Sketches on the train and platforms in January IV.

Sketches of more people, in one of them I even got a lovely looking woman putting on some lipstick............

EMOTIONS V, Oil based pencil/Sanguine & Sepia dust, 8" x 10", 2009 SOLD

This guy is one of the great buskers around, these are the guys that play on the trains and tubes to make music while the commuters drop a few coins in appreciation. I worked with him at St Mungos and he was very much interested in art too, he worked in coloured pencils.





He makes number 5 in my current emotion series, which is all about human emotions.


I started this by ghosting the dust on the watercolour paper and then adding details with the oil base pencils and graphite(mechanical pencil).

Sketches on the Bus In January III

I sketched the on the last two page spreads in my sketchbook today and it has been one of my most interesting sketchbooks. I started on the 5th of December 2008 and now I have finished on the 10th of January 2009. I hope to self-publish this sketchbook, just how it is with it's 61 page spreads (122 pages) so people can see everything in one go and also read about some of my ramblings/ stories while sketching these people.




There was a woman I sketched today(above, far right) and she was quite impressed with what I did, considering the fact that it was in a moving bus. She then asked why I didn't get a zone 2/3 travel card which covers all bus zones and still gives my access to trains in zone 2/3-When I told her how long I spend in the bus from my studio to where I live. I was thankful and now I need to do some research into this because it will help me. That's one of the benefits of sketching and talking to people on the bus.

AFRO XXII, Charcoal/graphite, 10" x 8", 2009

This is number 22 in my current Afro Series.

The emphasis of this series, is to show the beauty and variety of natural black hair.





The model is a friend of mine and she has a nice Afro!

I have used charcoal dust, carbon pencils and graphite on Cotman Watercolour paper 300gms.

Watch this Space! WORKS FOR SALE!!!

Hi folks! I am going to be selling works on eBay, if you are interested in owning any of the original pieces on this site feel free to contact me or click on the text that says, "click here to bid for this piece" and it will take you to where you can bid on eBay. This phrase will show on all works I have put up for sale.




I am totally new to all this so I'll be welcome to hear your views and gain from your support!

Happy viewing!

Sketches on the Train, Tube, Bus, Underground lift and platforms in January II

This is my passion, sketching! Sketching people's faces! I really love the look on people's faces... sometimes it is the mood they are in, something about the way they look, their character shows up on their face or what they are thinking, the clothes they wear...... The simple beauty of a lady or handsomeness of a man. It could be the movement of a standing figure, sometimes it's the play of light and shade on someones face. I can get carried away just looking at people...I guess I can't escape the fact that I addicted to sketching on public transport. The opportunities to be on the train are not so frequent as before. So yesterday, when I had the opportunity, I sketched loads! Enjoy these................

Josh in Sleep Mode VII, Carbon Pencil, A3 sketch Pad, 2009

Yesterday, Josh and I played indoor football after he had his supper. Then he requested to watch "Stuart Little"-While watching the little mouse he went into sleep mode..........I quickly grabbed my sketching kit before he moved into another gear. When he moved I had to get him changed, with a bedside prayer and another day is gone!




This was done only with carbon pencil, a lot of rubbing with fingers and stumps!

CAPTURED!, 8" x 10", Mixed Media on Canvas Board, 2009

This was the last challenge before the end of 2008 on Karin Juricks Different Strokes From Different Folks.

We were to paint each other and luckily for me I ended up being paired with (now I know) James Parker- He attempts to portray, on canvas, his concern and admiration for the other creatures on this planet, and perhaps capture the imagination of those that view his works. He doesn't consider himself an artist in the formal sense, but more of an illustrator seeking to uncover a bit of personality in the wildlife he paints.


This is the painting I did of him





I was lucky to know what sort of art he does because he sent me a copy of his picture of me and a link to his site. I now used this information to tell a bit of a story of something that might happen, if he keeps painting those frogs......one day he'll go on one of his trips, seeking a new frog to paint and suddenly they'll set a trap for him and he'll be captured, just like he captures them brilliantly on canvas....This piece was done mostly with Acrylic, Biro and coloured pencils on Canvas Board





And this is the painting he did of me

Awards and Special Mentions towards the end of 2008

Its always great to get a little bit of recognition here and there.

