The London Eye at night has captured public imagination. It’s dominant, impressive and overshadows everything around it. Plus, it looks pretty. Near the London Eye is a statue. It too is impressive, but not on the scale of the London Eye but what it represents is arguably more impressive.
It’s a memorial sculpture for the International Brigade. Created by Ian Walters in bronze, it recognises those who fought in the Spanish Civil War. A powerful image of four figures supporting a fifth wounded figure. As you stand next to it at night and look towards the Thames, the London Eye towers over it like a halo. It inspired my composition choice for the painting.
Here is the first stage with the graphite image complete. The figures central to the halo created by the Eye itself.The upper figure appears to be pushing the axle of the wheel upward. An image of Atlas carrying the World sprang to mind.
This is how it looked after the initial washes and ink application had been allowed to dry overnight.
Looking at the results form the salting I was keen to keep as much of this texture as possible.
I then started to emphasise details with ink.
This is when I usually start blowing the ink around.
And here is the finished painting.
