Wednesday 6 May 2015

Kennington Park: April 1991

Kennington Park, near where I lived in Brixton, South London
This post was originally published on my Drawing my way round London blog on 28 July 2011

I've been rummaging through my old sketch books and have found that quite a few of them have unused pages in them. So I have resolved to use these on new drawings before I buy any more books.

This is the first image in the sketch book I'm now planning to complete and here are the notes I made on the back of it when I got home:
View in Kennington Park, 26 April 1991. I had the choice of staying indoors and moping because I haven't got a job or going out in the sunshine to Kennington Park and drawing a picture. So that's what I did.

While I was drawing a young black guy stopped by, sat down and started to chat. We chatted and he watched me while I drew. From time to time I'd show him what I'd done. He'd compliment me. He told me that he lived in Brixton, not far from me. He worked at the post office from 6am - 2pm. He'd done this for three years and said initially it was difficult getting up for 6am.

At one time I showed him the drawing and said 'It doesn't look much like Kennington Park does it?' and he replied 'It's your view of the park, it's how you see it' and I found that very reassuring.'

It was nice to be reminded of that conversation and I would never have found it if I hadn't decided to fill the remaining pages up in this sketchbook.

2 comments:

Heather James said...

Left by Charlotte on 5 October 2011

Hi Heather, I've just been really enjoying looking through your drawings and paintings. I like the drawings especially, and the stories that go with them- and the idea of travelling the length of the north london line and drawing as you go. Having grown up in west London,it's nice to see sketches of familiar places too.

Heather James said...

Thanks Charlotte for your comment. It's always great to get some feedback and I'm glad you like the drawings.