Meanwhile Heather James has sent us some work from the layered history project. This is a photo of a bomb site opposite her house and her pic of an imagined reconstruction of the original houses on the site. Great stuff.
Sunday, 6 December 2020
30 December and late postings
Monday, 23 November 2020
November 20 posting. Addition and Corrections
First 'London by Night' postings should be with me or Sue by Wednesday 30 th December not Tuesday 30th.
Due to a technical glitch an image by Priscilla Worley, which she originally did in August was posted a second time and not attributed. But here is the "Tree of Life" which Priscilla has done for November; an image of her grandson in Australia climbing a eucalyptus tree. Definite Joan Eardley influence.
Saturday, 21 November 2020
November 2020 Innings
Our subject for November was the Tree of Life. Many thanks to our contributors, who were:
Sue Lees
Still Sleeping in Waterlow Park
Westbury Court Gardens in Gloucestershire, 300 year old tree
Our next innings will be on Tuesday 30 December, the subject is "London by Night'. Pics to me janetat48ock@hotmail.com or susan@lees.org.uk
Some regulars are also doing a similar subject for an on line class, so this is either an incentive to develop a picture or alternatively an easy way of using the same image twice and getting credit twice..
Late entries for November will be posted, but meanwhile Happy Christmas artists. Hope Santa brings those art materials.
Wednesday, 4 November 2020
November 2020 innings and late postings from October
I hope you are all ready for the 'Tree of Life' innings on Tuesday 17 November.
The Tree of Life is an ancient and universal symbol appearing in religions and myths from all over the world, including Judaism, Islam, and Norse mythology. I found Wikipedia very useful on the background and there are of course images that can be found on Google Images. Klimt and Kiefer are amongst the artists who have drawn upon the imagery. Yggdrasil is the Tree of Life in Norse mythology.
Moira Coupe produced this image for an Islington Art Society on line Zoom crit session:
Pictures to me janetat48ock@hotmail.com for posting on the blog.
Meanwhile there are some late October images, some of which many of you have already seen but have not been included in the blog before.
Diana Butement sent these images from Langton Matravers in Dorset;
Tuesday, 27 October 2020
October 2020 innings
Our 'stay at home' topic for October was layered local history, which was also the stay at home option for September. This is a wide subject and we received a very varied number of 'takes'.
There is a promised response featuring a highwayman, who has been unfortunately delayed in Crouch End, but watch this space.
Meanwhile Gill Steiner sent a pic of two very frightened women whose house, 4 doors away from Gill's, was bombed out in WWII. By chance Gill found a devastating account of the bombings and the destruction in a local newspaper.
Avis Dennis sent a pic of the grounds of Blenheim Palace, which were designed by Capability Brown. The Palace is of course redolent with layers of British history. Avis also sent a picture of her godson's demised pear tree.
Tricia Sharpe's contribution was a mixed media pic of swans in the local park, where the poet Stevie Smith used to walk.
Priscila Worley lives close to Hackney Empire, one of the architect Frank Matcham's designs. It is a real part of the local community with great panto but unfortunately closed at the moment.
Janet Payne sent a pic of the Phoenix rising from the ashes above the porch on the river frontage of St Paul's cathedral, rebuilt of course after the Great Fire of London. The city survives with new life.
The next innings will be on Tuesday 17 November and the subject will be the "Tree of Life".
Saturday, 17 October 2020
20 October outing postponed
Due to the Covid alert level being raised so that London is in Tier 2, it is best if we postpone the outing planned for Tuesday 20 October until it is safe to meet up again. This decision is made with a heavy heart but it is in the best interests of participants, Islington Art Society and the cafe.
We do have the stay at home alternative courtesy of Urban Sketchers. Here it is again:
Delve into the history of your local area, and produce an image (or something 3d!) which reflects some aspect of its past times and change. This may be a series of images on one page, possibly including collage.
For a fuller (and better) explanation of this project, please go to the Urban Sketchers themselves, here: http://urbansketchers-london.blogspot.com/2020/09/sketch-history-which-surrounds-us.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UrbanSketchersLondon+%28Urban+Sketchers+London%29
Images to janetat48ock@hotmail.com.
For the future we are exploring using Zoom through IAS so that we can show our work to each other and for a more interactive approach.
Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Send your pics to:
Janet
janetat48Ock@hotmail.com
or Sue
susan@lees.org.uk
Please could you do this regardless of whether you do the 'on site 'or the 'stay at home' alternative. Taking the pics on site is very difficult to do whilst maintaining social distancing. Also artists taking their own pics generally results in better images. Thanks.
