Updates From My Artworld II (May 2016)

1. PAINTING THE WHISTLER STATUE

Whistler Statue, 10" x 8", Oil on Canvas, 2016

2. STUDY OF CHELSEA POTTER

Study in Graphite, Chelsea Potter

Adebanji sketching Chelsea Potter

3. TEACHING PORTRAITURE AT HEATHERLEY'S

Took Alan's Class at Heatherleys- great experience!

4. STUDY OF SOUTH MARINA DOCKS

Adebanji sketching South Marina Docks

Study of South Marina Docks

5. SKETCHING DEMO AT CATERHAM ART CLUB

A Cross Section of some of he participants from Caterham art Club

6. MY SKETCHING ARSENAL SHOWN TO STUDENTS

My Sketching Arsenal used to Sketch and shown to students.

7. VIDEO OF MY SKETCHBOOK FROM BEGINNING TO END



8. PAINTING ALONG CHEYNE WALK, CHELSEA

Plein Air Set-up while painting along Cheyne Walk, Chelsea

Updates from my Artworld I (April 2016)

1. URBAN SKETCHING HANDBOOKS I've contributed in (April)

People and Motion by Gabi Campanario

Reportage and Documentary Drawing by Veronica Lawlor

Architecture and Cityscapes by Gabi Campanario

2. SKETCHING MY FAMILY MEMBERS (April)

Adebanji sketching Josh.

3. TWO PAINTINGS ACQUIRED INTO PRIVATE COLLECTIONS (April)

Acquired by Youngs- The CHELSEA RAM in the snow

Acquired by PAUL- PAUL Kings Road, Chelsea.

4. COTE BRASSERIE, SLOANE SQUARE (April)

Lunch Time Cote Brasserie, Oil on Board, 10" x 8", 2016

5. TWO PAINTINGS ACQUIRED BY A GREAT PRIVATE COLLECTOR IN SPAIN (April)

Face of Homelessness Bath

Drizzly Grey Day Greenwich

6. VISITED THE NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM (April)

This is one of the pages from my sketchbook with studies from the National History Museum.

7. THE SNORER (April)

The Snorer, 12" x 16", Oil on Board, 2016

8. PAINTING AROUND THE CHELSEA RIVERSIDE (April)

Adebanji painting along the Chelsea Embankment

9. SPRING LIGHT, ROYAL COURT, SLOANE SQUARE (April)

Spring Light, Royal Court, Sloane Square, 12" x 16", Oil on Board, 2016

10.  2 HOUR ACRYLIC DEMO FOR SIDCUP ART CLUB (April)

Adebanji with completed painting and reference after Sidcup Demo

11. ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO SKETCH, SKETCH, SKETCH!!!

All these sketchbooks were used to encourage students to sketch!!!

12. ON THE ONE SHOW, BBC One INTERVIEWING GAIL PORTER (April)

Gail Porter, 24" x 18", Oil on Canvas, 2016

Travis, 16" x 12", Oil on Board, 2016 (Commission)

Travis, 16" x 12", Oil on Board, 2016 (Commission) 

This is a commission completed recently. It's the beloved dog of one of my greatest collectors in Spain. I went into a little bit more detail with this piece.

SPECIAL QUOTE: Whatever you paint make sure you enjoy painting it, somehow if the work is executed with joy, it kind of shines through"- Adebanji Alade

Two Portrait Commissions (S.Boys)

The Amazonian Adventure (S.Boys), 30" x 24", Oil on Canvas, 2016

These are 2 commissions that I completed recently for the lovely parents of these two boys.

I really enjoyed the whole process and I thought it would be worth sharing the finished result of both.

The Formal Sitting (S.Boys) 24" x 30", Oil on Canvas, 2016

SPECIAL QUOTE: "Portraits are very demanding and I feel it's a great adventure to get along with a client from the beginning of a commission to the end. After it all, a great affinity and relationship is formed that goes beyond the picture."-Adebanji Alade

Remain Hungry, Mixed Media on Paper, 11" x 8"

This is one of my experiments with Charcoal dust, a black coloured pencil and graphite on Mixed media paper.

The process starts when I sketch in graphite first, then I add tone washes with the charcoal dust mixed with water, just as I would approach a watercolour painting.

After the washes are all in and the tones are right. I add the darker tones and accents with a very black coloured pencil.

