A Week in Politics - Pastelling in Parliament Square

Crowds Outside Number 10 Wednesday 13th July

A week in Politics 

By complete coincidence, and great luck, I managed to get permission from the Mayor’s Office to paint in Parliament Square in one of the most remarkable weeks in British politics. 

Wednesday 6^th July

Weather good

Chilcot report, placards in Parliament Square

I pastelled from 6am to 12 noon, in the same place, observing the light.  Most days I completed 2 pieces.  

Monday 11^th July

Grey, overcast morning, showers later

Leads concedes leadership challenge

Theresa May becomes uncontested candidate for PM

Angela Eagle  starts Labour leadership challenge

Crashed, crushed car outside Parliament

Tuesday 12^th July

Bright start, heavy showers later

Final Cameron cabinet meeting

Corbyn and Labour NEC ballot paper decision

Removal lorry arrives at Number 10

Tuesday 12th Mid Morning

Wednesday 13^th July

Sunny start, sunny intervals

Last PM Question Time for Cameron, crowds outside Downing Street

May moves into Downing Street

Major cabinet appointments announced

Len Goodman quits Strictly

Wednesday pm - Press Tents outside Parliament during Cameron's last Question Time

Thursday 14^th July

Bright early dawn light – couple watch sunrise on Parliament Square

Light cloud later

First day of May – new administration

Terrible news from Nice

What struck me as I worked was that these pastels are a record of an extraordinary time. The frenzy of political activity inside Parliament hugely contrasted with the gentle everyday rhythms I witnessed outside in Parliament Square - the morning service bells of Westminster Abbey, the regular boom of big Ben and the inexorable flow of traffic and pedestrians. Parliament Square also has wonderful catalpa trees in blossom and I even saw butterflies.

Ironically, I too was captured, but on film rather than canvas.  Newsnight was filming the press tents on College Green during the last Cameron Prime Minister’s Question Time.  As a result I appeared fleetingly, on Newsnight, that night and Sky News.

Watch this space! Parliament Square, Serpentine and Windsor Castle coming up!

Chelsea Art Society coming up next week!

Time has sped and I realise that its been months since I last posted.  It's been a busy couple months with my studio show and trying to pin down the ever changing  light.  Over the last 6 weeks London has become a new place; transformed by spring.

The blossom this year has been lovely. I always forget what a great surprise it is when it finally appears.  I based myself off Old Church Street in Kensington where some of the best can be seen

Blossom, Brunswick Gardens

Blossom, Holland Park

 I particulary enjoyed including dog walkers and joggers - they became pieces of light

Daffodils, St James' Park

 As part of my Pageantry series, I am pastelling the Mall and rehearsals for the Trooping the Colour.  On Sundays the traffic is closed off and, early in the morning, it is so quiet and green it almost feels as though you are far away in the countryside.

Mall with Flags, Late Morning

Mall with Flags, Afternoon Light

Mall with Flags, Evening Light

The rehearsals for the Trooping the Colour have also been underway and are a great spectacle.  Selfie sticks are however a hazard! There is no time to stare, just to pile in the light and colour where it best fits! More will be added next week after the Birthday Parade and picnic on the Mall

Flags fever abounds at the moment!

Buses and flags, Regent street

There have been some extraordinarily beautiful mornings. The very early morning light in London is magical, particularly around Parliament Square and the river.  I did a quick sketch yesterday. Very few people and traffic were around. 

Chelsea Art Society is next week at the Old Town Hall, Kings Road 16-20 June.  This year is proving to be bigger and better than ever.    Further information can be found on http://www.chelseaartsociety.org.uk/

Paris 2

In my studio in London in the lovely spring sunshine and going through my Paris work for my Studio show in May and Chelsea Art Society in June.  I really enjoy the contrast of Paris with London; it's so completely diffferent. There also seem to be easier places to paint from.

Louvre, Afternoon light

By the Sennelier shop, Quai Voltaire

Place de la Concorde, Sunset

Louvre, Sunset

Seine, Early morning Light

I love Paris in the Springtime

I've just got back from a painting trip with the Chelsea Art Society to Paris - what a place!

It was very hard not to hum various tunes about the beauty of the city as I walked the boulevards searching for subject matter.  It's the most wonderful place to paint; not only is it lovely to look at, there are many areas to set up an easel without getting in the way. The spring light dissolved and transformed the place. I was extraordinarily lucky to paint with a very inspiring group - Luke Martineau, Alice Hall and Annie Wright.

This is just a taste of what I've been up to - further Parisian work will be up in the next few weeks

Flags, Arc de Triomphe, early morning

Ile St Louis - Evening Light 

Sunset, Pont de la Concorde

Tuileries, Spring Light

Vendome and Tuileries, dusk

Winter Work in London

The clear, strong winter light in London has been fascinating to paint.  The buildings of South Kensington are almost impossible to paint without sunglasses and I've come to realise that the dazzling white of the buildings is like painting snow .  I've continued to be transfixed by the play of light and shadows up and down buildings during the day.  The week before last I went to Soho - the Chinese New Year celebrations were in full swing

Chinese Lanterns and Light, Macclesfield Street, Soho

One of the projects I'm setting up is the street where I live. I do commissions of streets which have personal associations.  A massive plus point about working outside is meeting interesting and positive people who enhance the place. I had some really interesting conversations after working on these pieces.

Sumner Place, Mid Morning, South Kensington

But I'm always amazed by the everyday miracle of early morning light.  The ordinary is made extraordinary (although it is pretty nippy!)

Elm Park Gardens, Early Morning Light

I've also been taking advantage of the roadworks on Serpentine bridge, The large mirrorlike surface of the Serpentine is a gem. .

Serpentine, before Sunrise

Exhibitions:

The Pastel Society opens today and continues until the 5th February (www.thepastelsociety.org.uk) at the Mall Galleries, off Trafalgar Square. The Small Paintings Group at Piers Feetham Gallery, Fulham Road finishes on thursday 25th February.

Great start to 2016! Work in at the Pastel Society, Mall Galleries and Small Paintings Group Exhibition at Piers Feetham Gallery

What I love about New Year is a chance to reflect on plans for the next 12 months, new Ideas, methods, places to work, painting trips and shows. A great start is getting 2 pastels into the Pastel Society annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in February http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/now-pastel-society

Clapham Common - Late Afternoon Light

Albert Bridge at Night

I've also got 4 works in the Small Paintings Group show at Piers Feetham in the Fulham Road, 28 January to 25 February http://www.thesmallpaintingsgroup.co.uk/ for more details. A painting trip to Paris is also being organised ; 2016 is looking promising!