Friday 25 May 2012

Monk Bar - York

There are for main gates (bars) into York, this is Monk Bar. Odd to draw because the turrets are not symmetrical: there's a bulge on the right hand turret and not on the left; the shadows don't fall as you would imagine. I've drawn it honestly rather than adjusting the building to compensate for the oddness. Notice the young girl, bottom left, Pat has christened her, 'Priscilla'. She wants her in all the York scenes!

Usual thing, the picture is about 30% lighter than the original and therefore very two-dimensional - if you click on it, the picture is enlarged and marginally darker.

I'm just starting the Minster now (gulp)   




Monk Bar, York, England 1895     10" x 8"        John Simlett 2012
Pen & Ink  on 300 gsm Snowdon Cartridge Paper



Monk Bar is at 63 feet, the tallest of York's bars and is the north eastern gateway to York's city walls. It lies at the northern end of Goodramgate, a street which becomes Monkgate on the other side of the gateway. Its is not known who the monks were who gave Monkgate and Monk Bar their name. Monk Bar has four storeys - the first three floors being 14th century and the upper floor being fifteenth century. Each floor could be defended like an independent fort, even when other floors had been captured. In the sixteenth century the bar was used as a freeman's prison.
Monk Bar's barbican was removed from the gateway in 1825.

27 comments:

  1. Hello John! Another beautiful work with an interesting story!
    So the walls come to life and I can walk in distant places and times, with the help of my imagination and your talent for writing and drawing!

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    1. Thank you, Rita. York is the most haunted city in Britain! We have a 'show' for two days here in November, in St. Williams College, which is haunted by a 17th Century murderer :0)

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  2. Hello John, another beauty! Amazing detail, and I love Priscilla! Rita can say things so much more poetic than I can, but I agree with her wholeheartedly!

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    1. Glad you liked it, Judy, and you approve of the new family member :0)

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  3. Your work is very impressive - especially your use of light and shadows. Found you through L.W Roth's site.

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    1. Not sure what to call you, Minn! but thanks for dropping by and joining up! I've just seen your blog - your artwork is deliciously original and exciting

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    2. Haha, I respond to anything with an "M":-) Minn works well. I have a very creative mom, and she made up my name using letters from her own and my grandmother's names:-) Thanks for visiting! I'll be back here as well:-)

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  4. Wow! John...this is such a difficult piece but of course, you aced it. Wonderful details and you captured the depth so well. I love this piece. Congratulations.

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    1. Thanks Hilda - It's the sort of piece than be flat and boring - which is why I drew it very dark, but most of the darkness disappears on the blog. The original I'm very happy with

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  5. Words fail me in saying how wonderful this is. Awesome, impressive, comes to mind. A host more.. You must have the patience of Job!!

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    1. Thanks Cris - I'm glad you approve. I'm a 'A' type who tends to be impatient, so these drawings and me are the antithesis of Job :0)

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  6. John every single time I see one of your drawings I'm left speechless. This is so amazingly well done, such depth of feeling. Truly the work of a master. And I agree with Pat, Priscilla should be in every piece. :)

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    1. Thanks Crystal - too kind. I'm glad you like the addition to the family.

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  7. I remember once you wrote a comment on my blog that my type of paintings aren't usually your thing..but that you liked my work. Well, now I must say the same! I am not usually very drawn to pen and ink or intricate drawings...HOWEVER, I do love YOURS! I agree with Pat, Priscilla must stay. She may be a great deal of the reason why I completely love and admire this (ok, along with the fantastic turrets!)

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  8. I'm very flattered that you like my work at all, Celeste, I'm always a bit surprised that anyone likes it comes to that.

    The York Minster is going to be the big test though ... I started it yesterday

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  9. Ahhh ... yes, enlarging did make it really come out on the paper. It's an amazing piece, John. To my eye, you have just the right "amount" of shadow and detail. I hate to be a poop, but I don't know if Priscilla adds anything right now; however she will certainly be a connection between all your sketches of York.

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    1. Thanks Kathryn. I asked Pat why she was keen on Prescilla, and she said it's because York is haunted: when people ask who the little girl is ... Pat said she will reply, "Which little girl? She wasn't there earlier!"

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  10. It's wonderful John! And apart from the amazingly detailed stonework, which you are the master of, Precilla brings in some life - Perfect!! :0)

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    1. Thank you Sandra. Precilla has started asking for pocket money!

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  11. John, this a brilliant drawing. May I ask how you've drawn the shadow area's as I can't tell from this scale of image? Is it just a case of fine horizontal hatching? Great work. ;-)

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    1. Thanks for the kind comments.

      I tend to break all the rules, John. I do very little cross or vertical hatching. My 'shadows' are usually all fine horizontal with free hand bold edges that aren't (I hope)always apparent but give a '3D' effect. I'm drawing York Minster, a large drawing, where the shading is totally different to here...the pen takes over and I follow: I tend to draw 'by ear' and not to the musical score :0)

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  12. Ciao John, i tuoi disegni sono sempre perfetti e trasportano in atmosfere ben diverse dall'oggi: il che è interessante e bene...
    Queste pietre sembrano così solide e proprio oggi che in Italia ci sono stati altri terremoti il confronto è immediato!
    Forse non c'è molta relazione, ma così mi ha ispirato...
    Ciao, ciao, a presto, Floriana

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  13. Thank you for your comment Floriana, I'm glad you liked Monk Bar. I am sorry to hear of the earthquakes in Italy, I hope you and yours are all safe and well

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  14. Monk Bar is so hauntingly beautiful as recreated with your precise pen strokes! Priscilla is a masterful touch as she adds a wonderful feeling of perspective. I do believe one of those imprisoned freemen are leering at her through the crosscut openings in the tower!
    After studying the photo of the Minister - I wish you lots of patience and fortitude - he is daunting!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I can't help thinking an, "imprisoned freeman" does seem a contradiction in terms :0) I'm still trying to find out (beyond slavery) what a freeman is.

      Celeste suggests, below, that a WIP might be in order ... I'll try to photograph the monster/minster on the drawing board

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  15. can we see an in-progress shot of the Minster ("gulp")? would love to see how it is coming along. Thinking you will do a bang-up job of it!

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    1. I'll try to photograph it on the drawing board, Celeste.

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