The view from next to the washing line.
Shadows moved whilst I was drawing.
About 1hr30.
Author: Jane
Urban sketcher, coastal artist, swimmer.
John studying Spanish
At Fisherman’s cottage, Kalami , Crete
Pencil sketch, 30min.
The Ancient Theatre at Aptera, Crete, quick sketch
From the entrance to the orchestra.
This was a quick sketch. The longer drawing was from under the tree at the top left.
The Theatre, Ancient Aptera
Ancient Greek and Roman theatre, first constructed 3rd century BC, modified by the Romans 1st century AD. In the 20th century it was used as a lime kiln, remains of which were still there when we first visited here in 2009. In the last 5 years the remnants of the lime kiln have been removed, and the theatre is much restored. EU funding acknowledged on the notices.
Drawn and coloured on location. About an hour.
Still life with beach stones and binoculars
Objects on a glass table. The paint dries quickly in the sun.
The Post Office Tower from Lloyd Street WC1
A quick sketch on location, wash done at home later.
I stood in front of Bethany House, built 1882-4 for the Sisters of Bethany, and now a hostel for homeless women.
Lloyd Street constructed 1830s. Post Office Tower (now the BT Tower) completed 1964.
The Shard from Wykeham House, Union Street, SE1
A bit of Wykeham House is on the right. It’s a brick built, Art Deco type building. I was sitting on the steps of the flats, behind the iron railing. Twice during my drawing, residents edged past me, very politely, trying not to disturb me.
On an adjacent building, Waynfleet House, I saw a notice:
“This tablet commemorates the official opening of these buildings by
THE RT REV RICHAD GODFREY PARSONS the Lord Bishop of Southwark
on Saturday 14th May 1938.”
The badge was that of the “Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England”.
In the Southwark Council publication “South of Union Street and North of Borough Road Character Area Appraisal 2007” I read that:
“There are a number of sites which contribute poorly to the character and appearance of the area and the historic environment. As such it is recommended that they be nominated for re-development”.
Wykeham House and its neighbours is so listed. The group is also excluded from the “Union Street Conservation Area” currently on the Southwark Council Website.
This is a pity, in my view. They have these lovely curved bricks which I have tried to draw, and represent this period of architecture well.
From Oxo Tower Wharf, SE1
On the right, Bargehouse Oxo, with all those colours in the brickwork of the wall.
Ahead, “Sea Containers House” 22 Upper Ground SE1.
This is now a luxury hotel “Mondrian” and office space.
Rising above them, the tower block is One Blackfriars, under construction.
Drawn from outdoors balcony on the first floor of the Oxo Tower, about one and a half hours, drawn and coloured on location.
When I was selling software services to Central Government, in the 1980s, I visited Sea Containers House. It was then the headquarters of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise. The story was that they had accepted this rather swanky hotel in lieu of VAT payment. At that time, the smart offices seemed to have landed from another planet into dilapidated former docks. I picked my way on wooden boards over mud, taking care of my smart shoes. On the door was an officer in a starched shirt, and gold epaulettes.
In 2011 Sea Containers House was renovated, and has only recently been completed. The Golden Balls on the river side were removed, and sold.
Postscript:
Walking along a dock in Aberdeen I saw this notice:
The notice is dated “March 1995”. The address, “New King’s Beam House” is Sea Containers.
Barbican Staircase
This is the staircase from Podium Level down to the Lakeside. It’s a magnificent sculptural piece of architecture: it appears free floating, a mass of concrete in the air.
Drawn in the sun after a lunch in the Barbican Kitchen. The wind kept shifting my art equipment around, and the shadows changed as the clouds came and went.
About an hour and 15 minutes, drawn and coloured on location.
Postcard – Fuengirola
This is a postcard I sent to my friends in Switzerland, inspired by the work of Martin Hicklin.
It celebrates our visit to Fuengirola and includes items found on the beach, and some confetti from a carnival we happened across in Ronda.
