So through some genius planning skills, I somehow ended up exactly where I left off last time...which is London. Unfortunately I only had 4 pages left on my previous sketchbook and it would be space inefficient if I bring 2 on the road, so I just started a new one, feeling rather guilty. (I honestly have no idea how I'm gonna fill the last 4 pages...given there is nothing of value to sketch around where I live)
-British Museum-
I didn't expect much from British Museum's Great Court, since I'm usually an exterior-only sketcher. But I dunno, this place kind of blurred the line between inside and outside. I read that the Museum forbids wet media inside the galleries, so I just found myself a spot on the spiral staircase (I think I would have done the Benin bronzes otherwise) Loads of people were sitting on the ground, on the stairs, basically everywhere, so nobody really paid any attention to me. A lady with a hard shelled briefcase stopped to chat, so I thought she probably works in the museum. And then she asked me how one could get into the galleries...ooops
-King's College, Cambridge-
Not exactly in London, but I kind of squeezed in a quick sketch while we were waiting for lunch. It felt like it is going to rain, so I was really rushed. The restaurant staff was even nice enough to come out to tell me that food is ready (while I totally underestimated how fast they prepared the food) We attended the evening chapel service to check out the famous chapel without paying (we did end of standing 70% of the time though) and the sun came out in the end! It was pretty great except visitors are not allowed to linger during exam time...so a missed opportunity
-London Sketching Day 1-
I think this must the best of my St Paul's attempt so far! The shape of the dome is finally somewhat making sense! When I was there a French tour group stopped dead in front of me, and a little French girl promptly latched onto me, despite pleading from parents to not disturb me. I ignored her throughout (an artist must concentrate!), but we did say bye to each other when the group left.
I took a break later at St. Bart the Great and almost crashed a wedding (??) Anyway so I was just sitting there minding my own business, and then I heard some exaggerated small talk in posh English. Whatever, I filter these out automatically and concentrate on counting my arches. But the small talk continued and somewhat multiplied (?) Finally I was curious enough to see who exactly were talking...they were very nicely dressed people like suits, nice dresses, definitely not how people would randomly dress. Then it finally clicked and I realized either a wedding or a wedding reception is about to begin in this church. (throughout this time the choir was also rehearsing) I looked around and there were no other tourists in sight. So I quickly packed up my things, ducked my head and bolted out of the church (on my way out, I saw another finely dressed couple walking in, the lady wearing the most outrageous hat that I've only seen on the news)
A couple more London classics. Found a few construction workers in full relaxation mode. I was pretty shocked when I saw that the mayor's office is getting dismantled, apparently they are moving to another location with lower rent and the current building is getting a redesign.
The view is technically better on the Tower of London side (where the sun hits the bridge), but it was way quieter here. I guess I have done this view a few times already, but this is definitely the first time with the bridge opened! (a boat with huge sails was passing through)
-London Sketching Day 2-
On the 2nd day I attempted 2 places I haven't done yet, sort of. I have sketched Westminster across the river before, and also in silhouette. The crowd in front of the Big Ben was huge, but luckily I found a traffic island in the middle of the road where tourists don't usually linger. I could lean against the fence on one side because there was no view of importance behind me, and tourists can still take pictures in front of me. (I reassured 2 couples they're not blocking me at all. They were taking some time in front of me, getting balloons ready for a milestone birthday I think) I didn't quiiiite capture the shape of the clock tower, but happy with the overall result, in a super chaotic environment.
Technically I have done Piccadilly Circus before, but never the iconic view of the fountain and the billboards behind it. I drew the figure way too big so had to scale down the fountain itself many folds to fit in the entire scene. Probably the most chaotic place I've ever done a sketch in, right up there with Rialto Bridge. Luckily I found a little place to sit at the underground exit, so I wasn't in the way of other people (except when they needed to read the map next to me) After this I already felt both my social and artistic battery drained
