Bringing it closer to home with a couple of Winchester Independent establishments this week. The architecture around the city is fascinating, so here’s a couple of building studies on paper to add to my growing illustrated version of Winchester!
Cabinet Rooms
Best cocktail bar in Winchester. At least we think so. I met the two gentlemen who founded the Cabinet Rooms many years ago whilst selling my wares at the Art Market on Winchester High Street. They talked then about setting up a proper venue with a blend of mixology and Parisian cafe. It’s been wonderful to see it come to life. You can find the Cabinet Rooms on Jewry Street in the De Lunn Building.
It’s a wonderful aesthetic inside too… a perfect place to relax with a coffee and a good (sketch)book!
P & G Wells
You can find this gem of a bookshop on College Street behind the Cathedral. P & G Wells was founded all the way back in 1729! and it has the exact aesthetic you’d want from a Historic City like Winchester, with wooden muntins/glazing bars across the top of it’s big window displays. The big white sash windows set within the red brick make for a lovely little painting study.
As a Winchester independent business these lovely people also stock my greeting cards and postcards!
I decided to raise both of these studies from the background again, as i’ve enjoyed doing of late. There’s something forgiving in the way the box frame, and the space behind the painting, that allows the focus to be on just the building without any background. Somehow, if this was on a flat piece of paper… I think it would feel unfinished. I haven’t quite got my head around it. And others may not agree. I often get asked why I make certain choices and this is definitely one of those ‘it just feels right’ answers that I’m sure is extremely frustrating.
Follow the #paperdiorama or #Winchester tag on the blog for more illustrations like these. I’d love to hear more of your suggestions for Winchester independents too. Drop me a line using the contact form or say hello online with facebook, twitter or instagram.
