Grey Evening Light, Kings Road (17) Chelsea Marathon

This is number 17 in my current series of paintings and drawings of Chelsea.

It's all about the way I see Chelsea and the way the places that really interest me.

This time it's back to Kings Road! You wait for the number 19 Bus at Duke of York Square and none comes, until two come at the same time! That's a typical London Scene!

Grey Evening Light, Kings Road (17) Chelsea Marathon. 10" x 8", Oil on Board

 If interested in purchasing this piece please CLICK HERE

I love Kings Road and I pass through this Road almost everyday, I could almost paint this scene without looking....I am so attached to this part of Chelsea.

In this piece I have painted from a picture reference I took from a 22 Bus traveling in the opposite direction.

I didn't want to overwork this scene but I wanted it to have a feeling of a work in progress and a work with some feel of motion in it.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"My own palette has been reduced to three primaries and white. I usually add a couple of grays as values to modify color and tone."-Scott L. Christensen

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The World's End from Cremone Gardens (16) Chelsea Marathon

This is number 16 of my series of drawings and paintings of Chelsea in London.

It's all about the Chelsea I love, the way I see Chelsea!

The World's End from Cremone Gardens (16) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Graphite on Museum mountboard

If interested in purchasing this work please click HERE

I sat in the studio and I was trying to get some admin stuff done, then I felt this strong inclination to draw!

I just felt like grinding graphite on to Museum mountboard, it was a strong feeling, never felt that way in a long time.

The picture of the scene from where I was sitting.

So I made use of the strong feeling and just before that feeling decided to fly and fade away, I quickly grab my graphite sketching kit and go to the nearest place I can draw.

As I walk from my studio along Lots Road, I stop at Cremone Gardens, take a walk through and once I get to the end near the river bank, I look up and see these lovely buildings crowded by some really nice trees, I make up my mind, that this is going to be my sketching spot!

I do the first part, then I become hungry......

The first stage of development

Then I come back to it later on to finish it up!

Second Stage of development

I started by sketching lightly with the graphite pencils then I used the graphite dust for broad shape washes after which I finished up with strong strokes and darker lines.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"I love the look of an empty spread on my sketchbook. It gets me hungry to fill it........"-Adebanji Alade

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My Favourites at The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2014

The ROYAL SOCIETY OF PORTRAIT PAINTERS ANNUAL EXHIBITION opened a few weeks ago and I really enjoyed the exhibition as usual. I have always mentioned in my reviews that the exhibition is an education and if you are into figurative art or portraiture or you just love seeing paintings of people-GO THERE! (Mall Galleries, London) It's a revelation!

The selection committee are all top professionals and they have taken time to choose some of the best work in portraiture you can get in the country!

There's 2 days left, so if you happen to be in London get to the Mall Galleries and enjoy the show while it lasts. if you are far away and rely on the internet for reviews on shows like this then enjoy the few I have chosen here. Note that these are just my choices, the one's that struck a chord with me. There are over 210 works but I have only chosen 21-my favourite 21. Hope you enjoy!


1. ANDREW JAMES VPRP Luyiso 40 x 32

ANDREW JAMES VPRP Luyiso 40 x 32

Arguably my best portrait in the Exhibition! For what I like about portraiture-the reality, the mood, the tones, the colour, paint application, the composition, the mark making and the composition.....this is it!
I stood there stunned!

This kind of portrait makes me want to risk my mortgage on a bucket load of oil colours and just paint!

When a painter comes into connection with his innermost desires and he is able to conquer the subtle deception of technique, he goes forth triumphantly to the canvas, fully knowing that there's nothing but victory on the way!

Andrew James is such a deft painter with those qualities I love! I would rather watch him paint than watch England play Nigeria in the World Cup finals in Brazil. This is EXPLOSIVE! I think I love art.....

2. NEIL B HELYARD Ali 16 x 16

2. NEIL B HELYARD Ali 16 x 16

Everyone knows I love sketching, maybe that's an understatement....but I do! Now, whenever a painter brings in that sketching prowess into painting, there's something magical that happens in between.

Neil's drawings are my favourites but I never knew he had those same qualities tucked into his paintings. This piece proves that LESS is MORE!

