17th century monastery on the Akrotiri Peninsula, western Crete. A working monastery, with 5 monks, and adjacent vineyards and olive groves. A beautiful and sacred place.
Pen and ink. The tone is diluted ink, and was tricky to put on, as it dried quickly in the heat, and can’t be lifted as watercolour can. It’s “De Atramentis document ink” which is formulated for signing legal documents. Once on, it can’t be removed. This is good for pen and wash, because the dilute watercolour does not lift the ink.
Here’s the sketch before adding the tone:
About 1hr30.
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A very quick sketch, 5 minutes, coloured later.
From the Turkish Fort at Aptera.
Robert Pashley sketched a section of the wall in 1833, noting its ‘polygonal’ stones. All the stones looked polygonal to us. We found the section he drew, though.
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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.
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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”.
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.
Sea Containers House, about 2010
In 2011 Sea Containers House was renovated, and has only recently been completed. The Golden Balls on the river side were removed, and sold.
Sea Containers House 2017 – minus the decorative golden globes
Golden balls from Sea Containers House, on sale now for £3950
The smaller globes have already been sold.
Postscript:
Walking along a dock in Aberdeen I saw this notice:
14 July 2017, Pocra quay, Aberdeen
The notice is dated “March 1995”. The address, “New King’s Beam House” is Sea Containers.
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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.
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Jane Sketching 