April's outing is on Monday 20th at Alexandra Palace

Victorian extravaganza, Alexandra Palace set in its own parkland on a ridge between Muswell Hill and Crouch End, is an unmissable destination for Art in the Park.

We plan to meet at 11am in the Palm Court, which is the Palace’s western entrance hall where we will be able to sketch ensembles of palm trees, sphinxes and pyramids under the enormous curved glass roof, and any members of the public who might be wandering around in the space. 

If the weather is fair, and we so wish, we can also go outside and sketch the spectacular building and the amazing southwards view of London. For views of the interior, please have a look here. Refreshments can be bought from the Bar & Kitchen, which has full facilities. 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 are looking forward to another enjoyable day out with IAS artists and their guests.

Art in the Park group visits the Museum of London

On Tuesday 17 March five IAS members took their pencil cases to the Museum of London. We had a great day. It is possible to avoid the crowds and find peaceful corners of this fascinating museum in which to draw.

We particularly enjoyed the 18th century pleasure garden experience, which featured models in fashionable dress of the period (many of the costumes were the real 18th century McCoy, made for very petite ladies) as well as screenings of dramatisations of 18th century incidents located at Vauxhall and Ranelagh Gardens, all in lighting suggestive of gardens at night. 

There were other places we liked as well, which included the Victorian shopping experience, some art deco moments, and the Lord Mayor’s golden carriage. While the lighting is generally dim in the Museum, punctuated by spotlights, it is consistent – a drawing can be taken up after a break with no concerns that the sun will have gone in or moved round. 

There was much imaginative display in the Museum which is yet another Art in the Park location that is worth a return visit.