Salisbury Cathedral Close - Southern gate

Pencil on paper. 21(h) x 30(w) cm

On a cold afternoon late in January, we're often afforded a brief respite from winter when the Sun momentarily reveals itself and early spring flowers start to break through into the cool sunlight. It was in just such a tiny window of time, wrapped head to toe against the cold and with fingerless gloves to allow me to draw, I sat in the gentle pardoning sunlight to quickly capture this simple sketch. 

The collection of built forms and their juxtaposed organisation attracted my eye as a 'natural' composition. The focal point being the gateway of course, but the surrounding building masses and forms, and the mature landscaping, created an interesting set of supporting 'musical notes'. The result, without any artistic licence in the arrangement, size or positioning of elements front to back, leaves one's eye moving gently around the 'still life', but always returning to the gate.

Drawn with sharp and blunt 4B pencils allows tone to be played with across the arrangement creating focal points that draw the eye giving movement and help create a sketch with 3 dimensional depth.