Admiralty Arch Sculpture – Original Painting

Admiralty Arch Sculpture – Original Painting

About the image:

The Admiralty Arch Sculpture looks over a grand vista.  The London archway, is a glorified barrier between two worlds. On this side: gentility, royalty, and palaces along the Mall overlook great St James Park. On the other end: buses, bustling tourists, shops, the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square fill the scene. You get the picture.

Admiralty Arch London Gateway

As you step through the dark archways and emerge from gritty London to behold tranquil palaces, it is like entering a Narnian doorway.

There is traffic on the ‘other’ side. Yet, the streets are noticeably wider and the cars less intrusive. Travelling down along the Mall from Buckingham Palace is delightfully breathtaking. The ever-looming Admiralty Arch in the distance creates a perfect finishing touch.

The Arch is a relative newcomer to the area.  The British Government commissioned the Greco-Roman styled monument in Queen Victoria’s memory.  Although the Arch was completed in 1910, it feels older. Even the sculpture gazes down regally at the traffic passing through the dark archways. The bustle below almost seems to interrupt her ageless, deep contemplation.

Sunlit Sandstone and Shadows

Sunlight-drenched sandstone loses much of its details as the intense light accentuates true shadows and dissolves subtle details. To counteract this bleached effect, I allowed subtle colours to freely overpower the painting, adding their own character.

The archways themselves are dark black holes, absorbing sunlight and hinting at partial details.

Are they people or gates? It is hard to tell in the gloom. Even the cars, carved details, stonework, and flagpoles vanish.

The design of the Admiralty Arch and Sculpture is impressive. A suitable backdrop to state occasions and national celebrations. It harks back to the British Empire’s grand old days and a desire to show off to the world: “This is Great Britain, and we know how to impress.”

Creation: Cathy paints masking fluid onto watercolour paper to create an image. Covering it with a watercolour wash and then clingfilm she leaves it to dry and then removes the film. The picture is further developed using acrylic inks after the film is removed. The process is repeated several times and the masking removed after several layers are added and allowed to dry. Revealing the final picture.