Stay at home plan for 20 October
Your organisers were very excited by the local history alternative for September and there is plenty of scope here for another go at this. Thank you Urban Sketchers.
So:
Tuesday 20 October: Alternative plan in event of bad weather, or if people prefer to stay at home
For an alternative to our planned day out at Park View Cafe, Finsbury Park, in case of either bad weather or for those who do not wish to travel, once again we have turned to the London Urban Sketchers for inspiration.
We thought that their latest idea sounded rather good. The idea is to delve into the history of your local area, and produce an image (or something 3d!) which reflects some aspect of its past times and change. This may be a series of images on one page, possibly including collage.
For a fuller (and better) explanation of this project, please go to the Urban Sketchers themselves, here: http://urbansketchers-london.blogspot.com/2020/09/sketch-history-which-surrounds-us.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UrbanSketchersLondon+%28Urban+Sketchers+London%29
Monday, 5 October 2020
20 October 2020 Outing
After much debate we have decided that our next outing will be to the Park View Cafe on the edge of Finsbury Park. The cafe is at the entrance to the park opposite Manor House tube. It has a garden with outside sitting space as well as indoor seating. There are interesting plants and shapes in the garden and if the weather is good, there is of course plenty of opportunity to sketch in the park.
Meet 11 am Tuesday 20 October at Park View cafe, 327a Green Lanes, N4 1BZ.
Please remember the rule of six and be careful to socially distance. Participants were really good about this when we went to Parliament Hill.
We will publish a stay at home alternative nearer the time.
Friday, 2 October 2020
More from Hampstead Heath
There are some late arrivals from our outing to Hampstead Heath, but worth well waiting for:
Lindsay Topping
Alison Sandifer
Monday, 28 September 2020
Hampstead Heath in September
In spite of the forecast for rain groups of 9 artists met outside the Italian cafe at the bottom of Parliament Hill, in socially distanced groups. Some of us made for the model boat pond whilst others concentrated on the complex geometry of the band stand.
The heavens didn't open until lunchtime when we were able to sit under the awnings of the cafe and under the bandstand roof. This latter location was populated by teenagers from the local schools, playing music and lending a festival atmosphere to the day.
Artists worked hard and enjoyed the day, in spite of the later wet weather.
The Heath is getting ready for the autumn with trees about to shed their leaves and turn colour. It afforded a good choice of outdoor scenes with landscape, people and some buildings.
Some more artists worked from home on the layered theme of history, including one from Priscilla Worley of a house in Hackney on the market for £4 million.
If any more participants want to send pics in, please email them to janetat48ock@hotmail.com
Watch this space for details of the October outing.
From Tricia Sharpe
Overpainted photos of stained glass panels in front doors in Palmers Green
From Sue Lees.
The Men's Pond, Hampstead Heath
From Sara Meidan
Local Buildings
From Priscilla Worley
The Folly of the Vanities
From Janet Payne
Early autumn on the Heath
From Gill Steiner
Boys and Dogs
From Ann Kozlowski-Hunt
The bandstand
From Heather James
Hampstead Pond
From Diane Umemoto
The bandstand
Saturday, 19 September 2020
Wednesday 23 September: Alternative plan in event of bad weather, or if people prefer to stay at home
For an alternative to our planned day out at Parliament Hill, in case of either bad weather or for those who do not wish to travel, once again we have turned to the London Urban Sketchers for inspiration.
We thought that their latest idea sounded rather good. The idea is to delve into the history of your local area, and produce an image (or something 3d!) which reflects some aspect of its past times and change. This may be a series of images on one page, possibly including collage.
For a fuller (and better) explanation of this project, please go to the Urban Sketchers themselves, here: http://urbansketchers-london.blogspot.com/2020/09/sketch-history-which-surrounds-us.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UrbanSketchersLondon+%28Urban+Sketchers+London%29
Please send your images to Susan@lees.org.uk
Friday, 18 September 2020
Wednesday 23 September: Parliament Hill: Arrangements update in view of latest Covid regulations
The government has just announced that people cannot meet in groups of more than 6 individuals. In view of this, we are going to have to be very careful to keep our sketching group in pods of 6 or less. Please would everyone go off and start painting as soon as they have reached the meeting point and made themselves known distantly to either Sue or Janet.
