Friday, 1 August 2014

We Visit the National Portrait Gallery

People near Fountain. Pen & Wash 20x20 cm
Members of our art club were fortunate enough to have a coach trip down to London to visit the National Portrait gallery yesterday. The BP 2014 Portrait Exhibition was the star of the show and work exhibited was just incredible to see!

I later got the chance to sit in Trafalgar Square for a while and sketch some of the people sitting amongst the fountains just soaking up the sunshine or having a packed lunch and stuff. I was a bit nervous at first with so many people around me, but I soon got lost in my work, occasionally chatting to interested people, especially two American ladies who seemed delighted to look at this and former sketches in my book.

Lovely atmosphere, lovely time.

7 comments:

  1. Nice sketch, Frank. I love all the figures, which are so full of character.

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    1. Thanks Keith, people have a habit of moving which makes it a bit tricky - the guy in blue shirt walked away before I could finish him and the little girl wouldn't sit still!

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  2. I like pen and wash, sketching etc, but I find it so difficult to do .
    Yours is full of information, and as Keith says 'character'.
    BJ

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    1. Just using a pen is a great way to loosen up Barbra, as you can't erase incorrect marks - but as Alwen Crawshaw would say "it's all part of it".

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  3. Great sketch Frank. It has a lot of spontaneity yet perfectly captures a warm, sunny day in Trafalgar Square. Did you add the washes on site or when you returned home? It was very brave of you to sketch amongst so many people but I'm glad you soon settled into it. Nice job!!!

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    1. Thanks John, I had a limit of what I could take with me in my bag so had to add a little colour when I got back this time. Had this been a pencil sketch, I would have left it as it was, but pen and watercolour go so well together.

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