Saturday, July 28, 2012

Big Ben in Scaffolding

Congratulations to all the people who prepared London for the successful opening ceremonies of the summer olympics.

Here’s a sketch I did of Big Ben back in 1985, when it was covered in scaffolding. (I’m a huge fan of scaffolding.)


Here’s a close-up detail. When I’m drawing a subject like this, which is infinitely complex, I try to be accurate but impressionistic, suggesting detail with somewhat abstract strokes drawn in perspective.

I used two hardnesses of graphite pencil, HB and 2B, as well as a little bit of light gray ink wash.
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On Monday I'll be giving a talk on composition at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. July 30, 2012 @ 6:30 pm.

15 comments:

  1. Accurate plus impressionistic, Abstract plus perspective. You make it sound so straightforward. I have tried the same thing, but for me it did not come so easily. Getting a reasonable amount of detail (that is, not TOO much, not too little) in a long distance drawing is tricky. For me, either I try to put in too much, and what happens is that where I am working gets bigger and bigger, or I do too little, and it all turns into a vague image that makes me wonder later what it was that originally caught my eye.

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  2. "From accurate impression is the poetry formed..."

    I think thats a Coleridge quote ... er... maybe Yoda -- anyway great sketch!

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  3. Hi James
    Yet again you have made me look at something differently. On a recent visit to Italy I was disappointed to see scaffolding around some famous landmarks, but now through your sketches I can see I could have approached this from a more creative angle. I am inspired to have a go!
    Thank you

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  4. I was just imagining how your Big Ben sketch would have looked without the scaffolding:
    I would probably miss it.

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  5. Technically speaking, Big Ben refers to the clock inside, while the tower was recently given its official name of 'Elizabeth Tower' And, yes, I do love these drawings of yours...

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    1. Actually big Ben is the bell. i also love this drawing ;-)

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  6. Great drawings. I too am a big fan of scaffolding and enjoy these unusual depictions of landmarks.

    Any one any time can do it without scaffolding so what a Big surprise it must have Ben (pun intended).

    One question...
    What was that section angled upward on the right side all about?

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  7. David, I assumed that up-tilting section was a "catcher" to keep falling debris from damaging the structure underneath.

    Thanks, everyone for explaining about the name.

    Vicki, I know what you mean--it happens to me, too. Using a big brush or a broad pencil often helps. I still have to be accurate, but I try to do as much detail with the big tool as possible.

    Daroo, love the quote. I guess "accurate impression" appears to be a paradox.

    Anon, I was especially fascinated by the bamboo scaffolding in China.

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  8. I've been following your blog and this seems like a question only you would know the answer to. If I accidentally sprayed Raid, the bug killer, all over my watercolor paper, is it still ok to paint on it, or will it deteriorate over time? Thanks!

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  9. Sarah, wow, that's a good question. I guess the best thing would be to try it out. I don't know how long the toxins linger, or whether it would leave an oily film. I would air it out and try a test swatch. If it smelled funny, or if bugs start dropping out of the air around you, I'd just get a new piece.

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  10. Lovely sketches.To me, they're reminiscent of Ted Kautzky's works, if you're familiar with him.

    Also I love the implications of the last post... "Aw, just sprayed Raid on my watercolor paper. Maybe Gurney would know what to do."

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  11. I was thinking you looked influenced by Ernest Watson. I always wanted to draw like him. I had your drawing book you did with the other guy back then and really liked your work.

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  12. Cameron and Markmors, you're both right. Kautzky and Watson were both big influences on me then. And they still are, anytime I sit down and try to draw a complex building in pencil. Check out the post on the drawings Watson did for the "El Dorado" pencil company: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.ca/2010/09/el-dorado-page.html

    Using flat-shaped tools in general is a great way to get that "impressionistic but accurate" look. When I'm painting architecture in oil or watercolor, I'm almost always using flat watercolor brushes.

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  13. It is really a great sketch. Thanks for the post.

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