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

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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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Discovering The City of York ( Part 3- The paintings and sketches complete)

This is the third  part about my discovery of York and very soon I'll be having the exhibition of the paintings and sketches I produced at York. The exhibition starts today at 6pm.

Ann Petherick, who runs the gallery will be having a civic party with The Lord Mayor, Councillor Julie Gunnell. I'm excited and I have really been looking forward to this!

Now, back to the final part of my paintings  and sketches of York. I'll be sharing the sketches or paintings, the location and a picture of me doing the job and a few ramblings. I hope you enjoy them!

These remaining works make it all complete-for the mini exhibition tonight I have 10 plein air paintings and 5 sketches.

All the paintings are 8" x 10" and all the sketches are 11" x 8" (A4 sized)


6. Sketch-River Ouse and Lendal Bridge from Park Inn Hotel Cafe.

I had to find shelter as the rains were coming down this morning at York. Ann advised me to go to the hotel by the river on the first floor, I did! It was a great view!!

Sketch-River Ouse and Lendal Bridge from Park Inn Hotel Cafe, 11" x 8", Graphite, 2013

Adebanji sketching from the window at Park Inn Hotel

Pic of the scene

7. Grey Evening, Goodramgate York

The rains continued all day and towards the evening when it stopped, everywhere was grey and I wasn't sure that there wouldn't be another down pour, so I found shelter to paint Goodramgate. 

Grey Evening, Goodramgate York, 10" x 8", Oil On board, 2013

Adebanji painting Goodramgate York

Picture of the Scene

8. The Back Garden at The Bar Convent, Micklegate

Oh this was a mini paradise in York! Really loved the Nuns that worked there. they really made me comfortable and when that happens, the painting gains some comfort too! I just loved the morning light on this day!

The Back Garden at The Bar Convent, Micklegate, 10"x 8", oil on board, 2013

Adebanji painting the Bar Convent Garden

pic of the scene

9. The Altar Piece in the Convent Chapel

There was a story to this chapel. I was told when Catholics were being persecuted, the Nuns preserved this place within the building so that it didn't look like a chapel from the outside but inside they did their service! A beautiful place!!! I just sat there in silence and I could hear every stroke my pencil made!

The Altar Piece in the Convent Chapel, 8" x 11", Graphite, 2013

Adebanji sketching The Altar Piece

Pic of the scene

10.  The road that leads to the Minister, Duncombe Place.

I had to paint the Minster one way or the other but while I visited the place had scaffolding on it, I had to take a place that was least affected, the trees helped with the rest.

The road that leads to the Minister, Duncombe Place, 8" x 10", Oil on Canvas, 2013

Adebanji sketching at Duncombe Place

Pic of the scene

11. Morning Light on The York City Walls

How could I ever miss painting on the City walls. The morning light was pouring through and the trees just stood there, bathing in the sunshine, begging to be painted, I had to oblige!

Morning Light on The York City Walls, 10" x 8", oil on board, 2013

Adebanji paints on the York City Walls

Pic of the scene

12. The York Railway Station from York City Walls

This posed as a great challenge, but I love challenges and I took on the railway station from the top of the City walls! I was basically baked in the sun!!! Thank God I had some water with me!!!

The York Railway Station from York City Walls, 10" x 8", Oil on board, 2013

Adebanji paints the Railway Station from York City Walls.

pic of scene

13. The Shambles

You can't paint or sketch in York without the Shambles on your list. An amazing, weird piece of traditional Architecture, so close to each other.....remarkable! I sketched this place at night!!!

The Shambles, 11" x 8", Graphite. 2013

Adebanji with sketch of The Shambles

pic of the Scene

14. Morning Light Reflections, River Ouse

This was a day, a day that inspiration said, "I LOVE YOU"-That's simply it! From the time I got to the scene, till the time I finished, I couldn't explain a thing.....the only thing I can say is that MR INSPIRATION came over and had a session with me!

14. Morning Light Reflections, River Ouse, 8" x 10", Oil on board, 2013

Adebanji's pochade set up and completed painting

Pic of scene

15. The St Mary's Ruins York

When I get back to York, I have to do more of this place, It's just amazing! This was my last shot and I really enjoyed it!

15. The St Mary's Ruins York, 10" x 8", Oil on Board, 2013

Adebanji painting St Mary's Ruins York

The pic of the Scene

SPECIAL QUOTE: "When I paint, I am lost in wonder, when I sketch I'm raptured in another world"-Adebanji Alade

Discovering The City of York (Part 2-Plein Air)

 Summerlight Micklegate Bar

This place is the place you can't miss at York! How could I possibly paint York without my own version of the Micklegate Bar! I arrived early on Saturday morning and set up beside one of the pubs which would come in handy in case I needed to use the loo. I hadn't been painting much before this, so I felt a bit timid, trying to impress myself and not just fully concentrating and getting on with the business.