Remain Hungry, 11" x 8", Mixed Media on Paper
If interested in purchasing this piece, please click HERE

After which  I remove the highlights with an electronic eraser.


I have used 250 gsm CassArt Mixed media paper.

The work is based on one of sayings of the Late Steve Jobs, who said "Remain Hungry, Remain Foolish.." Two great ingredients to keep one alert, full of desire and out of the comfort zone.



SPECIAL QUOTE
"When I was a child he would say to me, "Try not to think of what the thing is. If you are painting a tree forget it's a tree and look at it as a series of shapes, tones and colours, and try and draw it as an object. It must be hardest to do that with a human face because your psychology is fighting against it.-Charlotte Hepburne-Scott, recorded interview with Jenny Perry, June 2010 on ANDREW FESTING

Experimenting with Derwent Graphik Line Maker and Derwent Soft Drawing Pencils

I have been experimenting with Derwent Graphik Line Maker and Derwent Soft Drawing pencils for my sketches on Public Transport.

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW wash Pens

I have been used to using a ball point pen and it's always nice to try out something new!

0.1, 0.3 0.5 SEPIA GRAPHIK LINE MAKER

The Derwent Graphik Line Maker was great to use for my regular sketches. It has three sizes 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5. I used the Sepia colour for all of  the sketches featured in this post.

Derwent graphik line maker and TOMBOW

I was more comfortable with the 0.3 and then I used the 0.1 for more details and the 0.5 for thicker lines.

Derwent Soft Colouring Pencils

At first it felt a bit odd because I have always used a ball point pen but after a while of using them I got used to them and I noticed I loved the way the ink flowed on the paper. The lines just flowed with ease and there were no breaks in the ink marks. it really just felt like an extension of my sketching hand.

Derwent soft Colouring Pencils

 I used them to sketch on Daler Rowney Cartridge Sketchbook paper (150 grams) and it worked really well on it. There's nothing like when a pen feels just right on a particular paper.

Derwent Sodt Colouring Pencils

I am very sensitive with my lines as I feel that's what helps me to capture the mood and emotions on the faces of the people I sketch. One line rightly pulled off successfully, can be all that matters on  someones lips or eyebrows.....the graphik line makers are just great for that!

Derwent Soft Coloring Pencils & Graphik Line Maker

I am a big fan of TOMBOW wash pens for the wash effect when I use lines for my sketches. I was also really impressed by the way they worked with the TOMBOW wash pens. There were no blot marks.

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW wash Pens

When I used the 0.1 as in this sketch above I noticed that I couldn't move as fast as I wanted to, because the lights were too thin and I couldn't cover much ground quickly.

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW wash Pens

The sketch above is one of the best I have done with the Graphik Line Maker, I think when I am in full concentration mode, with no distractions, I 'll be able to use this pen to it's full potential. Observing the lines and then pulling the exact angles and tilts of the lines one sees with these pens is the best way to use them. I find it easier to sketch this way.

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW wash Pens

The other drawing tool I tried out was the Derwent Soft Colouring Pencils. Now they are really soft and I loved the feel it had on the cartridge paper in my Daler Rowney Sketchbook (150grams) Almost too soft for my rapid movements but it has such a delicate feel.

Graphik Line Maker 

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW wash Pens

Graphik Line Maker 

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW wash Pens

Graphik Line Maker and TOMBOW Wash Pens

THE BROWN SELECTION of DERWENT SOFT DRAWING PENCILS

992 and 942 TOMBOW ABT WASH PENS

SPECIAL QUOTE
"There's only one way to improve your sketching skills, that way is by sketching, not talking about it, not dreaming about it, not reading about it BUT just simply SKETCHING!!!!!!!!- Addictive Sketcher

Plein air Painting at Westfield Park, Chelsea...

It was such a great feeling yesterday when the first rays of the spring sun came up!!

I raced out of the studio to capture the feeling of the warm springlight.

I was so thrilled to go out that I forgot my paints the first time, I had to run back and tell a stranger to stay looking at my set up!

When I finally got down to business it was such a great relief to be painting outdoor again! And now it can only get better!

These are some of the pictures:

Spring Morninglight Westfield Park, Chelsea, 10" x 8", Oil on Board

If  you are interested in purchasing this piece please click HERE

The set up with my colours arranged with the light Stradamini

The location 

Halfway through-notice the abstract feel.

Addding the finishing touches

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Life begats life-If you want to add life to paintings get out into the real life and do it!!-Addictive Sketcher