E.D.L Rally and a conspiracy among short people.

Well the English Defence League came to town, did you notice? Alas I only managed one drawing due to the rain and fast pace of the event.  I went to meet them at temple meads but only a few came out the front entrance so we all went to meet them at Redcliffe wharf where they had gathered at the Colosseum bar for a pint or two or more.

I have to admit I thought the police did a fantastic job, all groups were contained and kept separate and no one did anything questionable. They turned the whole area around Kings street and Queens sq into a no go zone that had all of the anti-fascist groups wondering where to go.

When the E.D.L were having their rally in Queens sq I had a few people from the opposition; who couldnt see past the police barrier, tell me that there was actually no one in there, it was all a ruse. But I am tall and could see them past the barriers, not to mention you could hear them on the loud speaker.

The EDL were marched out of the center and the police got in their vans and left and everyone went home. now that's a tidy protest!

On the 14th of this very month the E.D.L is coming to town and will be met with strong opposition. Ive tried drawing them before but they were all up in my face so I will try again! this time ill get them.

Mr Woodnote

One day a couple of musicians came to the bear pit. Everyone was getting very excited about him coming to play for us. I had no idea who he was but he seemed to be a minor celebrity.

 

He was performing using a saxophone and a loop pedal also there was a rapper rapping about things as they do.

Ok so here's some cleaned up versions of some of the drawings on the pastry bags about the alcoholics.

I'm pleased with these. The style helps make these drawings small vignettes on the lives of the alcoholics.

Here a drunk comes across a couple of girls trying to interview people passing through so he takes his opportunity to speak his mind.

Diamond Jubilee!

This weekend the Queen celebrated 60 years on the throne. A lot of people I know were avoiding anything Jubilee related. I myself thought I would do the same until I realised I was missing a drawing opportunity. I found that the event brought together a range of people from different classes, all together under the same umbrella (almost literally). The Jubilee seemed as much a celebration for the Queens reign as it was for 'her' people. It seems some kind of irony that the thing which diffuses the division of classes and alleviates the sense that the lower class is somehow lesser than others is the Royal family.

At this point my only problem with the event was an aesthetic one as the flags and Union flags are a little garish.

 True to the British way, people stuck out the rain. I'm sure a lot of people have what you would hope were well informed opinions as to why they don't like the monarchy but I think they may be over thinking things because what I saw was, well, quite pleasant.

The good things

As well as a sketch book about societies darker side i want to have a sketch pad focusing on societies better side, things which are there to bring us together.

Musicians turn up at the Bearpit to perform for people. This guy seems to be a minor celebrity, everyone seems to know him, 'mr Woodnote' the saxophone player. I asked him to sign it for a friend of mine.

Public table tennis (made of concrete so it cant be vandalised). Bring your own bats! This is a great idea, people come and play and sometimes strangers play together.

New Job; New Ideas

I have a new job working in the Bearpit in Bristol. For those who dont know the Bearpit it's an area in a roundabout with underpasses and is a popular hangout for drunks and addicts alike. Its ripe for development and there are 3 different groups looking to improve the area sometimes in tandem and often with a lack of communication. Ive decided to do a sketch pad documenting the ups and downs of being an addict (as far as i can perceive). the sketch pad isn't ready yet so the drawings have been on pastry bags (the new job is a coffee cart) but it seems to add to the charm.

 

Here is a man getting angry at his girlfriend over money. These sketches were meant as preparatory studies to be re-done in the sketch pad. The result of this process i feel lacks the livelyness of the direct study but has an improved composition, need to find a way to blend the two.

Boredom seems to be a common emotion

sometimes something new and exciting happens, such as these two girls interviewing commuters for some reason. An opportune moment to have a rant and a laugh.

a quiet moment.