The cafe has trestle tables, and from the point of view of Covid safety, we should limit ourselves to four people per table, take two or more tables if necessary, or otherwise, especially if the cafe seating is crowded, bring or buy sandwiches and eat at a distance sitting on sketching stools, well distanced, in groups of max 6.
We won't be able to have an extensive showing of everybody's work, and some people will probably not have their work photographed. In which case, please email your images to either Sue or Janet.
Looking forward to a pleasant and successful sketching day on Wednesday, despite the new rules and being extra careful. We will be sending out some thoughts for Plan B for those who would prefer to stay at home shortly.
Monday, 7 September 2020
Parliament Hill Wednesday 23 September
Our next outing is to Parliament Hill, on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
This will be on WEDNESDAY 23 September, a departure from our usual date but we intend to Tuesdays next time.
Meet by the Italian run cafe near the bandstand at 11 am, and again at 1 pm for lunch, or of course bring sandwiches.
There are ponds nearby and of course the glorious view from the top of Parliament Hill.
The loos are now open after refurbishment. The overground stops at Gospel Oak. The 214 bus runs up Highgate Road and Highgate West Hill.
Your organisers are trying to come up with socially distanced venues for the autumn and winter months. Preferably somewhere that it is possible to get to without using the tube. All suggestions considered. Autumn could be a covered venue but January and February should really be indoors with social distancing.
A stay at home option for those not able to attend will follow
Saturday, 29 August 2020
Tuesday, 11 August 2020
Tuesday 25 August: Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, London N16 9HJ
WEATHER UPDATE
The weather forecast for tomorrow refers to heavy rain and wind. Dismal. However, this may not happen (we have had recent experiences of anticipated rain not happening), and there are various sheltered spaces around Clissold House that we could use if necessary - the portico, under the portico and a verandah to one side. The big church opposite is likely to be open, so we could go in there, and there are any number of cafes in church street. We think the Old Church has a porch. Alternatively, bring your sketching stool, an umbrella, and such art materials as are useable in the damp (watercolours are not good, as they won't dry), so watercolour pencils, pens, pastels. Janet and Sue are going to give it a go unless it is pouring first thing.
If you think it is going to be too wet, then you may like to create some artwork with a bad weather theme at home.
---oooOOOooo---
We have decided to return to Clissold Park for our August sketch date as our
earlier plan to go to Hampstead Heath has been frustrated by the loos not being open as they are waiting for new parts. Clissold Park is relatively central for
our spread-out participants, and well connected with bus services, if people
feel like using them. Parking controls are in force on the Hackney sides of Clissold Park, so no chance of parking there, but Islington residents may find a place on the Islington side of Green Lanes under the Roamer scheme. Partners can always be asked for lifts!
There are loos (open), and the cafe in Clissold House is
operating a take-out service (no indoor access). We will be maintaining our social distancing policy.
We have not been there for a few years, and as well as Clissold House, there is the Old Stoke Newington Church, the canal, two lakes, the gardens, looking good at present, and there will be people sitting about for those who wish to do figures. Also some deer in an enclosure. Stoke Newington Church Street is close by with sandwich shops as well as offering street scenes. Hopefully it will be sunny without being unbearably hot.
It is an opportunity to produce some work which will have local interest when the Islington Art Society holds its next exhibition in the Stoke Newington Library Gallery close by.
Our meeting place will be outside the front of Clissold House at the base of the steps, at 11 o'clock. We suggest you bring sketching stools. We hope for a good day's sketching, and Sue's telephone number for the day is 07975 864142.
Sunday, 26 July 2020
21 July 2020 Caledonian Park
Our meeting point was the old clocktower in Caledonian Park, Islington's second largest open space. The park was previously a general market and also a cattle market. It has recently been revived as a thriving neighbourhood park complete with cafe, which was open for sandwiches which could be eaten outside.
Everyone worked very hard. It was a lovely sunny day with white clouds scudding across a blue sky, families having picnics and outdoor gym enthusiasts. Everyone was vey excited to be out again with Art in the Park.
We have had a request from Islington to use the images for their social media content for Caledonian Park. I will assume that artists are fine with this unless I hear from you janetat48ock@hotmail.com.
Hope I haven't missed anyone's picture out.
The next outing is planned for late August, date and venue to be confirmed, possibly Hamsptead Heath if the building work to the toilets by the Italian cafe is finished.
Happy Sketching
Some artists who arrived at 11 am for the photo opportunity
Gill Steiner worked from home and made a model of the clocktower
Tricia Sharpe
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