Our monthly sketching day.....again lots of people, one up from Southampton. Traffic was dire so I was late but pitched in with the front then after lunch the domes from the western terrace. Here's just some of the huge amount of product and my two.
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It's getting on for a month and doubtless the site is becoming clearer. As a (retired) architect I am aware how long site clearance can take - especially with all the recycling and dust etc restrictions. I needed however to get up high as the previous viewpoint could not show this. The helpful receptionist and building facilities manager of the Sega Building on The Great West Road came to the rescue. The view over the south west London to Crystal Palace was typically blue and the viewpoint emphasised the bank of trees to the south of the site with the railway bridge just in view. The site itself covered with activity separating different spoil for removal. To the west an area of 'fines', soil or fine waste in huge piles for reuse.
With a friend I'm coordinating the London Urban Sketchers' visit to Richmond in July. It involves some travel and eatery identification for the blog and most include a sketch or two. So a pleasant evening chatting and drawing The Roebuck and assorted houses - one Mick Jagger's another Jerry Hall's. Don't know which but they are pretty nice!
I was commissioned via London Urban Sketchers to paint a drawing for the cover of a Cambridge Undergraduate's Dissertation on the Memorial in Hyde Park to the victims of the 7/7 Bombings. There was a deadline. Fortunately the only day I could go was fine and sunny which generated strong shadows. It turned out to be a tough assignment taking several hours - however I watched the shadows move round which was fascinating - as was seeing how different persons interacted with it. Accuracy was obviously required but my lose/free style was liked/wanted so somehow it was necessary to get into it the solemnity as well as that life goes on....
We went to Simpson's-in-the-Strand for luncheon a week or so ago and learnt that this iconic wood panelled London beef eatery with a stunning ceiling is closing...but only for a few weeks for complete refurbishment. No one could say what was to be done design wise but that it will be very different. A challenge for an Urban Sketcher; USs like to record reality and that includes change. Simpson's kindly let me in towards the end of the luncheon sitting so along I went, sat at a corner table whilst remaining diners completed their chewing and conversation. A couple of hours before the evening sitting let me start 3 for onward work at home.
Brentford Football Club who I support have outgrown their current home at Griffin Park. After a lengthy planning negotiation and land acquisition have started on site just north of Kew Bridge. It will be a couple of seasons before we move over there. A great opportunity to sketch change as the site is first cleared, through groundworks and construction to completion. Here's the first.
I have been making irregular 'taxi' trips to the space between St Pancras - now International - and King's Cross Stations for ten years or more. It has been fascinating while waiting to enjoy/draw the urban redevelopment. Some successful some less so. New alongside refurbished original has been very well done - the modern high rise offices although variegated less so. There are now good spaces for people, some on roofs, but the structures dominate them. Good use of street furniture and sub-divided spaces does go some way to humanise the 'square'.
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AuthorSketching thoughts and stories from John Webb. CategoriesArchives
February 2019
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