London

London: Hampstead Heath

2012-02-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

London: Hampstead Heath: My cycle from Kings Cross to Hampstead Heath takes about 30 mins. I go along the Regents canal starting a...

Hampstead Heath

2012-02-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

My cycle from Kings Cross to Hampstead Heath takes about 30 mins. I go along the Regents canal starting at the Caledonian road and leaving the canal at Royal College street. From there I go all the way up till I reach Kentish Town road which leads onto Highgate road, then I take a left at Gordon House road and that takes me to the Gospel Oak entrance of the Heath.

The heath is proably the most well known outdoor area in London. I took my children there in the 90's, although my last visit was in late summer of 2011 when I took my dear friend. The fantastic oak woods , the bathing ponds and the spectacular views of London from Parliament Hill have not changed, apart from a handful of post-modern buildings that have breached the skyline.

I started to sketch on Sunday 19th of Feb 2012, then returned on the weekend of 25th and 26th.

The first Sunday of my visit was extremely busy: I forgot how popular the heath was, especially on top of the hill and especially with the dogs. There seems to be an epdemic of dogs of every breed running in all directions. However it is not difficult to find a quiet spot, regardless of how many people and their pets are roaming the paths and pastures.

My first drawing was on a hill near to Parliment hill looking towards Highgate. The afternoon was bright but cold, the sky had a hint of blue and soft grey clouds with a tinge of yellow ochre. I made my way through a woodland path where I emerged on top of a small hill. I found a seat and imediately started to sketch. There was an abundance of trees at the bottom of the hill. I could make out a path and two ponds (the mixed bathing pond to my right and another pond to my left).

After drawing I ate my packed lunch on the bench. It was around 3pm and I decided to make my way home but as I approached Parliament Hill I was taken aback by the view and the colour of the sky. It was intensely blue; three large oaks were silhouetted against the steel blue sky and London lay cut clean by the pure light below.

The following weekend I returned and decided to concentrate on the mixed bathing pond where i have such fond memories , swimming with my children. I had also had a wonderful day there with my Polish friend. We had a fabulous picnic although we could not bathe together as she was sure someone might steall our belongings! It was a lovely day no less.

This particular day was very warm for the time of year, almost tee shirt weather.

The bathing pond was closed so I sat on the road that runs between the two ponds. The light was clear and the pond had soft ripples made by a slight spring breeze. My first attempt was heavy- handed and the composition became overwhelming, so I tried a smaller sketch which was much more successful, lighter in colour and much clearer in composition. I find that the more paint that you put to paper the more cluttered in can become. You have to be bold particulary when using watercolour. After a few hours wrestling with the composition of the ponds I made my way home but as I walked through the woods I noticed the magnificent oak trees. I was struck by the light and the sheer presence of this living timber. I sketched two oaks with a grass pasture in the middle ground and a glimpse of London in the distance. The large oak has a long limb that streches far to the right, broken at its tip.

The next day was equally warm and I headed straight for the ponds again to work on the reflections.

I made two larger sketches of the pond, one horizontal the other vertical. I still was not completely satisfied, although the vertical sketch was more successful with the colours being clearer and the composition being less cluttered.

Once again on my way home I stopped in the woods and I sketched a grand oak standing alone, a sentinel of the wood. The colours mixed from green to brown with a hint of grey and warm reddish brown in the background.

Wandsworth Common

2012-02-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

Wandsworth Common, Thursday and Friday, 16th and 17th of February 2012.

It was after 2pm on each day that I started to sketch. The sky was a soft metallic grey with a hint of violet.

The busy area of Clapham Junction is just a ten minute walk: beyond the large beech and oak trees you can catch signs of the traffic. At first there seems to be nothing striking about this green space, no more than what one expects from a local park. Dogs prowl the common, chasing chewed balls hurled through the air from long contraptions by pot-bellied owners keen for times past.

But soon little details begin to emerge. A beautiful red sandstone building topped with grey slated turrets; an ochre path leading to a small sandstone bridge; one of three ponds with a small island on which a large beech has collapsed, spreading its long branches into the still pond. Two Canadian geese squawk, noisily flapping enormous wings and bending their necks to and fro. Small black birds with red beaks follow

The chill has reached my bones. I shiver, pack my paints away, and head back to the busy streets.

London

2012-01-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

Central London Has always excited me. As soon as I cross any of its bridges. I stop and stare in awe. So I have decided to show some of my sketches and share my enthusiasm with you. These sketches were done late December and most of January. The weather has been dry perfect for drawing although a little cold. I have been trying to find quieter locations in London but just cant stop myself drawing these!!!!!!!!!http://www.sculptorgrant.co.uk/

Hidden London

2012-01-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

On Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th of August I cycled the short journey from where I am staying to Camley Street Natural Park. I was lucky: the weather was bright and sunny, although very cold. Only minutes from this tranquil spot there is a haemorrhaging of the traffic that circles Kings Cross and St Pancras. Firstly I came across a quite little church-yard, and sat down to sketch this charming view. Every ten minutes or so you could catch a glimpse of trains leaving or returning from Paris, Brussels or some mainland British city.

The cemetery is almost opposite the park, just a few hundred metres away. I had a quick look around but was immediately attracted by the canal. The Regent's Canal. It was like a page from "Country Life" magazine. Long canal boats chugged slowly by and were lifted or dropped by the St Pancras lock. Ducks made loud protest at the sudden loss of water. It was a world apart from the full throttle of urban life, a mere stone's throw away.

http://www.sculptorgrant.co.uk/