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.