Discovering the City, 2024

Discovering the City -Canary Wharf.

Usually, once I started painting, I keep to the original plan for the composition. This one is different. The buildings and reflections were the original plan but, after the painting started, it needed more. To fit in with the idea of a journey I added the Underground map. The white lines added to the map in ink later rather than drawing with masking fluid to preserve the white of the page, as is my usual practice.

I didn't want the map to take over, so cropped it down to include Victoria and Canary Wharf, with the route detail in between. These two stations were placed at intersections of the building's frame to emphasise the importance and keeping the image as abstract as possible. We are looking out on a reflection of the city/view rather than the view itself. The map was drawn freehand in contrast to the ruled and rigid structure of the glass tower. Each station is imperfect and the reflections distorted in the glass. It could be anywhere, although you may recognise it.

The map fades into the image just as when we travel, we focus on the specific journey. The surrounding details disappear, as they would in real life. We notice the principle stations, sure, but what matters are where we start, stop and change trains.
Our journey complete, now it's time to discover what the city holds.