ART IN THE PARK:  GOODMAN’S FIELDS, LEMAN STREET, E1

As we did not have sketch day in March, we have decided to have a second outing in April.

Our next Art in the Park gathering will be on Tuesday 25 April when we are going to Goodman’s Fields, Leman Street, Aldgate E1.    The attraction of this swanky new development,  which has various areas of  smart public space and architectural planting, is the half-a-dozen galloping horse sculptures:
https://hamishmackie.com/goodmans-fields-horses/ 

They offer unusual artistic possibilities, and you might produce some work which would be of interest to visitors to  the IAS’s June exhibition at the Espacio Gallery which is not a great distance away.

The nearest tube is Aldgate East, though Aldgate is walkable.   Goodman’s Fields is on the eastern side of Leman Street and the geography of the area can be seen here under the Local Area tab at the top of the page: https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/new-homes/london/aldgate/goodmans-fields

We will meet at 11 o’clock in the main Plaza of Goodman’s Fields, where the horses are.   We suggest that you bring sketching stools to supplement the stone benches.   There are various pubs in Leman Street where we can have lunch/find a loo, or you might prefer to bring some sandwiches.   If it is wet it will be possible to sit under various overhanging parts of the new buildings.

We look forward to seeing you there.   Sue's telephone number is 07975 864142 if you arrive and cannot find anyone!

IAS outing to Covent Garden

On a lovely sunny spring day 12 IAS artists and friends met in Covent Garden outside St Paul's Church to sketch. Undeterred by the entertainer in Union Jack boxer shorts and nipple tassels we settled down to do some serious work. 

Diane Umemoto (an IAS guest) sold a piece, here is what she said: 'We were sitting at a café opposite the musicians so we could enjoy the music while sketching and eating. Ann chatted up the fellow sitting at the next table while I was off somewhere, and he offered to buy the chalk painting she'd just begun. Since it "wasn't ready yet," she turned him down. We all had lunch, Ann returned to her drawing. When the fellow got up to leave, he asked if he could buy my sketch. "Huh? Well, okay." [Ann's always saying, Well, that's what we do, isn't it?"] How much? "Uh, twenty?" Hmm. Ten? "Okay, fifteen." We figured out how to cut it out of the big sketchbook - and put our earnings toward lunch!'

There was a lot of activity, many tourists, entertainers including a uni-cyclist, opera singers, serious musicians and of course outdoor café culture and markets. It was great fun, very colourful, with a choice of architecture or people as subject matter, very amusing and certainly not quiet. We met up at lunch time to show our work and compare notes. 

The next outing will be to the horse sculptures in Goodman's Fields near Aldgate. Details will be posted on the blog shortly.

Next sketching outing is on Monday 3 April

Our Next Sketching Day will be on Monday 3 April, when we will be going to Covent Garden Market. We will meet at 11am outside the portico of St Paul's church, also known as 'The Actors' Church, Covent Garden, which is the big unmissable church built by Inigo Jones on the western side of the square. The nearest tube station is Covent Garden (Piccadily Line) but Leicester Square (Northern Line) is not very far away.

Some people may want to establish themselves with their stools and their sketchbooks in the area outside St Paul's drawing either the gorgeous St Paul's or the covered market place, with its lovely pillars and nineteenth century iron worked arcades. Others may want to go inside the market (particularly if wet) and find a corner to do interior market views.

We are hoping that there may be musicians in the lower parts of the market, or there may be assorted performance artists outside in the Plaza. In any case, there will be lots of people, some sitting at the restaurants both indoors and outdoors. This is a location with multiple artistic possibilities.  

We will gather at lunchtime and find a suitable café. Sue's telephone number is 07975 864142 if you arrive and cannot find anyone! We suggest you bring your sketching stool to avoid being restricted by the locations of café chairs.

Sketching outing to the Wellcome Collection

On Tuesday 21 February a select group of five artists assembled at the Wellcome Collection's premises on the Euston Road. Visitors are only allowed to use dry materials for sketching the Collection, and so we got out our pencils, oil pastels, pens, watercolour crayons, and licked fingers, and got on very well. Nobody seemed to miss paint or water, though this could be added later at home if required.   

There were all sorts of interesting human biology-type displays, and some of us got involved with these, as can be seen in the photographs. There were also some three dimensional artwork pieces with a health angle. One of us was captivated by a series of ethnic masks (possibly belonging to medicine men?). Others sat down on the comfortable sofa in the Reading Room and sketched the rather dazzling deco-cum-Hollywood staircase, complete with red carpet. These stairs are now intended to be a sitting area, and made comfortable by vast cushions, and students seem to love sitting on them. We were surprised to notice that everyone in the Reading Room held their poses amazingly well, going into interesting positions, and thereby becoming excellent youthful models for the artist.

We discovered a quiet café on the second floor, where we could spread ourselves out, which was a bonus, as the eatery near the front door was very crowded.  Taking everything together, this is a  good winter venue and very suitable for a return visit.

The next sketching outing is on Tuesday 21 February

The February outing is on Tuesday 21 February at 11am to the Wellcome Collection at 183 Euston Road NW1 2BE. It is near Euston Square and Warren Street underground stations. The Wellcome Collection describes itself as 'The free destination for the incurably curious' and has free exhibitions, scientific collections, a reading/hangout room, café and loos.

We are booked in as a group for two hours from 11am, reference number 40238. I would expect that we would be allowed to stay longer than this if we wanted, and we usually break for lunch at 1pm anyway. I'll book us in from the information desk at 11am anyway. The Wellcome Collection asks that we stick to dry materials only.

Janet's number for the day is 07815 772857. Janet has drawn there in the past and it is a good destination with lots of possibilities.

Visit to St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield on Tuesday 24 January

Eight IAS members and friends assembled in St Bartholomew the Great and those who had not visited this stunning Norman church before were astonished that such a large and superb example of Romanesque architecture could be found in London. The church was founded in 1123 as an Augustinian monastery and was duly dissolved by Henry VIII in the 1530s—however the east end, with its stunning runs of Norman arches survived as a parish church. The later medieval lady chapel also survived, plus part of the cloisters. The building survived the great fire of London because the old priory walls remaining to the south stopped the fire moving northwards.

The church is deeply atmospheric, but demanding to draw, with all its arches and perspectives, and changing light. However, when we looked at our work after lunch in the cloister café, we found that we had all done rather well with this difficult subject.

Another visit would be worthwhile, but we must remember to get to the café early, before supplies run out! A summer visit would enable people to sketch the arch of Smithfields, which is visible from the road outside the church, and a selection of interesting old pubs and houses.

January's sketching outing is on Tuesday 24th

Our next outing is on Tuesday 24 January at 11 am to Great Saint Barthlomews Church, Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7JQ. I have confirmed the visit with the office. There is a small entrance charge for non-worshippers but we should get the group rate so ask on the door. Oil paints are not allowed (but I don't think anyone was expecting to use them), easels are allowed but please be careful. There is a cloister café.

Barts is the oldest church in London and is absolutely stunning. It is located near to Smithfield in a quiet corner, the entrance is through an arch. Last time I was there I saw a Damien Hirst golden statue of St Bartholomew displaying his flayed skin! In spite of this challenge, Barts is a very special place.

We hope to see as many of you there as possible. Janet's mobile number for the day is 07815 772857.