Sketches on the train and tube in November VI

Recent sketches during my travels, still battling with my scanner, had to use my camera, didn't work....

"...The Valley of The Shadow of Death.." 18" x 12", Mixed Media on Paper, 2009

This is my entry into this Karin Juricks Different Strokes from Different folks. The reference picture was very interesting and it had a lot of drama to it.




My interpretation of the challenge was a real challenge in itself. Not really a challenge to compose and paint, but because of the reason why I chose to depict the challenge this way. Last week I lost a gem. He was only 16! Now, that has blown me off a bit but I have tried my best to keep busy so I don't get into depressed thoughts. It has helped but once in a while I need a bit of comfort and the Holy Spirit has ministered in a calming way. I also discovered this SONG on youtube and it has been a blessing to me during this period. My heart goes out to his parents(they are like my parents, when I first came to London, with no where to stay, they accommodated me for 9 months, and I never knew them prior to this)and his siblings, this is a moving time for them but God has really been on their side.

First, I will talk a bit a about this piece which I have dedicated to Prince Onwubiko (1993-2009)He was a sweet guy, full of life and had a great spirit! He was an artist too and I have mentored him ever since I discovered he had a talent for art. Last year, he did his first work experience with me for 2 weeks at my studio. I never knew he'd be gone this soon. He died of a brain hemorrhage. Below are some pictures I took of him while he was learning a few things with me.







I have used this piece to remember him because he had a great flair for Fantasy Art and would have loved it so much. But on the other hand I am also using it to remind myself about the brevity of life and that WE SHALL ALL HAVE TO PASS THROUGH THE SHADOW OF THE VALLEY OF DEATH. It is my prayer that when we get there WE SHALL FEAR NO EVIL. Like the Psalmist said, he knew his God and declared THY ROD and THY STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME...." May we all be prepared for this moment which comes to both old and young, with no certain date of when it is going to happen. May we all prior to that moment, have made peace with God, by accepting His Son as our LORD and Saviour!

As seen in this painting, we are all warriors and throughout life we are going to have to fight and endure the journey of life with its ups and downs, sunshine and rain, healing and pain, and most of all that final moment when we have to pass through that lonely valley of the shadow of death.

more pictures of Prince

Sketch of Sylvia, Graphite on Paper(A2) 2009

Those of you who are current with my blog would remember the sketch I did of Dorothy. Through my friend Graham I got to met another wonderful elderly lady called Sylvia, she is going to be 102 this month!



Since I knew I was going to only have about an hour or so to complete this commission, immediately I met her I quickly shared pleasantries then started concentrating, sometimes this is funny because while we are talking I am drawing with my eyes, "feeling" the structure of her main features. I just love faces and hers was full of life and character! She had never been sketched before and didn't do many photos either, so this was a great opportunity to enjoy the sketching and also help her to have one that she'll keep, probably for many more years ahead. You might be wondering why I have said this, but this lady is so mobile and full of life, she moves so swiftly, she even took me and Graham for a fine lunch afterwards!



Sylvia (detail)



Talking about God renewing ones strength in old age- This was a crystal clear example! She really liked the sketch after I'd finished.




Below are some shots Graham took of me while in the spirit of sketching!

Bath Experience VII (Cleveland Place, oil on canvas, 60 x 30cm, 2009)

This scene is facing Cleveland Place across London Road is busy road, as commuters go in and out of Bath most on their way to work. The light, once more cuts across this main road and reveals a interesting depth of Georgian Buildings all sun lit too, these type of buildings a very common feature of Bath are just a beauty to behold, it sort of combines the ancient and modern in a world heritage city.

Bath ExperienceVI (Nelson's Place, Oil on Canvas, 60cm x 30cm, 2009)

This is another painting I have done of Bath. One of the things that pulled me into this scene was the raking light that cut across London Road, Bath, just before Nelson's Place. To me, this is drama! I love the effect of light, especially when its course is forced to squeeze through little openings. This is exactly what happened here and the wall on the right then reveals a sort of abstract painting due to the same effect.

Highlights from The ROI Open Painting Evening at the Mall Galleries

ADEBANJI AND ANTONIO

There's nothing like being in the midst of like minded people! But to be in the midst of painters all painting is the crescendo of art for me! That's one of the things that made me tick at Art College. It has been quite a while that I have had such an opportunity, so I was really looking forward to this years ROI Open Painting Evening!



EVERYONE IN THE SPIRIT



The highlight of this year was that one of the models we painted was to be Antonio Carluccio, The famous Italian chef and restaurateur. Most of us painters expected him to pose in a chef outfit but he turned up just like us. I asked him, "Why?" He simply said,"I am not a chef, I am a cook, the chef does it for the money as a profession, while the cook, cooks for the love of it!"



ADEBANJI'S PAINTING OF ANTONIO



I can't tell how many artists were present on the night but the place was packed with high spirits and inspiration! Just witnessing all the artists, both members and non-members "attacking" their canvasses with brush and paint was a simple delight to behold! Winsor and Newton were also present with their stand to give artists present some tips on colours, methods, materials and technical stuff. Lucky they were around as I went rushing to the stand when I ran out of Titanium White! Every participant got a lovely bag donated by Winsor and Newton on the night, I have kept mine as it was strong, sturdy and very handy.



