Art / News
Bristol MP’s sketches ‘lively and effective’
RWA director Alison Bevan has praised Bristol North West MP’s Charlotte Leslie’s sketches as “lively and effective”.
Bevan also praised the “unique historic documents” for recording the maiden Prime Minister’s Questions appearance of new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The sketches, which made national and international news, are being auctioned off this weekend at the Affordable Art Fair at Brunel’s Old Station.
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“This is the first example we know of where an MP on one side of the house has drawn members on the opposite benches,” Bevan told Bristol24/7.
“Charlotte Leslie’s drawings of Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson follow in a fine tradition of documentary sketches done ‘in situ’ in places where photography isn’t allowed, but this is the first example we know of where an MP on one side of the house has drawn members on the opposite benches, and certainly is a historic document in marking the maiden dispatch box performance for the leader of the opposition.
“Making drawings like this is a great way to concentrate the mind: drawing sharpens observation skills and it would be interesting to hear how Charlotte’s perception of Mr Corbyn’s performance differs from her colleagues’ as a result of that extra visual scrutiny.
“As sketches, they are lively and effective. They capture the spirit of their subjects in an assured style, using fluid lines to describe some aspects – Corbyn’s glasses or Watson’s lapel, for example – while adopting a sketchier motion and overlaying pencil marks to outline darker areas or add movement to the whole.”
She added: “We’re delighted that these sketches, which are delightful in their own right but also unique historic documents, are being auctioned off at the Affordable Art Fair.”
Proceeds from the auction are being split between the RWA (a self-supporting charity which is the Affordable Art Fair’s chosen charity this year) and Charlotte Leslie’s nominated charity, the Southmead Project.
The fifteenth incarnation of the Affordable Art Fair Bristol is being held from September 18-20 at Brunel’s Old Station. For more information, visit www.affordableartfair.com/bristol.
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