Pastels of London during the Olympics and Paralympics

London is slowly getting back to a semblance of normality after one of the most interesting and exciting summers I have experienced in the capital. Boris Johnson promised ‘a summer like no other’ and for once, the hyperbole came up to the mark.

Olympic Rings, Tower Bridge, Early Morning (in progress)

I set up my easel around different corners of London, east and west, and discovered new parts – Stratford, North Greenwich Arena, Potters Fields. Inspiring, vibrant places to paint and new material for my work.  The Thames has always been endlessly fascinating for me with the rapidly changing light and tones.  It has been an adventure to find new stretches, other than the familiar Chelsea bridges.  

Paralympics Marathon, by Temple and Waterloo Bridge

  

One of the things I have most enjoyed about this summer is seeing the utterly familiar in a completely new way – such as the large Olympic medals hanging in the trees in Leicester Square (medalling in Leicester Square…) or BT Live in Trafalgar Square, where the giant screen provided new and interesting opportunities for light to bounce off.  The bold Olympic/Paralympic colours of pink and purple also jollied up London.  I liked the silhouettes of people as they walked along endless miles of coloured plastic sheeting that wrapped up and surrounded the different sporting locations in the city.

Leicester Square Medals - Pastel on card

BT London Live, Trafalgar Square, Paralympics

Floral Crown, St James' Park

It has been an incredible opportunity.  My work can be seen at the following group shows in October and November.

10 and 11 October, Art for Youth, Royal College of Art, http://www.artforyouth.com/Home.html

10-19 October, The Study, 10A Blandford Street, London W1U 4AZ Green and Stone Charity Auction, http://www.greenandstone.com/v2/p/auction.php

29 October – 3^rd November – Consider the Lilies, Gallery 27 Cork St, W1 (11-5pm)

And there will be my solo show at my studio at Wimbledon Art Studios Open, Studio 402

22-25 November http://www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk/open-studios/next-show/

Lunchtime walkers, St James' Park

More Olympic/Paralympic images to follow in the next blog - work still in progress!

Olympic London

London has held 3 great events in the last year or so and getting ready for the next one! What a great party city it has turned out to be! I have found new parts of town I never realised existed.

The Olympics have been compelling to watch and paint.  The crowds, the atmosphere and determination of the athletes to be the best they can.  The feeling has been electric throughout the past fortnight and continues. It's lovely to know there's more to look forward to with the Paralympics.  There was a great sense of the world coming to stay. I was interviewed by Kenyan TV and a variety of projects including http://www.flickr.com/photos/richtee/7768643512/in/photostream/

I have finally invested in foldup steps which has made a great improvement to my work as I can now see over on to the action. Below is a selection of work, pastel on linen board, they are still very much at the easel stage.

Mall - Eve of the London Olympics/testing out the sound system

London Olympics: Elm Park Gardens, Fulham Road, Men's Cycling Race

London Olympics: 50km Speed walk - Constituion Hill

London Olympics: Men's Speed Walking, by Buckingham Palace

London Olympics: Speed walking, end of race!

London Olympics: Marathon by St Paul's Cathedral

On the final day of the Olympics I was approached by a member of Team USA Basketball for 3 sketches of Tower Bridge with the rings. 3 sketches in under 3 hours - it was quite a race in itself!

Tower Bridge with the Olympic Rings

London in June

Plunging back into work after the Chelsea Art Society and other shows,  I returned to finish a Jubilee painting off Leicester Square.  The flags were just still up but the street had old chicken bones and broken glass where I had put my easel. I reckon that it is nearly time to put away the bunting and move on to the Olympics and other summer events (my Jubilee work will be on a separate page on my website www.louisediggle.co.uk). I started with sketching at a cricket match, by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.  I'm still in the dark about what it's all about but the action is wonderful to sketch and pastel is ideal, particularly with the whites against the green.

