Friday 27 September 2019

Let's draw in Cambridge - Saturday 26 October 2019


This is an addition to our programme – a visit to Cambridge.  We have been invited by Urban Sketchers Cambridge to sketch with them.  There will be opportunities to draw the buildings of historic Cambridge, in particular those on King’s Parade in the city centre.  We will also visit and draw at the Fitzwilliam Museum, one of the UK’s major museums. 
The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

Key times and meeting points for the day:
12 noon: Meet in front of the entrance to King’s College, on King’s Parade, Cambridge CB2 1ST - see photograph above. 
3 pm: Meet at the Courtyard Entrance of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB to look at sketches done and take group photographs.  The Courtyard Entrance is on the left hand side of the building; it is the wheelchair accessible entrance, not the Main Entrance up the steps – see photograph below.


There will be an opportunity to walk and sketch as a group from King’s Parade to the Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street.  We can adapt the outdoor and indoor sketching programme according to the weather as well as individual choice.
After the 3pm meet-up, we can join the members of Urban Sketchers Cambridge at the Granta Café in Mill Lane.
Options for drawing:
We will meet at King’s Parade in the centre of Cambridge.  King’s College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge.  It was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI.  We can sketch the exterior, not inside the college.  There are many historic buildings in this area.

The Fitzwilliam Museum (below) is a major museum with collections including art, artefacts from Egypt, Greece, Rome and the ancient near east, ceramics and textiles.  It has free admission. 

Practical information:
There are various train services to Cambridge.  From London Kings Cross to Cambridge, for example, takes about an hour.  From Cambridge rail station to King's Parade is about a twenty-minute walk.  There are also buses to the city centre from the station, and taxis.  The Visit Cambridge website has travel information. 
King’s Parade is in the centre of Cambridge and there are many shops, pubs and cafes.  The nearby Market Place is an option to buy food.  There is a café at the museum.  The museum has free admission (other than for some special exhibitions).  Remember the museum is unlikely to allow the use of wet materials such as watercolour, inside the building.

This event is run by Yasemin Gyford of Urban Sketchers Cambridge and Jo Dungey of Urban Sketchers London. 



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Monday 16 September 2019

We drew at Trinity Buoy Wharf - September 2019

We had a great day sketching at Trinity Buoy Wharf on Sunday 15 September.  This is the location of London's only lighthouse, which was a popular subject for sketches, as was the bright red lightship.  Others drew the colourful container buildings and artists' studios.  The Wharf offers dramatic views of the river, across to the O2 (Millennium Dome), to Canary Wharf and to the east.  Some great panoramic views were produced.  London is always changing, and it was interesting to portray scenes which are not the traditional postcard views of the city.
Photographs are by Gafung Wong and Jo Dungey, who ran the day.  Our next sketchcrawl is on Saturday 5 October 2019, when we will be drawing the City of London, meeting by the Guildhall.  Scroll down this blog for information.


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Tuesday 3 September 2019

Let's draw the City of London - Saturday 5 October 2019


In October we meet to draw in the City of London, a location combining old and new architecture in different styles.   We can draw some of the major City buildings: the Mansion House, the Bank of England, and nearby modern buildings such as No 1 Poultry.  There will be a chance to sketch outside and inside the Guildhall Museum and Art Gallery, the Guildhall Great Hall and Guildhall Yard.  In the same area there are fine examples of Wren’s architecture:  St Lawrence Jewry, St Stephen Walbrook and St Mary-le-Bow.  
The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

Key times and meeting points for the day:
11am: Meet in front of the Guildhall (see photograph above).  There is a spacious square, Guildhall Yard, in front of the Guildhall, and some shelter if the weather is wet. 
1pm: Meet again in front of the Guildhall to look at sketches done so far and take group photographs.
3.30pm: Meet again at the same place to look at sketches done, and take group photographs. We can meet inside the Guildhall Art Gallery if the weather is bad. 
If people wish to go for drinks afterwards, the suggested pub is Ye Olde Watling at 29 Watling Street.

Options for drawing: 
The beautiful Guildhall Great Hall, the City’s only surviving secular medieval building dates from 1411.    The adjacent Guildhall Museum and Art Gallery offers free admission and indoor sketching opportunities, opening hours 10am to 5pm.  The Guildhall stands on the remains of London’s only Roman amphitheatre, which can be seen at the lower level of the Art Gallery. 
Across the Guildhall Yard is St Lawrence Jewry, an elegant church re-built using the drawings of Sir Christopher Wren after being damaged during World War Two.

Other Wren churches in the area include St Stephen Walbrook (below), St Mary Le Bow and St Mary Aldermary.  

We will be at the heart of the City, and some of the major buildings including the Mansion House (below) and the Royal Exchange (scaffolded: draw it anyway!).

The Bank of England was originally designed by Sir John Soane in 1788, and his statue can be seen in a niche at the side of the building.  The building has been much altered since it was first built.

A prominent modern building is No 1 Poultry, architect James Stirling.

There are many other options and views, including small shops, pubs, seating areas and small city gardens.
Practical information:
The nearest underground stations are Bank (Northern and Central lines) and St Paul’s (Central line).
Although some City cafes and pubs are closed at the weekend, there are still plenty of options for food and drinks.  Cafes and small supermarkets include the One New Change shopping centre near Cheapside open 10am-6pm.  There are toilets in cafes and in the museum. 
The day is run by Olga Mackness and Katy Evans.  The watercolour of the Guildhall is by Katy Evans, photographs are by Olga Mackness, Katy Evans and Jo Dungey.

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