Artist Blog of Cheryl Radford

Sketch Arva

10/16/2021

Its October, so it's fitting to go sketching at a cemetery. Urban Sketchers at St. John's Anglican Church in Arva. This cute little yellow brick church was built in 1875. The first sketch was of the cemetery at the back of the property, a unique heart shaped head stone caught my attention. It was a little windy and cool back there, so moved to the front of the church. Went across the street to sketch an elevation view of the church, warmer with no wind. Micron Pen and water brush filled with india ink/distilled water mixture for gray tones... I spent about 45 minutes on each sketch.

Sketch with Homemade Charcoal

10/11/2021

Greenhills Hole No 7 Sketch

This small sketch of hole number 7 was created using a micron pen, charcoal made from the willow trees on the 18 hole at the course and white pencil crayon, on a grey toned pastel paper. The sketch was based on photos and some quick sketches done while playing golf at Greenhills Golf Course over the summer.
The "willow" charcoal is a quite messy, and therefore requires a fixative being sprayed immediately upon finishing the sketch. That does make the sketch a little darker.
This image size is about 5 inches tall and 4 inches wide.
See more golf art here.

Urban Sketchers - now an official chapter

8/14/2021

This AM the Urban Sketchers London had it's first event as an official chapter of Urban Sketchers International. Met downtown, the artists went where they wanted to and them met up at a coffee shop for the throw down. Some sketchers from Waterloo Region US made the trip. Probably our largest gathering of sketchers to date.
I have drawn/illustrated the (former) Kingsmill's Department Store building a couple of times before, but always from photographs. Now it's home to Fanshawe College: School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts. And this time it's a sketch completed on location. I would not say the building was "saved", but at least we still have the original facade for the Dundas streetscape. I think, when you only keep the front wall, and completely rebuild the rest, you loose spirit of the building and have not really saved it. But this is better than loosing it completely!
New sketchbook started August 1 and this time a little bigger. First 2 were 6 x 6 inches, this one is 10 x 8 inches. Still working on sketching everyday.... still only missed one day since April 8.

Urban Sketchers London - Dundas Street (micron pen, waterbrush with india ink in 10 x 8 inch sketchbook)

Western University - McIntosh Gallery

4/6/2021

Gothic limestone architecture, ivy-covered walls, lots of green space, and nestled beside the Thames River is Western University. Founded in 1878, the campus is one of the most picturesque in North America. Hard to believe I have lived in London for so long and never drawn or sketched any of the magnificent buildings on this campus.
McIntosh Gallery was established in 1942, and is the oldest university art gallery in Ontario.
As it turns out... this was the location of the last art opening I went to before the COVID-19 lock down of 2020 and was the location of the first art exhibition I went to view in March of 2021.

Process of War Memorial Children's Hospital

2/26/2021

A recent article by Bryan Bicknell, CTV News London called "Buildings on the Brink" prompted me to revisit my "Save Me Series" from 2017. This illustration is based on my belief that old building have a soul. I combined my figure drawing, my love of architecture, my photo and an old photo I found on Toronto Public Library Archive site. If you look closely in the windows you will see "Save Me". I truly hope this building is repurposed and saved somehow. See more illustrations from the Save me Series.
Couple of process images

India ink drawing of figure
Micron ink drawing of building
Watercolour painting and washes
Matting and framing ... and the finished piece is ready to be delivered.

Camden Terrace

11/1/2020

Sometimes an illustration gets in a pile of artwork and gets overlooked for awhile. This one "Camden Terrace (Front Elevation) was overlooked for a few years! Cleaning up studio and came across it this weekend. Illustration is from 2016 and in November of that year, the building was demolished. The building was located at 479-489 Talbot Street, and was built 1876-77.Second image is based on the architecture of Camden Terrace, in the window, it says "save me - you did not". The history of the architecture and the city is worth saving. Once it is gone, its gone forever.

This is (was) an example of "Terrace Housing". A 19th-century term for row housing, terrace housing refers to identical or mirror-image houses sharing side walls. Such terraces were a traditional British form of domestic architecture generally only found in the larger urban areas of Ontario. London has several examples. (Source: Jennifer grainger.blogspot.com)

Some notes from Architectural Conservancy Ontario, London Branch about its unique design:

The windows on Camden Terrace are unique because the headers at the top of the windows curve, then level off at the corners. Over the bay windows, they all connect.
The buildings of Camden Terrace are in the Classical tradition, with some Italianate touches such as the substantial brackets at the ends of each double unit.
Notice the intricate brick detailing under the edge of the roof, featuring a rare “brick drop” design.
The terrace is divided into groups of two, each of which has good Classical proportions.
The whole is well-balanced, forming a harmonious design.

Museum London

10/17/2020

Walking to and from work, I admire and get inspired by the downtown architecture. This one was more of a challenge, it took me a 3 illustrations to get the one I really liked. This view with the overhead trees and the flower bed (with this large leafed plant...not sure what it is) framed the building so nicely.
"Museum London was established in 1940 and operated from the London Public Library until 1980 when the renowned Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama was commissioned to design its current home at the forks of the Thames River in downtown London, Ontario."
Just delivered the framed art to the SHOP at Museum London today. Working on the artwork for the greeting cards and post cards, to be printed in the next couple of weeks.
See More Architecture

Town Hall

9/23/2020

This prominent building in the downtown of St. Marys (175 Queen Street East), was constructed in 1891 of local limestone with dichromatic red sandstone accents. Its close proximity to the St. Marys Public Library, another heritage building constructed with similar materials, contribute to the strong heritage identity of the downtown area.

50 shades of colour - postponed

3/20/2020

The New Canvas of Life committee has decided to postpone the upcoming event on April 21, 2020 until the Fall of 2020

This was my submission to this year’s New Canvas of Life in support of the Multi-Organ Transplant Program at London Health Sciences Centre. New Canvas of Life, from May 29 to June 7, at the Grand Theatre-Spriet Stage & Art with Panache Gallery, London.Opening night is May 29, 2018 for New Canvas of Life, presented by The Tricar Group and will feature an intimate performance by Juno Award-winner, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. During the reception, you can view the artwork All artwork will be sold via online auction May 29 to June 7, 2018.

Title: Blackfriars Bridge Looking South, Winter
Medium: ink, watercolour and gouche
Image Size: 5 ¾ X 2 ¾ inches
Frame Size: 10 X 8 inches

I live in Blackfriars area and walk the trails by Thames River everyday. One of my favourite subjects is historic Blackfriars Bridge.

LAC new location and Dundas Streetscape

2/5/2020

I am excited and honoured to have my Dundas Streetscape (Clarence to Wellington) officially hanging at the new location of the London Arts Council. They just moved to their new office at 267 Dundas Street, London, ON, corner of Dundas and Wellington. This organization truly enhances the quality of life and creative vitality in London, through their various programs, services and incredible staff members. I appreciate their support over the years.
This illustration was started in 2012, when I took the photo reference. I put all the images together in Photoshop, to figure out how big to draw each buildings, in order to have the streetscape fit on a sheet of watercolour paper. I completed the ink drawing in 2012, but then got busy doing two books: Barhopping into History, London Ontario (2013) and Hopping into History, London's Old East Village (2015). Both of these books were supported by the London Arts Council. Finally in 2018, I got back to the illustrations and completed them. My original plan was to draw every building from Museum London (I worked at the Art Rental shop) to the London Clay Art Centre (I still work here). To date, I have only finished 3 blocks. Maybe its time to continue with this series...

Artwork hanging at new LAC office.