In September we draw at Holland Park and the Design Museum,
off Kensington High Street. Holland Park
offers gardens in different styles including a Japanese garden, more formal
gardens, wilder areas, and wandering peacocks.
The park has a range of interesting buildings. The Design Museum is located in the former
Commonwealth Institute, an innovative building redeveloped by OMA and John
Pawson.
The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up
with your art kit.
Key times and meeting points
11 am: Meet the park side of the beautiful decorated gates
of Holland Park (see photograph above), next door to the Design Museum. If
raining, meet under cover outside the Design Museum.
The Design Museum café is not currently open (this could
change), but there is a café in Holland Park, or you could stock up on coffee
and sandwiches in the area around High Street Kensington underground station.
1 pm Meet at the main gates of Holland Park, next door to
the Design Museum to look at drawings and take photographs.
3.30 pm Meet again at the main gates of Holland Park to look
at drawings and take final group photographs.
Afterwards, we could then go to the Britannia pub a little
way down Allen Street, on the opposite side of Kensington High Street, third
road on the right - also a good drawing venue: wood-panelled walls and leather
arm chairs, real ale.
Options for drawing
The Design Museum is at 224-238 Kensington High Street – see
map below. The Design Museum is a Grade
II* listed building and a landmark building from the 1960s previously housing
the Commonwealth Institute. It had stood vacant for over a decade, before the
site was redeveloped by OMA, and the building interior by John Pawson. It
displays contemporary design and innovation. There is a temporary exhibition of
Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier, so several ballgowns to draw.
Holland Park is set back from Kensington High Street, along
a path beside the Design Museum. At the entrance are the formal Holland Park gates. The park surrounds a Jacobean mansion,
Holland House, named after its second owner, the Earl of Holland, whose wife
was the first person in England to successfully grow dahlias. In the 19th
century, Holland House became a hub of political and literary activity, visited
by Disraeli and Lord Byron amongst others, but was largely destroyed by bombs
during World War Two.
The large park has playing fields, woods and the Kyoto
Japanese garden with a waterfall and Koi carp. There are also formal gardens,
wandering peacocks, a small cafe, and toilets.
Kensington High Street itself has many interesting
buildings. The most fascinating drawing opportunities are the buildings in the
squares and streets off the high street.
Practical information
Arrive at High Street Kensington Station on the District and
Circle Line. Leaving the station, turn
left on Kensington High Street. Holland
Park and the Design Museum are further along on the other side of the road
(just past the Cass Art shop!)
Kensington High Street has many cafes and sandwich shops, and there is a
café in Holland Park, open 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
The Design Museum is free to enter but has a charge for some
exhibitions. There are toilets in the
Design Museum and in the park.
The day is run by Nicky Browne and Olga Mackness. The
drawing of the Japanese garden in Holland Park is by Olga, and the photographs
are by Nicky and Olga.
Let's draw Holland Park and the Design Museum - Saturday 22 September 2018
