In this London bus painting, the first thing you notice is the bus. You can’t really ignore that big red box with windows now can you? The second bus is less obvious but still easy to find. There was another behind that one as well but it’s lost below the page. The bright reds and deep carmines are toned down by the dark green, almost black, windows and tree to the right frames the painting with an edge of dark green/black lace. Details of the windows in the building behind can be glimpsed behind the foliage.
Above the buses is the familiar skyline. London with the Gherkin placed like a pawn…. No, like a Bishop in some enormous chess game. Lurking behind the office blocks ready to make a strategic move. Around them tower cranes twist and turn in an elegant ballet. They may be far apart but, from here, they seem to encircle the Gherkin as they perform.
Other buildings show elaborate details that hint at their identity but are not fully revealed. Stopped, waiting, caught in time, waiting for the traffic ahead to clear. No waiting in the rain for this bus. Despite all the background interest, this is a London bus painting and the bus steals the show front, off-centre and always ready to perform. The London bus is undoubtably overdone, and yet there is room for one more variation.
