Victoria Tavern

Victoria Tavern, ink, watercolour, gouche, 4 x 5.5 inches, ©2016

The Victoria Tavern is opening again and has a new owner, Mike Small. This location housed a grocery store from the 1920's until 1933 when the Victoria Tavern opened. The long standing SoHo watering hole closed its doors in 2013, but was included in our Barhopping into History book, because if closed just as we were going to print. I haven't been inside since it re-opened, as it was closed for a function the day I tried. It is January and we finally have winter, so I thought it was time to paint a snowy, wintery picture.

Untitled Female No. 12, Savannah

The figurative portion is from April 4 at The ARTS Project. India ink gesture, then ramdam and free watercolour...  trying to get away from the tight / controlled work. The architecture details are from last years trip to Savannah (well, golfing in Hilton Head and a drive to Savannah). The  Riverfront District is historic and interesting and very beautiful. I unfortunately did not have time to draw while I was there, but have some good photo reference.

About Savannah "The City with the Nation’s Largest Registered Urban Historic Landmark District: Savannah has a unique city plan with 21 lush green squares, a wide variety of architecture, 1,600-plus restored structures rated historically and architecturally significant all within a 2.5 square mile area."

On Location

Finally warm enough to be outside to do some drawing. Before work on thursday morning, met Susan at Victoria Park, where there are many large, old victorian era homes. Victorian era refers to a time period and not to a style. Queen Victoria, born in 1819, ruled Great Britain, the most powerful nation on earth at the time, from 1837 to 1901. Victorian architecture, in its broadest sense, is any building or style that was produced during her reign. The feature that attrached me, was the large colums with the ionic capitals. There are so many more wonderful examples of victorian era architecture in this area.

London Streetscape No. 2

Richmond Street between Dundas and Carling. If you are downtown London, just look up and you will see all the great architectural detail on the old buildings. The reference for this was taken while I was downtown about a week and a half ago and did the small sketch of the corner of Dundas and Richmond. After I started drawing, this is what was going through my mind... "what was I thinking, there is soooo much detail here, this is going to take forever!" But a week later, drawing a little here and there when I had sometime, and here is the finished piece. It’s the architectural detailing around the windows on the second floor that attracts me. There are so many more streets like this down town, I am not sure what to do next.

Talbot & King Sketch

Thursday morning before I went to work, I met Susan Garrington for some location sketching, downtown on second floor of the Covant Garden Market.... Too cold to be outside sketching! This is the building, across the street at the corner of Talbot and King Street. I love drawing architecture and there are so many great buildings in downtown London. I roughly sketched the building, went to work and was busy for couple of days, then finally added some colour Sunday morning, so I was really guessing about colour. Next time I plan to have my watercolours with me.

Night Cap Gallery

My original drawings of historical architecture of North Middlesex are now available at Night Cap Gallery in Parkhill. Included are streetscapes, churches, old barns and of course the Parkhill Public Library. The present library building was erected in 1914 and opened July 28, 1915, on land donated by the Town of Parkhill. It was financed by a Carnegie grant, and is currently the only Carnegie library still open as a branch in the Middlesex County library system.

Parhill Public Libray (Ink and Graphite)

Brinsley Methodist Church

I am currently working on a series of drawings of historical buildings of North Middlesex County. They will be for sale at North Middlesex's 150th Anniversary Celebrations. The festivities will run throughout 2010 with the centerpiece being the 150th anniversary weekend, July 30th to Aug 2nd, 2010. I plan to do approx 16 drawings. This is one of six I have completed so far.

I have a copy of an illustrated historical atlas of Middlesex County. I plan do incorporate some of these images into my drawings. As interesting as architecture is, rather than just drawing a picture of a buiding, as I have here... I plan to create some more interesting artwork by using other elements besides the historical building.

North Middlesex Cards

Handmade cards... with original artwork. I am sketching and painting original little images of historic building in North Middlesex on these cards. I am really using these as practise sketches before I do a larger more detailed drawing of the buildings. Finished drawings and cards will be for sale at the North Middlesex's 150th Anniversary Celebrations. The festivities will run throughout 2010 with the centerpiece being the 150th anniversary weekend, July 30th to Aug 2nd, 2010.

Eldon House

Eldon House (6" x 9" Ink and Graphite) Today’s paintout location was London's oldest residence, Eldon House. This home sits on a piece of high ground, in the middle of the city, overlooking the forks of the Thames. Inside, this beautiful historic home contains family heirlooms and furniture from the Harris family. Outside, a 19th century garden has been recreated, truly a place of beauty and tranquility.

This summer, Eldon House will celebrate its 175th birthday. There are special Canada Day Celebrations in the plans for this year.

This detailed ink drawing was completed on location this afternoon.