But somehow I managed to survive this one and I was pleased that it looked more like a drawing in the end, than a painting. I painted shape by shape as can be seen in some of the progress shots below.

Painting is a wonderful thing!

Nothing beats singing while painting in the hot August sun and getting people coming round to have a peep or two.

Summerlight Micklegate Bar, 10" x 8", Oil on canvas, 2013

Adebanji painting Micklegate Bar- I love to sit when I paint, I feel more relaxed and it helps me avoid rushing which is so evident when ones legs start to ache.

Progress Shot 1- All set for the first painting, my palette, brushes all in orderly manner, ready for the attack!

Progress Shot 2-Many have asked, how or why I do these lines on the board before I start. Well, this is so I can judge where the painting would fit onto the surface. It's also a way of scaling and making grids. Once I do these lines, I know exactly where I want things to be. It makes me avoid the centre trap and also position things in a careful manner to avoid things being out of place. I don't do this sight-size thing. It works for some people, I just do the diagonals and verticals and horizontals, dividing the surface into 4 equal parts. I now look at the scene through this scale, I see it as an invisible transparent glass, set before me. It's like looking through the lens of a camera and having the grid lines on, on the LCD screen.

Progress Shot 3- I normally start with the sky but for some funny reason , this time I painted it last.

Progress Shot 4- This was towards the end, I was really exhausted after this  piece.

Micklegate Bar-The Scene- The scene from the photographic lens always gives false colour and very little information. Our eyes are far more powerful, innovative and creative than the limited one eye of the camera.

Afternoon Shadows, Micklegate Street

While Ann was taking me around York, this first main street we covered. One thing that caught my attention here was the lovely curve the street had and the white building with black stripes.I just loved the awkwardness of it, it looked as if it was bending or tilting.

I had to stand up to paint this one because there was so many cars parked and it was just impossible to see from a sitting position!

On this day, there were so many hen nights taking place. Lots of groups in different attires booking dinners and lunch in the trendy restaurants and pubs along the street.

Many people kept taking pictures of me. I got one passer by to take a picture of me painting. The commuters always come in handy when it comes to having pictures taken.

I felt a bit more confident while taking on this painting but I took too long to finish it. I think I was trying to convince myself that I could do better than the first one. Maybe just trying a bit too hard.

This piece was more about the drawing of the street, the accuracy of getting all those buildings in without ruining the flow of the piece.

I think I enjoyed the whole progress of the work. Making a very detailed sketch at the beginning saved me from many blushes when things got a bit complicated towards the end.

In all I was very pleased with it in  the end.

 

Afternoon Shadows, Micklegate Street, 10" x 8", Oil on Canvas, 2013

Adebanji painting Micklegate Street-I had to stand this time, not my best position but there were too many cars parked.

Progress Shot 1- You can see the detailed sketch I did of the scene before bringing on the paint! I used two brown coloured pencils on a brownish orange toned board. One of my painter friends said I should keep some of them at this point, just the drawing, she felt people would love them like that. I think I would, one day, maybe, just maybe.......

Progress Shot 2- You can see clearly here the manner and approach I used in this painting. I used the inside-out technique. It was just a matter of painting one shape being satisfied and then painting another shape.

 Afternoon Shadows,Micklegate Street- The Scene- The picture of the scene.

Evening Reflections, River Ouse

When the sun is going down, this scene explodes!

I painted this one to catch the light while it was moving!

I was happy to get the effect I was out to achieve!

Sometimes a scene is all about the drawing or mood, this was purely about the mood, the light in the scene!

The reflections looked great and I think I got really excitted while painting this piece.

I finished faster than normal, but I had to, because the light was going out and I just wanted to make sure I nailed it before it vanished.

You can see that in the picture I took of the scene, the sun had disappeared.

Evening Light Reflections, River Ouse, 10" x 8", Oil on board, 2013

 

Adebanji painting Evening Light Rflections, River Ouse

Progress Shot 1- my sketch before the painting here was more organic and easy going. It was a simple scene and didn't need any detailed drawing.

Progress Shot 2- I really like this picture, it tells the story more than I can put in words!

Evening Light Reflections, River Ouse- The Scene

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Art, to me, is seeing. I think you have got to use your eyes as well as your emotion, and one without the other just doesn't work. That's my art"-Andrew Wyeth