In Practice of Perfection

Written By: AnneBH - Oct• 30•16

 

On the basis that if I try to do something (within my own realms of possibility of course) and I find it difficult then I have nothing but the utmost admiration for those who do so and do it with such apparent ease.

For the last 18 months or so I have been trying to be more spontaneous in my approach to drawing and painting by spending a little less time in the studio and more time outside learning to observe the world around me.

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    Man asleep on train (c) Anne Blankson-Hemans 2016

This approach has taken me slightly out of my comfort zone and whilst I find safety in numbers when I go out plein air painting or urban sketching I decided to venture a little further by going solo on the underground.
So, inspired by my friend, the self confessed addictive sketcher Adebanji Alade, I decided to sketch people as I traveled on the London underground.

It took some doing I have to say! A couple of years ago I had a chat with Adebanji and was pleased to find he had had reservations (he’s a mere mortal like us after all ha ha) as well but had managed to get over his inhibitions and doesn’t even think twice about going out now.

 

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Man asleep on train (c) Anne Blankson-Hemans 2016

So… I asked myself, what exactly is it I am worried about? Shyness? I am a little but that’s never been a problem? Worried about what observers might think? Who cares? They don’t even know me ha ha! Might my sitters turn aggressive because I am trying to draw them? Apparently they are flattered… who knew?
So armed with all the courage I could muster I picked out a couple of people during my last trip to London and gave myself 5 minutes per person.

I did say as much courage as I could muster didn’t I? Both my subjects in of two of the three sketches I managed were fast asleep and the third was engrossed in a book but hey I did it didn’t I?

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The Girl on the Train (c) Anne Blankson-Hemans 2016

I am looking forward to the day I know won’t be that far off when I can whip out my sketch book without thinking twice about it and until then I will just keep sketching.
Who knows, one day I might inspire someone too!

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