Be Drawn

I’ve been drawing members of the congregation at Hampstead Parish Church. No more than nine minutes each (set the timer on my iPhone).

There was going to be an exhibition at the church over Easter, but beastly coronavirus wasn’t interested.

So I’m putting some of the images here instead.

  • 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

With the church closed, I joined Live services on Facebook. Here’s what I saw:

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