Month: April 2020

Dog portraits

Inspiration

Do you like dogs? This may be of interest.

Last year, a friend let us have her dog while she went away, and I drew Boogie’s portrait.

Then I started drawing portraits on Zoom to raise money for Soho’s Homeless during the lockdown. One man asked me to draw his daughters, separately, each with two dogs.

It was quite a challenge doing this on Zoom, not least because dogs don’t sit still. But I enjoyed it:

Thank you for reading.

Be Drawn for Soho’s Homeless: Jonathan Bannister

Fundraising

Jonathan waves his hands very expressively, so I gave him more than two.

In case you think that I’m unhappy about this, I am absolutely not. It was a delightful challenge, and made me smile.

But I see that I somehow let (one of) his right hand(s) lose the rings he wears. Oops! That’s speed-drawing for you.

This was drawn as part of a fundraiser organised by The Union members club, to raise money for Soho’s Homeless.

Here’s a sense of Jonathan’s expressive movement:

You too can help The Union to raise funds for Soho’s homeless

To find out how, Read This>>

Be Drawn for Soho’s Homeless: Zoe Cunningham

Fundraising

I’m not absolutely sure where Zoe’s based, but she has a wonderful view.

Unfortunately, there was no way to capture it and keep her from going into silhouette, so she sat in front of this interestingly spare clock.

This was drawn as part of a fundraiser organised by The Union members club, to raise money for Soho’s Homeless.

Here’s the moment where Zoe takes a peek:

You too can help The Union to raise funds for Soho’s homeless

To find out how, Read This>>

Be Drawn, at Hampstead Parish Church

Inspiration

I made that trailer (above) to keep things short.

The gallery below is my best effort to show you the pictures in full:

  • The last junior choir rehearsal before coronavirus
  • Father Jeremy, looking thoughtful
  • A greeter, on Sundays. He’s been coming for 51 years.
  • The musical “engine room”, beneath the organ
  • A regular since before World War Two
  • M works with young people. She chose to Be Drawn in the children’s area
  • A greeter, greeting
  • This was a rehearsal, so the choir aren’t dressed up
  • A light in the darkness
  • Regular at Evensong, travels up from Islington
  • Immediately before the service, the man in this picture asked me to draw him, but I didn’t have time. Afterwards, while the organ was still playing, I dashed over and asked if he’d like to be drawn with the people beside him – and if they’d like that. They said yes.
  • This man very generously turned up with a coffee for me to sip while I sketched. He also chose this seat, because he knows I like the play of light, and the presence of angels (in the stained glass, as well as on my shoulder).
  • For some reason, I lit up these two with scratchy haloes of light. It pleased me, so I kept it
  • A dark corner, lit from above and by the white alb worn by S
  • I love this eagle lectern, and so does S. The windows behind her look like wings
  • “I came for the music,” this woman said when I drew her waving her arms around
  • Ayla. Rev Dr Ayla, to be more correct – the first priest I spoke to at HPC, and prime mover behind this drawing project
  • A., who preaches at HPC, read quietly while I sketched
  • The woman in the next drawing told me she broke the wing off this wooden angel (by accident)
  • This is the woman. Happily, the angel’s wing is fixed
  • P said he likes that window, showing the disciples around Christ. Poignant, now that we’re supposed to keep well away from each other.
  • Lady chapel. View of altar
  • Friends, in junior choir
  • J., a ember of the choir
  • S., in the Lady Chapel before Evening Prayer

There are still a few pictures I have not yet sent out, or posted here. If you’d like to receive those, there’s a link at the bottom of the page.

And if you would like to order prints of the images, on art paper with lightfast ink, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

I happen to have been given a 50% discount code by the printer I use.

Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you think.

JP

Oh, and feel free to forward or share this with anybody who might be interested. You (or they) can subscribe to my emails by clicking HERE.

  • Jeremy, Live on Facebook
  • Ayla, Live on Facebook

Be Drawn for Soho’s Homeless: Inez and Eliza

Fundraising

A club member asked me to draw his daughters, and their beloved dogs – an exciting challenge!

Afterwards, he said:

We absolutely love these. Thank you so much, they will be treasured and a poignant reminder of how lucky we are at a hugely challenging time for so many.

No video this time.

You too can help The Union to raise funds for Soho’s homeless

To find out how, Read This>>