Sketches on the bus, train and tube in August I

These are some recent sketches on public transport. There's always a wonderful fascination about the human face. Recording glimpses of it in different moods and settings is a delight. The public transport is just one of those places where one can get the most varied of the faces of people from all works of life. Sketching then becomes irresistible!







SPECIAL QUOTE
"Anyone with ordinary intelligence and application can learn to sketch more or less "correctly", provided he has a capable mater continually at his elbow to point out his mistakes; for to see proportions, facts and forms scientifically needs much practice and experience. To observe with an artist's eye is another matter altogether, and is a gift which only the aesthetic soul can possess."-Borough Johnson from his Book The Technique of Pencil Drawing(1930)

The Royal Crescent Bathed in the Spring Sun, 48" x 20", Oil on canvas, 2011

The Royal Crescent bathed in the spring sun, 48" x 20", Oil on canvas, 2011 SOLD



This painting of the Royal Crescent in Bath was done for my Bath Group show in May at The Bath Gallery. I went to Bath to do a study in graphite and then I took loads of pictures too. I came back to London with all the reference material and embarked on this piece, which is my largest painting of a place in Bath.

It is such an incredible structure and I love it, ever since I did two (here and here) plein air shots of it during my Bath Marathon. I have always longed to do a bigger piece and this was my chance, although painting the details was a nightmare!

It was this painting that fetched me the commission I did of St Paul's in my post before this one. The couple came to the exhibition and really loved the way I painted The Royal Crescent. That's when they decided to have me take on St Paul's.



Adebanji with the painting at the Octagon




Adebanji sketching the Royal Crescent





The Royal Crescent Sketch


SPECIAL QUOTE
"Somewhere within all of us there is a wordless centre, a part of us that hopes to be immortal in some way, a part that has remained unchanged since we were children, the source of our strength and compassion. This faint confluence of the tangible and the spiritual is where Art comes from. It has no limits, and once you tap into it you will realize what truly rich choices you have. May each painting you do from that sacred place include an expression of gratitude for the extraordinary privilege of being an artist."-Richard Schmid from his book ALLA PRIMA, Everything I Know About Painting

St Paul's Panoramic View, 44" x 20", Oil on Canvas, 2011(Commission)

This was a commission I had recently from my Bath Exhibition, to paint a panoramic view of St Paul's, it was to include a 23 Bus, a Black Cab, Busy London Commuters, a typical Black London Telephone Box and the New Change Building. After about a months work with the client, The lovely couple were pleased with the final result.



St Paul's Panoramic View, 44" x 20", Oil on Canvas, 2011 (Commission)



The Sketch

SPECIAL QUOTE
"If I'm out on a beautiful Island someplace. I'm not there to paint first, he says. I'm there to enjoy the experience first and paint second."-Ron Stocke from Watercolour Artist Magazine

Sketches on the bus train and tube in July IV

In London you are bound to see faces from all over the world-That's just what makes sketching on public transport such a buzz!

These are a few more recent ones. Hope you enjoy them!







SPECIAL QUOTE
"The thing I admire most about this country is if you're talented you will be rewarded. It is the thing about England that makes it different -that foreigners have played a really large part in it's history. It is extremely diverse and cosmopolitan and for me it's the best country in the world."-Carlos Acosta, Cuban Ballet star contracted to the Royal Ballet in London

Sketches on the bus train and tube in July III

More Sketches. All done on public transport with the spirit to capture what is right there before me. It's fun! It's an experience on it's own!





SPECIAL QUOTE
"If in your drawings you habitually disregard proportions you become accustomed to the sight of distortion and loose critical ability. A person living in squalor eventually gets used to it"- Robert Henri from his book "The Art Spirit"

Early Morning Light, Hyde Park Corner, 14" x 10", Oil on Board, 2011

Early Morning Light, Hyde Park Corner, 14" x 10", Oil on board SOLD


This is a painting of a scene I caught on an early morning bus ride. It's always great to be armed with some sort of camera device, because there are some scenes that one cannot just get right on the spot and that's where the camera comes in really handy.
I just loved the mysterious darks and greys in the scene, coupled with the presence of speed without no cars. This was what got me wanting to paint this scene near Hyde Park Corner.

Sketches on the bus train and tube in July II

This is the other set of sketches I have done recently. All sketches done on the spot on public transport. I never get tired of these exercises, although sometimes I am not in the mood to sketch but then I see a face I can't resist-It's always a relief to capture a face that has caught my attention into my sketchbook.
I think life begets life, and these sketches are the works I tremendously cherish. Recently I exhibited 18 sketched heads at the Chelsea Art Society exhibition- it got a HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD and it got sold too. I think people can relate so much to London life and the different moods on the faces of people.





That's me with Julian Barrow and the Mayor of The Royal Borough of Kessington & Chelsea. Part of my work can be seen behind us.(Picture taken by Roy Connelly)












SPECIAL QUOTE
"A pupil must learn early in the study of drawing to appreciate mentally all the planes that encompass the head, though to the physical eye from a given point of view only certain ones may be visible. This consciousness and understanding of the planes will enable the student the more readily to approach and comprehend the three essentials that characterize a strong drawing:
First, the carriage of the head, or it's action;
Second, it's construction;
Third, the character and personality of the sitter.
With thorough appreciation of the three requirements, accompanied by a simplicity of expression through a PRACTICED HAND, the student is well on their way to draftsmanship"-John Vanderpoel from his book "The Human Figure"

Sketches on the bus train and tube in July I

These are all a back log of sketches, unpublished, I still have one more batch to go. The purpose of these sketches is to keep my drawing skills alert which come in handy while doing my figurative painting and plein air work.
All have been done right there and then on public transport, nothing to hide, pure passion for human faces!


















SPECIAL QUOTE
"It's not surprising that this artist excels....He is enthusiastic about his art: he makes endless studies: he spares neither care nor expenses in order to have the models that suit him, he would willingly fall on his knees before the bearer of that head to attract him to his studio. He is constantly on the lookout in the streets, in the churches, in markets, at the theatre, on promenades, in public gatherings. When he is thinking about a subject he is obsessed with it, constantly preoccupied. Even his character is marked by it.: he assumes that of his picture: he is brusque, sweet, insinuating, caustic, flirtatious, sad, gay, warm, serious, mad, according to whatsoever he is working on."-Denis Diderot on Greuze from the book Greuze the Draftsman