You don't need to kill the painting, make your statement, make it well, make it comfortably in full confidence and what you get is a result like this. The painting is like mosaic of precious pearls!

I'd have lunch with him, sketch him and tell him to reveal all what goes through his mind while he paints!

A splendid piece!

3. KENNY McKENDRY Art and Reality Portrait of James Simmons 9 x 8

3. KENNY McKENDRY Art and Reality Portrait of James Simmons 9 x 8

Do you love the force of a painting in which every brushstroke tells the story right from the word-GO?!

Then this Kenny piece is what you'll be loving to see!

I like the textured-casual-dragging of strokes, mostly transparent to reveal a glazing alla-prima technique that is stunning to say the least. I love it! It's a small piece but it's mighty!



4. JOHN MURPHY-WOOLFORD Age 45 26 x 26

JOHN MURPHY-WOOLFORD Age 45 26 x 26

Self Portraits are really not my strongest trait, but when you have to stare at yourself for long, you begin to wonder whether your face is actually yours or not!

John's painting has lovely brushwork, it's his handwriting with paint that I love, you can feel the paint and something tells you this was nailed to the core. It looks so uncompromising and true!

5. KEITH BREEDEN Sketch 1 20 x 16

5. KEITH BREEDEN Sketch 1 20 x 16

The picture doesn't do this one justice.

Every stroke is carefully laid in a Cezanne like manner. Wash upon wash, mark upon mark....until the whole face looked upon as a whole is simply a masterpiece!


6. VALERIY GRIDNEV  Piotr- Father of my Friend 24 x 40

6. VALERIY GRIDNEV  Piotr- Father of my Friend 24 x 40

The picture does do this one justice too, but I so much love the way he has composed this piece.

How the main facial features are all in the shade and the way you just can almost hear him thinking so deeply. This is what true painting does......says more than a million words!

7. JEFF STULTIENS Cindi Goodridge (Bajan Portrait Series) 30 x 24

JEFF STULTIENS Cindi Goodridge (Bajan Portrait Series) 30 x 24

My Tutor, the man who re-ignited my sketching passion!

I love this work because it's a lesson on drawing more than painting!

He paints so deliberately you think he does it with a knife!

Every colour shape is carefully observed a laid down next to the other- and the whole piece just sings!!!

Can you hear the music! I think I'm going mad!


8. ILARIA ROSELLI DEL TURCO Daniel 22 x 18

8. ILARIA ROSELLI DEL TURCO Daniel 22 x 18

This is a painting that evokes some sort of enchantment upon the viewer!

The model looks so apprehensive as if to say," I can't bear your staring at me for any longer."

There is definitely a connection between the model and the artist here. It's always nice to see that connection show up in the  finished piece.

But that's another thing about this piece, you are left raking your head whether or not the full story has been told. It's left for you the viewer to fill in!


9. ANNA WIMBLEDON Portrait of The Artist and Her Family 47 x 47

9. ANNA WIMBLEDON Portrait of The Artist and Her Family 47 x 47

This was one of the portraits that left me looking so close as if I had lost my eye sight. The composition is excellent, every figure is well treated in such a rich, colourful painterly manner!

She is a discovery! I love this piece! I wish I could take it home.

There's so much going on, even in the background, the window reflections and the landscape-everything has been attacked with so much assurance. She knows exactly what she is doing!

10. PHOEBE DICKINSON Pup at EASTER 12 x 14

10. PHOEBE DICKINSON Pup at EASTER 12 x 14

This is one of those paintings that you might just miss if you went to the exhibition but surely it's one of those that you really wouldn't want to in the end.

It's a small piece but size doesn't really matter.

What I like is the beautiful composition and the placement of the shapes and everything seems painted in a really great alla prima tempo.

11. PATRICIA CASTELAO COSTA Ana's Cousin 20 x 14

11. PATRICIA CASTELAO COSTA Ana's Cousin 20 x 14

You don't get many powerful watercolour portraits nowadays but this is surely someone who has not only mastered the medium but also fallen in love with it.

A great composition with confident bold strokes to keep the painting fresh and sparkling.

12. DAVID R NEWENS Pedita 14 x 10

12. DAVID R NEWENS Pedita 14 x 10

I have watched David paint and if there is anyone who is able to get the resemblance of the sitter in a very short space of time, he's the one.

