Sketches from an old trip Part II: The Art

Two years ago, I went to England. At the time, it seemed like a good idea to sketch other people's art. 

Why did I draw this? I think I was trying to figure out how complementary colors and composition functioned on such a simple level to create a masterpiece.Whistler's Nocturne: Blue and Silver Chelsea.

 Public art from the train.

 

The artist was trying to figure out how to make art out of waste/leftovers. I resemble that idea. Balka's work, however, is much more elegant. 

The walk from Tate Modern towards St. Paul's. My favorite spot in England so far. 

 

I am the one with the ponytail, downstage. It was a very strange moment. I was watching a video of an artist--the art was a film of her having sex with a patron who agreed to pay 20,000 for the sex+art video. A commentary on the artist/patron relationship. A very awkward moment of watching porn in a public space with strangers. 

 

Here I am sketching myself again to show my scale as compared to the huge table and chair. Like walking through a giant's living room. 

 

Perhaps the most interesting art of the day--two live twins sitting in twin chairs under twin paintings of dots. The artist was playing with the idea of twins as nature's art--one is the copy of the other.

 

Not really art, but I loved all the baskets on bikes in Oxford. Very storybook perfect. 

 

The real deal. Kind of. This one was a sign.

 

Sketches from a steampunk exhibit in Oxford. These masks appealed to me on so many levels.

 A close-up. These masks were masterfully crafted and assembled by the artist, one Tom Banwell. 

The orange of the bike + orange of cop's jacket. Modern Oxford.