December's Outing

On a crisp but sunny day in mid December eight artists went to the British Museum to sketch the Greek friezes and other artefacts. A favourite was the Bassae Room, up a little stair and only open part of the time. We had lunch in the Great Court and some people set off again after lunch to do more work and fight off the coming mid winter darkness. There was some great work done, including collages. I have tried to put up more examples of work and to do justice to a great day but I have not been able to include everything.

Don't forget the next outing on Tuesday 30 January 2018. Meet at 11 am at Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square, http://www.holytrinitysloanesquare.co.uk/.  

January's outing

The next outing is on Tuesday 30 January 2018. Meet at 11 am at Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square, http://www.holytrinitysloanesquare.co.uk/.   Holy Trinity Church is at the top of Sloane Street, just off Sloane Square. The nearest tube which is less than a minute from the church is Sloane Square, one stop from Victoria. The Church (Parish office) is expecting us.

The Church has been chosen because it is a good example of an Arts and Crafts interior with fine stained glass, Betjemann called it the Cathedral of the Arts and Crafts movement. From the church's website:

'In common with the aims of the Arts & Crafts Movement, the architect of Holy Trinity Church, John Dando Sedding, believed that a church should be ‘wrought and painted over with everything that has life and beauty—in frank and fearless naturalism…’.'

It is also of course an active C of E church.

This should be a good challenge for a January day. Loos in the church and lots of cafes near by.

December outing to the British Museum

The December outing is to the British Museum on Tuesday 12 December meeting at 11 am. Meet by the totem pole in the Great Court. We will be concentrating on the Greek friezes, so latecomers should look for us there. Janet's number for the day is 07815 772857. You are of course free to sketch anything you want but the friezes have relief and movement. The Museum only allows dry materials, so no water colour unfortunately. They do usually provide sketching stools though sometimes these have all been taken. There are of course loos and cafes. Visit http://www.britishmuseum.org for more info.

A good indoor spot for a cold December day.

Sketching Day at Marylebone Station

On Tuesday 14 November six artists assembled at Marylebone Station. This is one of the nicest of London's rail termini, being small and retaining all its Victorian features.   One of us, however, was unimpressed with its charms, and preferred to remain in the underground, enjoying the deco tunnel, surfacing only for refreshments, and producing a very striking image:
Everyone else found something of interest at ground level. One person produced a series of quick figures at the cash machine - these are only a few of her rapid studies:
There were lots of people moving around.
Then there were various interesting cafes, and the ironwork roof:
We thoroughly enjoyed our day out with the transport system at Marylebone.

Sketching at Gillespie Park and Blighty Coffee Cafe

Tuesday 31 October was another of these light dry days which encouraged a record-breaking thirteen sketchers to present themselves at the Islington Ecology Centre in Gillespie Park. We were welcomed by Louisa Roscoe, Nature Conservation Officer from Islington Council’s Greenspace team, who gave us a whistlestop introduction to the origins of the Park out of the remains of the old railway sidings, of its current (extensive) wildlife habitats in an urban space, and the work which the Ecology Team do in the Park. Thank you, Louisa.

If anyone would like to take more exercise and benefit from time spent fruitfully in the outdoors amongst nature (also so good for health and happiness) there is a Thursday volunteer conservation team which is always open to newcomers, please ring the Ecology Centre on 020 7527 4374.

We were delighted to find that one artist had reconnoitred the Park in advance, and had come prepared to create a textile piece of the spirit of Gillespie, and produced this fabulous result:
Other people enjoyed one of the ponds ....
Others the vistas of the park, rus and urbe .....
And others took a shine to the interesting sculpture work which is all over the park ....
We very much enjoyed ourselves amongst the nature of the park, and we are planning to return at a different time of year.   Later, afflicted by chilliness and hunger, we moved on to the Blighty Cafe, on the Blackstock Road, where fortunately we arrived after the lunchtime rush, and were consequently able to spread ourselves about downstairs. As well as enjoying the excellent catering of the Cafe, we did some more art:
The staff at both the Ecology Centre and Blighty Coffee were extremely welcoming,we very much appreciate this, and we had a productive and fun day at the two locations which we all enjoyed. Next Tuesday 14 November we are going to Marylebone Station, we look forward to seeing everybody then.

