Sketches on the train and Bus Stop in September VII

More sketches even a dog!

Sketches on the tube and train in September VI

I had a nice time chatting to the man in the sketch below on the left. He was quite impressed with the sketch and gave me a seriously interesting interview about my sketch life! I also grabbed a few shots of my daughter, Kezia in the buggie


!

Sketches on the train, tube and bus in September V

Back to the sketches again! More people sketched!

AFRO HEADGEAR II, 12" x 16", Mixed Media on Pastel Paper, 2009 (SOLD)

This is makes number 2 in my current series of African Headgears.



I'm exploring this series from all angles and will use all forms of media to get my message across, even wax and possibly clay.

For this piece, I had as my model a lovely lady I met at a friends wedding. She naturally took this pose and that was it!




I have used charcoal dust, ink washes, acrylic washes, white ink and oil base pencil to produce this piece on a slightly warm grey pastel paper.

AFRO HEADGEAR I, 10" x 8", oil sketch on canvas board, 2009

This is a new series I am embarking upon. It is all about the beauty, elegance and variety of African Headgears. There are so many different types from different cultures and countries in the rich continent of Africa and I will be using the medium of drawing, painting and sculpture to get this series going.



My first series just takes me out of the blocks. The model is my cousins wife. On the day of her daughters naming ceremony she was decked with "asho oke"- a very traditional garment worn by Yoruba's from Nigeria on special occasions. But what attracted me most was her "gele" (head gear/head tie) it had a sort of hanging feel to it at the back and that's where I concentrated most of my heavy textures on.

To execute this piece I have used an oil wash for skin and mostly quick applications oil paint in impasto for the textures of the head gear.

Sketches on the train, bus and bus stops in September IV

More heads of people I see everyday!

Sketch of Threadneedle Prize wrap up party, 16" x 12", mixed media on paper, 2009

Yesterday I attended the Threadneedle Figurative Prize Wrap up party and I was able to have another good look at all the paintings. It was an interesting exhibition with a good mix of different styles and art in different meduims. Against a lot of other peoples response and opinions at the show, I really liked the painting of St Peter on the Cross by Louis Smith-I just like it for the sheer brilliance of the composition, draughtmanship, subtle value shifts and the bravery to actually paint such a piece that would be bound to face public criticism. But my best piece was a sculptural work by Tim Shaw- the sheer presence of it threw me off balance. It had a whole room for its presentation!

I have sketched a section of the party at the Mall Galleries with the St Peter painting by Louis Smith as the centre of interest. I have done this with biro, ball point pen, white ink pen and white oil pastel on cool Grey pastel paper.

Adebanji gets review on One Ambition

The Internet is a funny place and sometimes you stumble on things you least expect. I stumbled on this review by an interesting site called One Ambition. The goal of the site is about educating buyers, collectors and lovers of art on exceptional art and artists. The blog is written and maintained by the artist John Kelley….
This was the review they had on my sketches

One of Adebanji’s sketches




There are many things I do not like about technology and the web. This blog is not about my minor discontents but I mention that to contrast how wonderful the web is at introducing you to people you would have otherwise never run into. Adebanji’s sketching blog makes me very thankful that we have the web. There was so much content to choose from on his three sites that I have decided to post on his work in general rather than a specific piece in hopes that you will take the time to look through his sketch book and enjoy the journey he is recording for us.

What I like about Adebanji’s work.

#1. Integrity - I believe all the artist I have posted have this but when you are out in the streets each day recording life with your pencil as it passes you by…. well you really can’t have a more honest approach to producing works of art.
#2. Composition - As with so many of the artist I really enjoy Adebanji has a great eye for composition and you see this in all of his sketches.
#3. Drawing - I guess that’s obvious. To fully understand what I mean, take a sketch book, go sit on a street corner and try and draw people…. while they are moving…. with the light constantly changing. I really love the skill and freshness of his work.
#4. Fun - I try and stick to 3 observations but I can’t leave this one out. It is simply fun to follow what Adebanji is working on!
Look and Enjoy!

Adebanji’s Sketching Blog

Adebanji’s Painting Blog

Adebanji’s Website

Purchase Adebanji’s Art

To see the original post click HERE

"Left Over-Raiders" 13" x 6.5", watercolour, 2009

I have been so busy working on a portrait commission of a large head, 30" x 30" and it has almost made me loose track of most things that I almost missed Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different folks. It is has been one year since Karin started this great blog after the her dog, Jack passed away. Ever since, she got artists all over the world painting and drawing Jack. She has continued to inspire artists all over the world with her weekly/biweekly challenges. I must confess these challenges have made me change the way I see a picture, forever. Most people cringe when artists paint from pictures and I used to, but that was a very very long time ago. I became more convinced that artists can paint from pictures, even more when Karin, who paints from pictures herself started this whole DSFDF thing. She has given us numerous tips from what to look out for, how to compose and even how to take pictures of our paintings/drawings. May the Good Lord bless her. Sometimes my wife wonders why I never want to miss these challenges and I can't explain it! I think I am addicted!