Jubilee work

Selfridges, Flags, Buses, Oxford Street

 
What a fantastic couple of weeks to be a painter!  London looked, and continues to look, in party mode - lots of flags, bunting and other decorations for the Golden Jubilee.  I pastelled away in the Mall, Soho, Whitehall, Oxford/Regent streets, street parties and sketched the gun salute at the Tower of London.  I also sketched the Trooping of the Colour rehearsal last week.  The speed of the marching certainly helped me to galvanise myself in to action for Flotilla work.

Trooping of the Colour Rehearsal

Waiting for Flotilla, Blackfriars

The flotilla was extraordinary, one of the grandest sights I have seen. It was not just the view of the boats and barges; it was the crowd, the noise of the cheering, the bells and the rich variety of architecture along the Thames which provided an extraordinary backdrop.  I was fortunate enough to be at the City of London School with about 19 other painters. Many thanks to Ellis Whitcomb - it was an incredible view..
What a memorable and inspiring experience - rain and pastel are not the best of friends though.

Further work will be on my website later on this week.

 

Waiting for Flotilla - barges going upriver

Crowds waiting for Flotilla (in progress)

Crowds picknicking, St James' Park (before the bad weather!)

SHOWS
I will be showing work at the following:


Chelsea Art Society, Annual Open http://chelseaartsociety.org.uk
(Town Hall, Kings Road SW3, 21-25 June) where I am a member



With Surface ICA at Barossa, New Kings Road, www.surfaceica.com  (Jubilee show 14th June)
St Mary,  The Boltons SW10 - 2012 Art Exhibition  (14th-20 June)


For further details please see my website www.louisediggle.co.uk

Jubilee Party,  Cleaver Square

Waiting for the Procession, Mall - Jubilee

Jubileetastic II

Still working away at the Jubilee - flags and bunting still sprouting all over the place - street parties galore too! Four of my Jubilee pastels are in the window of Medici Gallery in Cork Street at the moment.
Lots of projects - gun salute this morning, Flotilla tomorrow by Tate Modern, street parties on monday and procession on tuesday.  Better stock up on some red, white and blue and fingers crossed for the weather! New work will be posted up next week.

Monday 28th May - Jubileetastic!

I've been lurking in and around the streets of the West End, looking at the extraordinary range of flags and bunting which seem to be mushrooming at the moment for the Jubilee.  I took a bus up and down Regent and Oxford Streets to get a closer look at the vibrant colours of the Union Jack plastered across the streets. It helps to think of Austin Powers!  The wonderful weather has been superb for painting.

Oxford St, Flags

Regent St, Flags and Buses

Buckingham Palace, concert preparation

Also went to the Chelsea Flower Show on Saturday and was impressed by the plant sale at the end of the last day.  People staggered to Sloane Square station laden down with huge plants and flowers. With the late afternoon light behind them and the mass of people and plants, it had a Palm Sunday feel.

Chelsea Flower Show, Route to Sloane Square after plant sale

Off to Horse Guards tomorrow; the Changing of the Guard has been a great exercise in getting the colour 
down as quickly as possible. Only hope the weather continues!

Open Studio at Wimbledon

May 10-13:  Open Studio Show at Wimbledon Art Studios, 402 Blue Building, London, SW17 0BB (www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk)

Getting myself prepared for the Spring/Summer show and showing my new collection of work - Spring in London and Nice. Contrary to this month's soggy weather, it's been quite sunny in London over march and april.  I've thrown myself into that glorious soft light and colour.  Blossom, deckchairs, commuters and tourists.  This is also in preparation for Jubilee work which is getting underway.  Nice was very colourful, loud and bright and a good contrast to London (after the odd gust and shower!) Great sight of figures dissolving into the light of the med at the top of the chateau.

Spring flowers and light, Buckingham Palace

Tourists and Almond Blossom, St James' Park

 Panorama, Chateau, Nice

My studio show is from tomorrow, 10-13 May, most of the studios are open.  I'm rather excited about designing a QR code, with my website, for my handouts.