October's outing

October's outing is of course Tuesday 31 October, not 31 November, as incorrectly stated in the November post. I thought it was going too well. 
Gillespie Park, Tuesday 31 October
Marylebone Station, Tuesday 14 November

Apologies, Janet

November outing

In an unprecedented triumph of organisation, Sue and Janet, have managed to set the date and place for November's meeting before October's outing has actually taken place.
November's outing is to Marylebone Station on Tuesday 14 November meeting at 11 am. Janet's number for the day is 07815 772857. We hope to be able to fit in one more outing before Christmas.

It would be a good idea to bring a sketching stool to be sure of a good spot. There are plenty of cafes and we will decide on the day whether to have lunch in the station or venture further afield. 

The full address is Great Central House, Melcombe Pl, Marylebone, London NW1 6JJ.

Meanwhile don't forget Gillespie Park on Tuesday 31 November.

Next Art in the Park Sketching Day: Tuesday 31 October at Gillespie Park, Drayton Park, Highbury N5 1PH

We are going to make another visit to Gillespie Park, following our rained-out attempt in June.

October should be full of autumn colour in Islington's flagship nature park and we very much hope that we will get a nice sunny day!

There are several smallish meadows, areas of woodland, several ponds, with bridges and reflections.  Lots of details, including a map of the Park, can be found here

We will meet at 11 o’clock, when we will be greeted by a member of the Ecology Centre’s staff.   The Islington Ecology Centre is close to the Drayton Park entrance, and contains within it the all-important lavatories.    The Park has various access points: Drayton Park, Gillespie Road, Quill Street and Seven Sisters Road.    The nearest tube station is Arsenal, but Finsbury Park is close to the northern extremity of the Park.   Drayton Park overground station is also close.    The following buses go reasonably close: 4, 19, 236.

There is no catering in the Ecology Centre, so we have decided to go on to Blighty Coffee, which is a cafe on the Blackstock Road up near Finsbury Park Station. (Address: 35-37 Blackstock Road, N4 2JF).    Its interior bristles with things to draw, with a British wartime emphasis.   A good series of photos can be seen here    They change the decor around, last time we went there were various aeroplanes suspended from the ceiling downstairs.  The food is delicious.

We suggest that you bring your sketching stools, as there are seats around but not necessarily where you want them, and we look forward to seeing everyone.    Sue’s telephone number for the day is: 07975 864142.

Rotunda Garden, Smithfield

Seven enthusiastic Art in the Park sketchers turned up on a dry, warm, and ultimately sunny day at the Rotunda Garden, West Smithfield. We were astonished to be greeted by a multi-coloured neon art installation completely covering the resident statue, but soon realised its sketching possibilities. We discovered that this is a new temporary installation entitled Peace by artists Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan. We were also rather dismayed by the local building projects which fortunately were not in the park, nor in the parts of Smithfield Market which we could see, but the upside was that lots of off-duty builders were available as hunky models, sitting on the installation and around on the benches, having their breakfasts and lunches in the garden. We also got stuck into capturing the Victorian architecture of Smithfield Market, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in this undiscovered corner of London. Another visit when the renovations are over, and more of the Victoriana is uncovered, would be worthwhile.

Art in the Park: Next Sketching Day: Tuesday 26 September at the West Smithfield Rotunda Garden, EC1A 9BD

A new venue for Art in the Park, the West Smithfield Rotunda Garden is at the mid-point of West Smithfield, down the road from the Barbican tube station, and is a circular garden with trees and a central statue, and views of the Victorian Smithfield Market to the north.  

We will meet in the Garden at 11 o'clock, and can either sketch within it, or wander outside and do parts of the long Smithfield Market, which has arches and towers, or the various other Victorian buildings around.   A day for getting to grips with architecture, although the statue is also good visually.  The area is quiet, spacious, and has very little traffic.  If it is wet, we can go into St Bartholemew the Great and sketch in there, as we did in January.   It seems that St Bartholemew's cafe is shut while they do building works outside the church, but there are a number of pubs and cafes in West Smithfield.

Further details and travel notes can be found here: here

We look forward to seeing fellow artists, both newcomers and regulars.  Sue's telephone number for the day is: 07975 864142.  

August Outing: Alexandra Palace

A select group of four artists assembled on the terrace of Ally Pally on 22 August, where we enjoyed a balmy day.   Externally, Ally Pally offers lots of artistic interest.  We focused on the architecture, both pristine and unrepaired, the expansive views of London, and the electric colours of the dragons and swans on the boating lake.  There are more subjects, not least people enjoying themselves.    Art in the Park will be sure to go again, because there are also indoor options in the Palm Court and the Phoenix Cafe (and the Boating Cafe) if the weather fails.