Well, this weeks challenge was of cupcakes and 145 artists all over the world took part. You just need to check out the site to see the different interpretations on this subject matter.



(detail)

To attack this challenge, I wasn't all that inspired by the cupcakes but I was really caught up by those little coloured sweet things that were scattered all around the cupcakes and the surface they were placed on. You can see the reference photo by clicking HERE. So I wondered what I could do with these coloured sweet things. Then I said it would be nice if we all enjoyed our cupcakes outside in the sun in front of a nice cafe with tea and coffee. But when we finished eating our nice cupcakes, we messed up the floor with the little coloured buttons and before the attendants could clean up, the typical London pigeons gave them a helping in hand by RAIDING THE LEFTOVERS!

For this I have used a variety of reds, blues and greens for the flat washes in watercolour and I spiced it up a bit with a 0.5 pen, just to refine the drawing. I wasn't really looking for a perfect drawing but the abstract design and shapes those shadows under the chairs/tables legs played with the overall landscape horizontal format I used for this piece. The paper used was 100% rough arches watercolour paper(300gms)

Sketches on the Bus in September III

Just one page spread!

Sketches on the train and bus in September II

Some recent Sketches on public transport.

Sketch of Romney Road Greenwich, 16" x 12", Pen and Ink, 2009

For number 11 of my London sketches, I am in South East London, Greenwich, and I have captured a very rough sketch of Romney Road, Greenwich.



I worked with black and white pens, with ink washes on a neutral grey paper.

Bath Experience II, 2009

Another experience in Bath, this time I was in the park at Queen's Square and I noticed two interesting trees. I quickly sketched them to wile away time while waiting for my coach time.

One of the trees looked like a one-eyed monster and the other had a beautiful curvy flow to it.

These have been sketched in ink with a pen (0.2 nib) and Tombow grey No75 Felt brush pen in an A5 sketch pad.

Adebanji in NEXT Newspapers, Nigeria (By Wunmi Akide)

This Article was in NEXT NEWSPAPERS recently-


Drizzly Day on Fleet Street, painting by Adebanji Alade SOLD


Art in pursuit of excellence

By Wunmi Akinde


August 14, 2009 01:48PMT

Who or what inspired your art career?

I have always loved to draw and only ever really considered being an artist after a divine revelation. After that, it has always been a desire to pursue excellence in art and that has inspired me and kept me going.

Some of my greatest influences in the field have been Nigerians like Abiodun Olaku and Kolade Oshinowo. Then classical artists like John Singer Sargent, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Anders Zorn and Joaquin Sorolla. When it comes to sketching, it was two things. First, my reading a simple book on sketching written by Alywn Crawshaw in 1992 and more recently, my instructor at Heatherley's, Jeff Stultiens that set the ball rolling.

Why did you relocate to the UK?
I was born in the UK; I felt there were better opportunities to further my education in the UK so I made the decision to relocate.

How have Nigerians reacted to your work? Have you participated in any art shows or exhibitions in Nigeria?
Nigerians like my work. I think over here in the UK, when they see and hear that I'm an artist they feel proud that one of their boys can actually practice as a professional artist here. I took part in the Society of Nigerian Artists Exhibition (October Rain) in 2008 and Class of ‘97 YabaTech (Splash of Colour) also in 2008.

I sold works in both exhibitions. The Nigerian collectors were inspired to purchase when they saw the quality of what I produced and learnt of the awards I have won in the UK.

Will you say that your being a Nigerian has in any way impacted on the progress of your work in the United Kingdom and beyond?
Being Nigerian has impacted on my work in the UK because all the trainings that has made me what I am today started in Nigeria while I was in YABATECH.

They made us learn the hard way at the school and that has had a strong impact in helping me to survive through the hard times here. Also my choice of vibrant colours, vivid strokes and works full of life and energy all have roots and influences from my growing up and being exposed to art in Nigeria.

Why did you pick sketching?

I picked sketching because sketching is the purest and most immediate reaction on paper that you can get from a representational artist. I believe every idea starts in art with a sketch and also, I believe that to sketch from life is a great way for me to appreciate and pay keen attention to what is around me.

For instance, when sketching the human face, it makes me learn of the possibilities inherent in the human face such as moods, emotions, character, form, shape and structure in a way I would never have been able to learn through any other way.

The original article can be viewed on the their website if you click HERE

Here below is an scanned image of the actual newspaper clipping

Sketches on the train in September I

Couldn't find my normal sketch pad today but I always have these 10p ones handy, the downside is, they are not made of acid free paper but at least I save missing out on sketching!

AFRO XXVII, 11" x 13", Oil Base Pencil/Charcoal, 2009

Here comes number 27 of my current Afro Series and if you remember from my last post on the Afro Series, I said the drawing had a better resemblance. This to me looks more like the model.



I have used Soft Oil Base Pencil with charcoal to render this piece. The emphasis of this series once again is to explore the variety and beauty of natural Black Afro Hair, something that really fascinates me!

I have got three more models lined up, any more takers? If you have a good Afro or know a friend that has a good Afro, please feel free to contact me and we'll arrange sittings or work from photos.