Tuesday 30 November 2010

Michael: Roman Holiday V

Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. In the portico of the church is the "Bocca della Verita", an ancient stone face: if you tell a lie with your hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it will be bitten off.

We didn't test it.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome
Ink and watercolour on paper, 16 x 9 cm. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Monday 29 November 2010

Richard - Saturday Life

Sketches and painting from Saturday's life class.

Sunday 28 November 2010

Michael: Sussex Arts Collective

I'm exhibiting at the Sussex Arts Collective "Noel" show, at the Hop Gallery in Lewes.

Sussex Arts Collective

Friday 26 November to Wednesday 22 December.

Monday to Saturday 10.30 - 5, Sundays 11 - 5. Lewes late night shopping event: Thursday 2 December 6 - 8 pm.

Hop Gallery, Star Brewery, Castle Ditch Lane (off Fisher Street), Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1YJ.

Saturday 27 November 2010

Michael: Roman holiday IV

View across Rome: Looking east from the Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi on the Janiculum Hill.

Rome: Rooftops
Ink and watercolour, 15 x 9 cm. Click the picture for a bigger version.

This is a fascinating view to draw. What strikes me is that there are no skyscrapers breaking up the view. The highest buildings are still the domes of the Baroque churches (of which there are many), and the large white building to the right: "Il Vittoriano" (National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II), which is 81m high.

However, everyone else likes this view as well. I could have stayed drawing for much longer, but I was getting too many spectators to feel comfortable.

Friday 26 November 2010

Willow Foundation auction

Stars on Canvas 2010 auction: Hundreds of canvas each created by a different artist or celebrity - from Tracey Emin to Jude Law, not to mention several members of the London Road Group. All raising money for the Willow Foundation to provide special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK.

The auction is live now on ebay, and continues until 6 December.

An exhibition of the canvases runs from 2 to 5 December at the Catto Gallery, Hampstead.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Michael: New English Art Club

My "St Mary Axe/Leadenhall" linocut will be in the New English Art Club open exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. The exhibition runs from Friday 26 November - Sunday 5 December 2010.

London linocut, final stage

More information
New English Art Club
Mall Galleries

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Michael: Roman Holiday III

View from the English Cemetery, where Keats and Shelley are buried, of the Pyramid of Cestius. The pyramid is a mausoleum for a Roman magistrate, dating from 18BC; the city walls were built around it. It's 37m high (I couldn't fit it all on the paper), and still covered in white marble.

Pyramid of Cestius

Ink and watercolour on paper, approx 28 x 9 cm. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Michael: Roman Holiday II

This is a good example of what I was saying about choosing somewhere comfortable to sit before choosing what to draw.

Behind me is the Pantheon: the Emperor Hadrian's temple, with the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, even after two thousand years. To the left, is a curious Bernini fountain with an elephant carrying an obelisk on its back.

Via della Minerva
Ink and watercolour on paper, 9 x 14 cm. Click the picture for a bigger view.

But the wall I'm sitting on faces a lamppost and a MacDonald's sign, so that's what I draw.

Monday 22 November 2010

Richard - Sketches of Bella

Something a bit different this week. Bella brought along her cellos and we had a couple of sessions during which we drew while she played. I'm still working on my painting, but here are my sketches.

Friday 19 November 2010

Michael: Roman Holiday I

The Colosseum from the north.

The Colosseum
Ink and watercolour on paper, approx 28 x 9 cm. Click the image for a bigger view.

When drawing in a new location, the temptation is to draw the obvious things: the big sites and tourist attractions.

However, the priority has to be somewhere comfortable to sit: away from too many crowds, and preferably where no one can stand behind you watching. Then I draw whatever's in front of me. This often means that I end up drawing something unexpected, that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

But wherever you sit in Rome, you find yourself in front of some important world-famous, jaw-dropping, historical monument.

And as a bonus, the sun shines, even in the middle of November.

Monday 15 November 2010

Richard - Saturday Life

Sketches and painting from Saturday's life class.


Saturday 13 November 2010

Liz: Anemones always remind me of you

This is my entry to the Willow Foundation 'Stars on Canvas' ebay auction. I think. It's a bit late. You can see all the paintings by artists and celebrities here http://www.willowfoundation.org.uk/starsoncanvas

Monday 8 November 2010

Richard - Saturday Life

My picture of Jo from Saturday's Life Session.

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Michael: Cuckmere Valley, final stage

Final stage of this print -- at last.

Cuckmere Valley, final stage

Seven-stage reduction linocut, 24 x 17cm.

The view is from High and Over, the highest point on the road between Seaford and Alfriston, looking north over the Cuckmere Valley towards Wilmington Hill.

Monday 1 November 2010

Richard - The Registry Office

Something a little different this week, with Jane alternating between 2 poses for 20 min at a time and changing costume each time. I really needed another hour or so to tidy it up. Someone suggested I call it 'The Registry Office'.