His method is simple, he is very observant and he measures a lot!

Nothing is taken for granted.

I especially like this because of the simplicity of the main shapes and how the interlocking of them all just work to make this a really great painting.


13. ALDO BALDING Self in Mirror 16 x 12

13. ALDO BALDING Self in Mirror 16 x 12

This painting reeks with CONFIDENCE! Nothing looks serious at all but I tell you don't be deceived. Even though it looks quite straightforward, this speciality must have taken years to cultivate.

The secret here is the drawing, He is a great draughtsman!

14. RAOPF HAGHIGHI Self Portrait 14 x 18

14. RAOPF HAGHIGHI Self Portrait 14 x 18

One of discoveries in this exhibition! Just love the colour application and paint texture.

It's vibrant and holds very well as a very successful painting.

15.  MICHAEL HYAM  Soldier (Study of Bill)  11 x 9

15.  MICHAEL HYAM  Soldier (Study of Bill)  11 x 9

I really miss his work! Always has something spectacular to offer! The whole process is laid bare and he feels no inhibition or fear to stop when he feels the job is done.

His works look very experimental and dynamic, which appeals to me because I love the spontaneity!


16. JOS VAN RISWICK Portrait of Dutch Girl  16 x 11

16. JOS VAN RISWICK Portrait of Dutch Girl  16 x 11

This is what I call good old traditional stuff!

Straight to the point-no fussing and huffing.....just good old traditional indirect painting!

I love it!

17. BELINDA CROZIER Fred the Traveller 15 x 11

17. BELINDA CROZIER Fred the Traveller 15 x 11

A very interesting face! I like how the artist has used structure planes and colour to exaggerate the main features in this face, bringing it to life in a remarkable way.

I also like the texture, I think it was the texture that really got me hooked. But also it was well drawn.


18. CAROLINE SEILERN- ASPANG Nino 19 x 26

18. CAROLINE SEILERN- ASPANG Nino 19 x 26

A very good observational drawing-looks very well like a master drawing of the 19th or 20th century!

19.  ALEX TZAVARAS Rafael 26 x 22

ALEX TZAVARAS Rafael 26 x 22

It's always the simplicity of Alex's work that I like. He breaks everything down to almost 2 tones of light and shade.

The simpler the better. This is another clear example of less is more.

20. PETER BROWN Ella & Ned Looking at Pictures on Lisa's Phone with Mad Cat 26 x 31

PETER BROWN Ella & Ned Looking at Pictures on Lisa's Phone with Mad Cat 26 x 31

It's the composition that wins this one to my heart! To capture the three figures in such a very unique way is worthy of commendation

21 DAVID COBLEY Sir Christopher Hum KCMG 36 x 26

21 DAVID COBLEY Sir Christopher Hum KCMG 36 x 26

I have always been a great fan of David Cobley/s work. He is a true portrait painter.

He always gets very deep into his subjects and that's why he has this kind of Rembrandt take on the way he handles faces and hands.

I also love the way he uses multiple sources of light to model the figure in this piece!



SPECIAL QUOTE
" The Portrait is the one aspect of art and painting that lies don't work, it's the whole truth and nothing but the truth."- Adebanji Alade

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Sketch of Thomas More Statue (15) Chelsea Marathon

This is number 15 of my Chelsea Marathon.

I have gone back to graphite, my trusty favourite medium.

Sketch of Thomas More Statue (15) Chelsea Marathon, 8" x 10", Graphite on paper

If interested in purchasing this piece, Please click HERE

I went to this beautiful well kept garden to sketch this very intriguing statue in black and gold around the Chelsea Embankment area.`

I have always found this statue interesting and I couldn't wait to actually add it to my collection in this current series!

The drawing almost done with the scene.

I'm really enjoying this marathon as it's giving me the opportunity to explore some of the scenes I have taken for granted around the Chelsea area.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Statues are a great way to practice figure drawing.....they never move!"

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The Playground Slide, Westfield Park (14) Chelsea Marathon

Here is number 14 of my current series of paintings and drawings of Chelsea.

This place is really familiar to me! I have taken my kids there many times to play and I normally pass through the Park everyday while walking from Chelsea World's End Health Centre to my Studio.