July outing

Five of us met at the Eastern Curve in Dalston. This is a community garden and urban oasis currently fighting off development plans. Dalston is recently gentrified but retains its urban grit. At the Curve there is a garden, vegetables, a children's play area and a cafe. Our pictures show the space and a kind passer by took a photo of the happy band of artists.

Do join us at our next outing to Alexandra Palace on 22 August. Details are already on the blog.

Art in the Park: Next sketching day Tuesday 22 August at Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way London N22 7AY

We are going to revisit Alexandra Palace and tackle it from the outside this time on our August Art in the Park sketch-day.   There are many possibilities with the Italianate architecture, as well as the panoramic view of London and trees and parkland views.   There is also a boating lake at the back of the Palace, with Lakeside cafe. 
  

We will assemble at 11am on the front steps outside the main entrance at the western end of the Palace.   We hope very much that we will have a dry day, but if it is wet we can paint the Palm Court once more, or sit in the Victorian pub-restaurant (the Bar & Kitchen).

Refreshments can be bought from the Bar & Kitchen which has full facilities, and has views from the windows, and an outside terrace.  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 seeing a good number of sketchers, both newcomers and regulars. Sue's telephone number for the day is: 07975 864142.

July Outing

The next outing is on Tuesday 25 July to the Eastern Curve Garden in Dalston, described on its website as 'a meeting place for people and plants'. Meet there at 11 am. There is a cafe and loos and undercover drawing space if it is too wet to sit in the garden itself. The address is 13 Dalston Lane, London E8 3DF. It is near to Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction Stations and buses run along Kingsland Road and Balls Pond Road. The Curve is threatened by development, so now is the time to go.

They are expecting us and more information can be found on their website dalstongarden.org.

June Art in the Park

Our outing to the Islington Ecology Centre was on a very wet day indeed. Your intrepid organisers Janet and Sue did meet up at the venue as advertised but it was far too wet to draw outside and the forecast was not good. Much to our disappointment we were the only people from IAS to show up. So after waiting a decent interval we switched to plan B, which was to go to nearby Blighty cafe on Blackstock Road and draw inside. The Gandhi vegan breakfast was a definite winner but we did do some work as well as the pictures show. 

Our next outing will be to the Curve, a community garden in Dalston, where we hope for much better weather and to back up to our usual attendance.

Next Art in the Park sketching day: Tuesday 6 June at Gillespie Park, Islington Ecology Centre 191 Drayton Park, Highbury, N5 1PH

We have realised that we have not yet visited Islington’s flagship nature park, Gillespie Park, right on our doorstep.   There are several smallish meadows, with areas of woodland, generally varied habitat as befits a nature reserve.  We expect that the Park will be looking very floriforous in early June, in particular the lupins will be in flower in one of the meadows, and there should also be highly visible ox-eye daisies and wild carrot in bloom, as well as many other wildflowers, dog roses, etc.   The Park has several ponds, with bridges, so an opportunity to paint reflections.     Lots of details, including a map of the Park, can be found here

We will meet at 11 o’clock, when we will be greeted by a member of the Ecology Centre’s staff.   (So it would be good if we made it by 11!)  The Islington Ecology Centre is close to the Drayton Park entrance, and contains within it the all-important lavatories.    The Park has various access points:  Drayton Park, Gillespie Road, Quill Street and Seven Sisters Road.    The nearest tube station is Arsenal, but Finsbury Park is close to the northern extremity of the Park.   Drayton Park overground station is also close.    The following buses go reasonably close: 4, 19, 236.

There is no catering in the Ecology Centre, so you will need to bring your picnic lunch.   If the weather is nice, we can all eat together out in the fields somewhere.   If the weather is not good, we have decided to go on to Blighty Coffee, which is a cafe on the Blackstock Road up near Finsbury Park Station. (Address: 35-37 Blackstock Road, N4 2JF).    Its interior bristles with things to draw, with a British wartime emphasis.   A good series of photos can be seen here     It also has good reports of its coffee and catering.

We suggest that you bring your sketching stools, as there are seats around but not necessarily where you want them, and we look forward to seeing everyone.    Sue’s telephone number for the day is: 07975 864142.