, where a café/bar provided us with sustenance. There were surprisingly few people around so we had a choice of seats and subjects and could work undisturbed.

This proved a popular venue, though most people stayed inside because of the cold. We will organise a repeat visit later in the year when the weather warms up to benefit from the terrace and the park. 

The next outing will be to Docklands in April, the date to be confirmed.

Next Outing: Monday 14 March to Alexandra Palace Palm Court

Following a very satisfactory sketching visit last spring to Alexandra Palace, we have decided to revisit this splendid interior space on Monday 14 March.

We will assemble at 11am in the Palm Court, which is the Palace’s western entrance hall where we will be able to sketch the palm trees, sphinxes and pyramids under the enormous curved glass roof, as well as any other visitors.

We can also go outside and sketch the spectacular building (if dry), and the southwards panorama of London. 

Refreshments can be bought from the Bar & Kitchen which has full facilities, is interesting enough to paint, and has views from the windows.  The bar has tables in the Palm Court, if we use these we should buy some drinks or food. Otherwise we suggest you bring your sketching stools.

Ally Pally has two car parks, the closest one to the front entrance is in The Grove, (if you are coming from the Crouch End direction turn to the left just after the Garden Centre entrance, and please do not park in the Garden Centre). The other car park is at the far end of the building beside the entrance to the skating rink. We are going on a non-event day so there should be no parking difficulty, no crowds, nor any entrance fee.

Alternatively, various buses go through the park. You can find a map and full travel details here.

We look forward to another companionable sketching day out with IAS artists and their guests.

Revisiting the Barbican

Seven artists met at the Barbican on a sunny February day for a drawing and painting session. We were not the only group of artists there, the Barbican is obviously a popular venue. There were good views of the central courtyard with its pond, the church, St Giles without Cripplegate and the City of London School for Girls.

It was also possible to get views into the spectacular upper level conservatory and the lower level foyers. The Barbican Kitchen provided coffee and lunch, together with a warm base from which to draw the courtyard and allowed the artists to exchange news and ideas around a table.

Our next sketching outing is on Thursday 11 February

The date for the next Art in the Park outing is Thursday 11 February. Having previously enjoyed a sketching day at the Barbican it was decided to make a return visit. We will meet at 11am in the 'Barbican Kitchen' on the ground floor (level 0). There is plenty of seating and the café sells reasonably priced food, or just a coffee. The Kitchen overlooks the outdoor space, City of London School for Girls, the pond and the Church as well as having all the usual café opportunities for sketching, not to mention the foyer itself or from the stairs.

For those who don't know the Barbican, enter on Silk Street and carry on towards the open space on the far side and the Kitchen is on the left, or ask the Barbican staff. Barbican underground station is on the Circle, District and Hammersmith line and Moorgate is on all these plus the Northern Line (City Branch).

Ice skating at Canary Wharf

photo: ©Margaret Cooter

January's Art in the Park outing was to the ice rink at Canary Wharf. We saw and drew schoolchildren wearing 'high vis' jackets pushing other children on sledges, some rather good office workers skating in their lunch hour and some skating novices who had a few bumps. The Christmas lights still sparkled on the trees against the backdrop of the tall buildings surrounding Canada Square.

Our small group of four artists took refuge from the cold weather in The Tasting Room, the pop-up pub that is on site, which proved to be a quiet and friendly location with good views - in fact we doubled their custom. A good day out for the intrepid Art in the Park sketchers.