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Blackfriars Bridge refers to two bridges on the River Thames by Blackfriars station. Alexandra Bridge was the first bridge, built In 1884. With St Paul’s Bridge constructed alongside to the east between 1884 and 1886. They became known as Blackfriars Bridge in 1937 and the original station demolished in 1964. Alexandra Bridge was demolished in 1985 due to structural concerns, although its columns still remain. Development of the New Blackfriars station lead to extensive changes to the remaining bridge in 2009.
I developed my technique as an abstract style. The focus was on mark making, repetition of patterns, how a series of movements produces a line shape. That you can repeat the movement, but each line shape will be slightly different in subtle ways. These patterns exist in architecture, patterns of rivets, arch supports, windows, vertical supports and inner bracing. They may be identical in size and shape or vary to accommodate a curve, as in the painting, but the patterns of construction in the various elements or layers are the same. Looking at Blackfriars bridge, you can see the strata of construction, layers of changing patterns and a rhythm of marks. These areas of similarity take on characteristics of the paint layers, in subtly different ways. Darker here, mottled there, spiky tendrils elsewhere. In real life, weathering affects a building in different ways, depending on external forces. Some are rusty, others over painted, shattered, battered by rain, twisted by tools.
When a building is new and pristine. It can feel featureless, but add a few decades of elemental attack, and the uniformity gives way to craggy inconsistencies. And when you’ve finished admiring Blackfriars, look down and right where there’s a whole new bridge to look at. Pretty in Pink Waterloo Bridge hides in the corner. Are you drawn to its novelty? Or will you stay gazing at Blackfriars Bridge itself, in all its blue glory? For it is very blue. I might have used every single blue ink I own on this project?
Totally worth it!