The Playground Slide, Westfield Park (14) Chelsea Marathon, Mixed Media on paper, 10" x 8"

I looked at it this week with the corner of my eye, especially at this particular slide and I thought it looked really interesting with the foliage in the background, so I got out to sketch it on coloured paper, somethiong different from my other drawings in this series of work.

I wanted it to have somewhat of a playful childlike feeling and I was happy with the finished piece.

Picture of the Scene

While drawing some students of a near by Primary School all came over to have look, they had just finished their STATS and were playing on the ground. One girl spotted me, was bold enough to ask a few questions and then she got all of her friends over to watch me draw, their teacher had to come to rescue after a while, as I couldn't see the subject due to their crowding.

I have used different shades of Oil Base Pencils, some washes with charcoal dust and graphite to execute this on pastel paper.

The drawing after completion

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Drawing is a first love for me, no mixing, no scrapping, no worries of paint stains....just the good old drawing with the good old pencil!"- Adebanji Alade

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Enchanting Nocturne Reflections, Albert Bridge (13) Chelsea Marathon

This is Number 13 on Friday!!!!

Well this is the well known and remarkable Albert Bridge at night!

Enchanting Nocturne Reflections, Albert Bridge (13) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on Board

I have painted this nocturne twice at night before and I bet the shall be more because the place is just so beautiful at night!

My strokes in this one were really bold, I worked in pure alla prima to capture the essence of the scene.

I can never tell what gets people loving this bridge but it is one of my favourites!

SPECIAL QUOTE
"The night is a wonderful time to capture in paint, everything is about tone and temperature"-Adebanji Alade

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Awakening Statue, Roper's Garden (12) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil board

This is number 12 of my current series of paintings and drawings of the Chelsea area.

Awakening Statue, Roper's Garden (12) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil board

I visited this garden once or twice in the past and I always thought this was a great place to relax.

But this time around I wasn't going to miss out including it in my Chelsea Marathon!

That's the business taking place in full speed!

I went there on a nice spring evening with my plein-air gearocycle and just got down to painting it!

It was a great day as I also sang while I painted!

Reference pic of the scene, I should have taken it when the light was booming!

But before long the clouds changed and the rains were warning of its arrival, so I had to stop and get going.

The whole set up of my "plein-air gearocycle"

SPECIAL QUOTE
"The scene does not to be painted EXACTLY how it is! One has to have an inborn editor which takes and adds to the scene to give it the right visual appeal."-Adebanji Alade

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Break-time, The Chelsea Brasserie (11) Chelsea Marathon, 8" x 10", Oil on board

Break-time, The Chelsea Brasserie (11) Chelsea Marathon, 8" x 10", Oil on board

This is number 11 of my current series of my favourite spots in Chelsea.

 I call it the Chelsea Marathon, as it ongoing and really an endurance race of producing 60 drawings and paintings in a short space of time.

I have chosen The Chelsea Brasserie along Kings Road, Sloane Square because of the beauty of the shadows! I really love to discover and unravel the mystery of what happens in shadow areas of urban scenes and this was a great opportunity to do just that.

I was really out to capture the abstract pattern of this scene, as I always believe once the abstract pattern works the whole painting works well as  great design.

I tried to be a lot looser in my approach here as I didn't start with any initial drawing, I  just went straight into painting very bold and loose abstract shapes. So I used the technique called, "outside-in"-(where I start with bold strokes from the main outside shapes and end up details on the inside) instead of my normal "inside-out" where I work on the shapes from the inside, finishing up on the outside.

I hope you are enjoying this marathon, this is the way I see Chelsea, the place where I went to art school and have had my studio for about 10 years. I'll be taking on drawings, watercolours and sketches too.....stay tuned.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"The first impression you get when you encounter a scene is what really matters! Are you able to capture that?! At the end of the painting, that should be the main thing you ask yourself as a painter. If you are able to answer in the affirmative, the battle has been won!"-Adebanji Alade

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Afternoon light, PAUL, Kings Road (10) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on Board

This is number 10, of my current series of paintings and drawings of Chelsea. This is one of my favorite spots! The French Family Bakery Paul

  Afternoon light, PAUL, Kings Road (10) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on Board

 To purchase this painting please click HERE

I just love the whole effect of light and shade on the scene and the fact that it is situated at the corner of a street makes it really interesting to paint.

