Walk the Canal

On Thursday the 24th of November we went on a trip to walk next to the Canal from Warwick Avenue to Paddington Station and draw when we see in the process.

Google Maps of where we walked

This process of walking and drawing was a very interesting and beneficial task through the way to draw what I wanted and to keep up with the rest of the trip, I had to draw quite quick which created a chrip, quick movement type of mark from the charcoal. With this I captured parts of the areas that I was at and because I was drawing quite fast my drawing didn't have that much detail making for a quick snip it of the area that I was at. 

This is a drawing of one of the Cabmen's Shelter Fund which I have seen before but never know what it really was till that day. It was very interesting to found out information about hidden history on old building which are scattered around the UK.  

Image of one of the Cabman's Shelter at Warwick Avenue
Image by Prudence Ivey

The Cabmen's Shelter Fund was established in London, England, in 1875 to run shelters for the drivers of hansom cabs and later hackney carriages (taxicabs). 

By law, cab drivers could not leave the cab stand while their cab was parked there. This made it very difficult for them to obtain hot meals and could be unpleasant in bad weather. The Earl of Shaftesbury and other worthies therefore took it upon themselves to set up a charity to construct and run shelters at major cab stands.

These shelters were small green huts, which were not allowed to be larger than a horse and cart, as they stood on the public highway. Between 1875 and 1914, 61 of these buildings were built around London, the first being on Acacia Road, St John's Wood.

Thirteen of the shelters still exist and are still run by the Cabmen's Shelter Fund. All are now Grade II listed buildings.

Trying to capture different parts of the places that I have seen within the walk through that day really interested me through the way the lack of time really opened to my style of drawings because I really like creating, abstract, non realist looking drawings that still capture elements of the real object or place that the drawing is coming from. The lack of time made for me to move the charcoal quite quickly which made for interesting drawings and opened me to s style of drawings that I will like to carry on. 

Also we have a quest teacher on the trip with us called Aldous Eversley and he was also do drawing as we where going on the walk. I learn a new way of drawing through using Chinese ink set, where you place the brush into the water first then into the ink. How long you leave the brush in is how light the ink will come out.

Photo: I took of Aldous' drawing

With that I feel that I want to go and try out that style of drawing and link it within my style of art because I really feel that is it close to my style of drawing and how I like to show my drawings.

Overall, the trip was very enjoyable and I learnt a lot about my drawing style and how I can improve and adapt my drawings.