First I got The Special Mention for a Portrait Drawing Portfolio - Award presented by Making A Mark- A Blog I refer to as "Art Manna"- Its like an art breakfast, you go there in the morning everyday and you are sure to get fresh "art manna" from Katherine. Her commitment and passion to the art world is second to none!

Adebanji Alade (Adebanji Alade: My Art, My Passion for Sketching) for his portfolio of drawings of people on buses, tubes and trains in London. Adebanji shows a firm commitment to drawing from life at every opportunity despite the fact that drawing on a moving bus/tube/train is not easy and your models are always apt to exit at the next stop!


This special mention was nominated by Adam Cope (Dordogne Painting Days)His sketches of people on the London Underground are fascinating. Sketch-blogging at it's best as they unroll & continue to unroll...I start somewhere to get the feeling that there's just no end to this 'exposition', this presentation of an endless subject. Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Particularly like the accompanying text for this page: "More people............ I saw so many interesting faces today, sometimes they leave just before I could finish..............Life goes on! "





Also I got into the Ten top Art Blog Posts by The Colorist-New School Color - Casey Klahn- A very interesting art blog- you just have to see the variety of stuff he comes up with!

Adebanji Alade, Adebanji Alade: My Art, My Passion for Sketching, Afro XIX, December 9, 2008.
Jaw-dropping honestly and authenticity in portraiture with a pencil.

Sketches on the Bus in January I

Here we go again, there was a guy I sketched in a cap, he was sitting right in front of me on the 180 Bus from Woolwich Arsenal to Roy's in Plumstead. He was so fascinated about the fact that I was sketching him that he stayed a stop extra, so I could get in more information! There you go! A great and "co-operative" model!

Esta Bee, 8" x 10", Acrylic on gessoed card, 2009

Now its always good to start the New Year knowing you've fulfilled some promises and this one was one of them.


I had promised this lovely lady her portrait for ages and I always has one excuse or the other, why it wasn't ready but this time it was not to be on the excuse shelf -it is done and dusted! She likes it and I am so happy to deliver!





This was done with a contemporary feel of design where all the colours of both the fabric and the person are tied as one. I used acrylic- a medium I seem to have fallen in love with for a while because I work more from home and it is harmless, dries fast and is forgiving!

Study sketches for a portrait of two lovely children

I'll be doing a painting and drawing of two lovely children this month, I went down to do study their faces and make a couple of sketches. I also took loads of pictures too!

I really love children and I hope to get down to business soon. Sketching wasn't that easy as children between 1-3 years are never stable or still its constant movement, apart from when they are asleep.

These are few of the sketches and studies I was able to do with carbon pencils in my A3 sketchpad.

Sketches on the train and tube in December XIV

The year is coming to an end and I am getting revived and prepared for the New Year, watch this spot, they'll be works for sale, my full sketchbook going on sale and lots to feed your eyes on, keep sketching too the power is limitless!

ALUTA CONTINUA!

MORE SKETCHES MORE PEOPLE!

Sketches on the train, tube and platform in December XIII

After a lovely time with family over Christmas, I make my way back home to Belvedere from Collindale in North London. Still the trains were packed, though not running frequenly and many lines were closed.

Enjoy these sketches while you can as travelling on the train/tube for may be too costly for me in the New Year on a regular basis, Hope it gets better though cos I'll really miss all these people and the great opportunity to sketch them!

Sketches on the train and bus, platform and loo in December XII

I had to stand up on the train today as I was carrying so much stuff I couldn't sit down with them. In one of the sketches there was a lady who probably had been doing Xmas shopping....she just went to sleep for the whole 29 mins from London Bridge to Belvedere! That's a sketchers delight!




I couldn't find my Biro before I bought one on the way so I used a brown coloured pencil that was available in some of the sketches.




There's also a picture of me sketching I took this one myself with self timer mode on my camera, it gets a rare shot!