Thursday, January 05, 2012

The Spirit of Sketching on Public Transport in London (1999-2011)



This is me and my 6 year old son , Josh! He seems to have seen the value in sketching and on a family trip, my wife took this picture in the heat of the moment as we were sketching a sleeping man opposite us!



This is my first post in the new year! I am using this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful and prosperous new year! To kick off, I'll like to take you on a ride of 13 sketches from 13 different sketchbooks that I have used since 1999. Each sketch is done in a different year from 1999-2011. I have always loved to draw! But sketching became more of a passionate thing for me while in College in Nigeria. I discovered a book on "Sketching by Alywn Crawshaw" with one of my friends at College in 1993 and I haven't looked back ever since then! My passion for sketching on Public Transport also got fired up while in College at Heatherleys when Jeff Stultiens (My Tutor) advised us to take the life model on a trip round The Circle Line, and sketch her. I have loads of sketchbooks that have helped me improve my hand and eye coordination and has also made me see life and people in a totally new way, and this happens everyday, when I start on fresh page of paper in my sketchbook.


1999- 14th of May


2000-19th of March



2001-11th of January



2002-22nd of April



2003- 16th of June



2004- 30th of Novemeber



2005-21st of January



2006-4th of February



2007-10th of January



2008-29th of June



2009-13th of August



2010-23rd of February



2011-10th of October


SPECIAL QUOTE
If you are looking for a good new years resolution as an artist-THIS IS IT-SKETCH SOMETHING FROM LIFE EVERYDAY!
Don't get discouraged or think about the accuracy when you start, JUST DO IT! Do it for fun, do it to past time, do it to understand what interests you, do it to have a record of your progress and moreover just do it because it's the secret to getting better at drawing! Now, get that pad and give it a go!-Adebanji Alade

24 comments:

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

The sketches are fantastic and the post is overall so inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Wish you a very happy new year.

adebanji said...

Thanks Vinayak, wishing you a great year too!

Jeanette Jobson said...

Take the model on the Circle Line. Fabulous advice and fabulous sketching that followed by you. Makes me with I had a Circle Line equivalent to go on and sketch.

I can see subtle changes over the years in the sketching,it seems as if you capture more information more quickly now, which is quite natural after all that practice!

The happiest new year to you and your family. Thanks for sharing all that you do.

adebanji said...

Thanks Jeanette! Looking back, I didn't see those subtle changes, but one thing is certain, I'm loving now, more than ever!

Art, Love and Life said...

Happy New Year to you Adebanji and all the best in 2012. Thanks so much for sharing your sketches and your paintings. You are a great inspiration to me and lots of other people.

Cheers
Ray

Sharon Williamson said...

What a wonderful post! Your passion for sketching is inspirational - thank you for sharing.

All the very best to you and yours for 2012 and beyond.

Sharon

adebanji said...

Thanks Sharon! Wishing you all the best too!

adebanji said...

Thanks Ray! I thank God for keeping me inspired! Wishing you the best in 2012!

Azra said...

Thats it!! You've persuaded me,I will definitely keep a sketch book wherever I go.

Best Wishes for 2012,happy sketching and painting!

adebanji said...

Wow! Azra! Great!-You are my first real convert! Now I'll have to do a lot of following up. Email me your postal address and I'll send you an empty sketchbook(the kind I use) with a pen and a grey No 75 Tombow marker-I'll also do a sketch and sign it, to keep you encouraged!;0)Wishing you the BEST!!!!

Azra said...

OMG!! Thankyou so much !! You've absolutely made my day. : )

adebanji said...

You are welcome, Azra!

steve strode said...

Good work Adebanji and nice to see your son having a go too, get them interested while they're young. All the best, Steve

adebanji said...

Thanks Steve!

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi there Adebanji!... Just found your interesting site!

This batch of quick studies really does underscore the value of working from life... whether on the tube... or in the landscape!

Learning to push forward quickly and intuitively develops an ability to interpret rather than tediously tying one's attention to slavish and unecessary detail!

The resulting images result in clarity and vitality... as are so evident in your relaxed... natural and handsome sketchwork!

Good Sketching... and a High 5 to Josh!

Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce

Juliet said...

thanks for sharing these,Adebanji.Wishing you and your family a very Happy 2012.

Oliver Uvman said...

Thanks for sharing Adebanji :)

I've been painting for 3 years and have become more and more comfortable in color. The last two years though I've always felt like I've lacked skill in reproducing/producing the forms I want. I believe sketching is the only practice that will get me where I want!

I've tried once before to get myself to sketch every day, but I think the motivation then was too much on improvement and not enough on having fun. Looks like I've just chosen the first new years promise in my life that I intend to keep! A fun sketch a day! No exceptions.

No need to send sketchbooks to me, I need to get started today! :D

Thanks again for keeping the blog going. Health and happiness to you and your family!

adebanji said...

Thanks so much Bruce-I agree with every woed you've said!

adebanji said...

You are welcome Juliet! May you be greatly blessed this year!

adebanji said...

GREAT NEWS OLIVER! I am so thrilled you are going keep having fun while you sketch-that's it! that's the bottom line! Once you take off the pressure, you'll be comfortable and your sketches will become the extension of your spirit!
You are my second recruit and even though you don't want me to send a sketch pad, I'll send you one of my original sketches, for you to have some to keep. Please mail me your address please!

Azra said...

Just to say thankyou so much for sending me the sketchbook,markers and beautiful drawings,as promised.I don't think I've ever been so pleased to recieve a gift as I have when I opened your parcel! It took me a week to pick up the courage to do a drawing on the next page to yours.Now I've started though there seems to be no stopping me.God Bless you.

adebanji said...

Great Azra! It's all about starting and just keep it going, don't forget the fun bit!:0)

Maureen said...

Sketches are great, but it must have been so much fun to sketch with your son.

adebanji said...

Thanks Maureen! Oh yes it was!