ADEBANJI'S PROGRESS WHILE PAINTING




I am not going to bore you with too many words, as they normally say, "pictures speak louder than words". The pictures you'll see here are just a few shots I took while painting, of some scenes that were of interest to me!



ROGER DELLAR-IT'S A DELIGHT TO WATCH HIM GO FROM BIG SHAPES UNDEFINED TO SMALL DETAILS DEFINED.






RICHARD PRICE- HE WON LAST YEARS PRIZE, THE PAINTING IN THE EXHIBITION THIS YEAR. HERE YOU CAN SEE HIS SIMPLE SET UP WITH PAINTING. NOTICE THE SUBTLE COLOUR SHIFTS AND DELICATE TOUCHES.






NATALIA AVDEEVA- SHE WAS A PRIZE WINNER ON THE NIGHT, I LOVE HER CUBIC STROKE APPROACH.






LUIS MORRIS- GREAT TO SEE HIM PAINTING, HE STARTS FROM CAREFULLY PLACED SHAPES/BLOCKS OF COLOUR, THEN FROM NO WHERE YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE HOW THE IMAGE UNFOLDS!






LUIS MORRIS- THIS IS HIS PALETTE - LOOK AT THOSE "JUICY" COLOUR MIXTURES






LUCY MCKIE- HER DETAILED APPROACH ALL STARTS OFF LIKE THIS. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW HER WORK STARTS OFF! I REALLY LIKED HER PORTRAITS IN THE SHOW!






JUNE MENDOZA- A MASTER PORTRAIT PAINTER- JUST SEE HOW THE MODEL CAME TO LIFE JUST AFTER THE BREAK TIME!






JUNE MENDOZA- HERE IS HER PALETTE, CAN YOU GUESS THE NAMES OF THOSE COLOURS?






DENNIS SYRETT- HERE IS HIS PALETTE- I'M SURE THIS WILL END UP HIGHER THAN MOUNT EVEREST IN THE END!






DENNIS SYRETT- THIS IS HIM IN PROGRESS, WATCH OUT FOR THE STROKE PER STROKE APPLICATION, QUITE INTERESTING! DENNIS IS PAST PREDIDENT OF THE ROI.






CHRISTINE ELLIS(hope spelling is right)- SHE WON A PRIZE ON THE NIGHT, JUST LOVE HOW SHE CAPTURED DAVID CURTIS IN ACTION!


On a final note DAVID PLIGRIM one of the artists who exhibited in the show has some highlights of the painting night and show too. You can click HERE to see.

Sketches on the train and tube in November V

More sketches of people on the trains and tube. Some of the key elements to really get a resemblance can be intense observation and trusting your hands to put down exactly what your eyes see. I must say, for public transport sketches of people, each artist has to find a "personal shorthand" way of editing the vast information you see in faces and just highlight the essentials. Easier said than done. This is something I constantly struggle with!

Apologies for some of the poor images, I have been battling with my scanner of recent.

Sketches on the train and tube in November IV

More journeys for me recently means more sketches. One of the guys in these sketches (Asian) actually asked me to sketch him after he was entertained by watching me sketch the tall guy, sitting and reading in one of the sketches.

Interesting journeys!

Sketches at the Mall Galleries and the train in November III

I am back to sketching with my beloved graphite, it feels a bit strange after a long time but I'll gradually get back into the full hang of it before this current sketchbook runs out.
I did some warm up sketches before the evening of life painting started at the Mall Galleries at the just concluded ROI exhibitions and also some others as usual on the train.

Sketches on the train in Novemeber II

These are the last two pages of my current sketchbook. I'll be starting a new one today and it will be in graphite. I'm not too keen on graphite in sketchbooks because they become messy but they'll help me to experiment once more with the medium I love so much! If you want to see how I transformed the middle man (above)into colour with pastel, click HERE

Sketches on the train in November I -Happy 1st Birthday to Urban Sketchers!

More sketches of people. Keeping my eyes and hands focused in co-ordination training- I think one of the hardest things to do is to fight ones brain and actually sketch what one sees. There's never a comfortable ground in sketching!



I'm also using this opportunity to congratulate Urban Sketchers on their 1st Birthday this week.



Urban Sketchers has really been a great encouragement for me! Just looking at all those sketchers out there doing just one thing-SKETCHING-is incredible! Hope to see more and more of this fantastic group. Click HERE for my contributions so far to this dynamic group!

"Art Therapy"(self portrait) 24" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas, 2009

I have been doing a bit of research on Art Therapy recently and I have used myself as the model in this piece to depict the surge of hope and spark of life that Art Therapy can bring into an Individuals life. This individual may be finding it hard to cope with various negative symptoms and experiences in life, but all of a sudden the individual is able to recover, reconnect and get revived through creating art, self expression and a renewed sense of belief in ones self through creative means.



Most of the strokes in the dark areas of the background in this painting are the negative words and experiences that I personally struggle against, while the calligraphic strokes in the brighter areas are actually positive, motivational and inspirational words that have helped me remain focused in the most difficult times and experiences in my life.

For this whole piece I have used the new Winsor and Newton Acrylic on canvas. I developed this piece with a "sketchful" force and tried to keep that vitality throughout till the end.