I couldn't resist adding a figure and creating a mysterious effect in the shop window which is completely drenched in shade!

This was completed indoors, as this view was seen from above while on a Bus 22 journey along Kings Road.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Shadows and Light make any painting or drawing come to life, but what makes the difference is how the painter is able to make an interesting abstract design out of the whole value pattern."-Adebanji Alade

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Afternoon Light, Sloane Square from Above (9) Chelsea Marathon

Here is number 9 of my current series of paintings and drawings of Chelsea.

It's Sloane Square from above under some intense afternoon light!

Afternoon Light, Sloane Square from Above (9) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on board

If interested in purchasing this painting please click HERE

This one was painted all indoors, I got the view shot from a Bus 11 while journeying around the Square.

I am always interested in getting different views of Sloane Square, as I really love painting the place. One of my interests in this piece was the contrasting effect of the warm red bricks of the main building against the cool sky and cool tones on the wide expanse of road.

Here I have showed how I go about this and the initial sketch before paint is applied.

The Sketch stage of the Sloane Square painting

SPECIAL QUOTE
Being able to capture the feeling of an outdoor piece indoor is purely emotional, to do this you must have had a real good connection with the scene outdoors in the first place. If not, the work will lack the vitality and spark of a freshly painted plein air piece"- Adebanji Alade

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Heatherley's School of Fine Art (8) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Graphite on paper

This is number 8, of my current series of drawings and paintings of Chelsea, they are all 10" x 8" in size.

I chose this because this was school that changed my perception of art! Great Tutors and a fantastic environment to study with amazing students all willing to reach their aspirations!

Heatherley's School of Fine Art (8) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Graphite on paper

 To purchase this drawing, please click HERE

I sketched this from the corner of Burnaby Street and the light kept changing on a windy Saturday morning.

Just when I had finished the drawing

I  have always loved architecture and this was another opportunity to enjoy the effect of light and shade on Architecture. I love what light does on buildings at different times of the day!

SPECIAL QUOTE
" I don't get bogged down with perspective, I never have, if there's something that makes me enjoy drawing outdoors, it's just the scratching of the graphite on paper and the mark making!"- Adebanji Alade

Stones at Westfield Park (7) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on board

This was a scene I couldn't resist painting.

It's number 7 in the current series of the Chelsea Marathon!

Stones at Westfield Park, 10" x 8", Oil on board

 To Purchase this painting please click HERE

I had nursed the feeling for a while but this time it wasn't going to last!

Adebanji painting at Westfield Park, Chelsea

I am happy I went to do it because it really got it off my chest, which is what happens to me when I finally get to do a painting of a place that I have always longed to do.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

I was very much inspired by the stones and the lavender coloured tree! I just found a way of making the whole thing work in one piece.

Hopefully I'll do the drawing of this scene too!

SPECIAL QUOTE
"The paintings are a spontaneous response to the day as it unfolds and are usually completed alla prima in a couple of hours- on site or in the studio."- Julian Merrow-Smith

Boats Along Chelsea Moorings (6) Chelsea Marathon

Here's number 6!

The boats along Chelsea Moorings.

I am using my beloved medium, which is graphite here!

Boats Along Chelsea Moorings, 10" x 8", Graphite on Paper

 To purchase this drawing please click HERE

I had to get down there to capture these lovely boats and the reflections on a nice cool evening.

Adebanji sitting down and enjoying the whole process of drawing the scene

Sitting down and getting really deep into the drawing is phenomenal  for me! I just love it!

The drawing held up against the scene

I will still do more paintings of scene, as I just love it!

My graphite Sketching kit and the drawing

The Full materials I have used here are a Daler Rowney Artist's Sketchbook, 10.4 x 8.3 inches, 150gms. Graphite, Oil base pencil, Chunky graphite, Carpenter's Pencil, Mechanical 0.7 HB pencil, Graphite dust and water.


SPECIAL QUOTE
"I feel very excited when I sketch. The blood's flowing. A benefit of sketching is you get the immediacy of the moment. You get there and do it right then and there. There is an immediacy that is crucial for the life of the sketches."- Albert Handell