TIM BAKER

I didn’t catch the name of this model from the second session I attended at Canela Cafe, it was themed in a Chinoiserie / Oriental style, with a kimono, Chinese wall hangings and a large Chinese vase. I was the only one who drew the vase according to Luis, who runs the sessions. He posed for us first, I arrived slightly late so had 1-2 minutes to draw him. Then a not-great 5 minute piece (not shown), and then a much better high-key longer piece – I think this was with the Platinum Preppy fountain pen as per the first piece.

I just had time to sit down and grab one of my EDC pocket pens – the Preppy is great for that, never dries out, just works every time.

Next a paintstick piece, large A3 size as is traditional – I liked it but didn’t feel it reflected the mood. Someone else there had chinese ink with them (Youth Brand – a good cheap ink if rather gloopy) so I decided to use my Artway Sumi-E ink as well.

This worked much better for the subject and my work – hence the next two pieces. The detail is because I am not happy with the lower body – classic proportion issues. When I did more life drawing I had little problem with proportions bar fore-shortening, but it seems I lost that skill in the pandemic. *sigh*

The last piece is almost like a cartoon, but I really wanted to draw the vase and backgrounds (I am quite often more interested in fabric textures and folds than the model!) – it certainly reflects the chinese and japanese influences – japanese ink work is an influence of mine, via Van Gogh.

Talking of which, maybe some protesters will throw soup at it and make me famous? 😛

As a green ethical working class artist fighting climate change one camping trip and bus at a time, I do find that both disturbing and hilarious – hilariously bad, but I guess art students gotta art student. I hope they get an A for their conceptual piece (actually more likely a C cos they used Heinz and not Campbells like Warhol painted. Oops).

As a protest though, it leaves a lot to be desired. I mean compared to the wonderful creative anti-oil protests from BP or Not BP at places like the British Museum, it does seem that an oil heiress’s money could be better spent on other things than destructive theatrics? Cos these activists are allegedly paid to be there…which makes them actors not protestors.

Shame then they couldn’t get someone who actually needs the money, rather than two upper class girls whose parents would happily bail them out in seconds. It is bad optics to have a posh girl screeching about hungry families when I doubt she has been hungry in her life though, especially in a place where most of those families won’t see or hear it?

And these groups already have a massive minority problem – I bet almost zero of the XR/Insulate Britain and JSO people you are seeing in the news are anything other than lily white and middle class. So count me very sceptical, even though I agree with their politics and urgency that this will change anything. And it will take only one accidentally damaged work or someone getting hurt to set the cause back years.