Spring time in a secret garden

On a sunny morning in late May 11 artists met up in Culpeper Community Garden to spend time sketching. This proved a very popular outing for IAS members and their guests. Culpeper Community Garden is near the Angel and Chapel Market, so this is a very easy location to get to and the weather was ideal.

The Garden is lovingly maintained by volunteers and was looking lovely and lush in contrast to the nearby densely urban landscape of inner London. There is a good variety of plants, some vegetables and a lawn where workers from nearby offices were eating their lunchtime sandwiches. We hope to go back later in the year  to capture  a different season in the Gardens. A big thank you to Culpeper.

Our next outing is on Tuesday 24 May at Culpeper Community Garden

Our next sketching outing is on Tuesday 24 May to the Culpeper Community Garden. They will be expecting us from 10:30am but of course we are free to arrive later if we want. Please bring sketching stools as there is very limited seating outside. This is a charming spot close to the Angel tube, Upper Street and Essex Road buses and of course Chapel Market. Either bring sandwiches to eat in the garden or there are plenty of cafés nearby. Mandy, one of the volunteers will be expecting us and there will be people working in the garden.

The address is: Culpeper Community Garden, 1 Cloudesley Road, Islington
London, N1 0EG.

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.