Sketchbook Studio at Kingly Court: The Finale
The beginning of August has a more bitter sweet feeling than other months. It comes with the realisation that we are near the end of the precious summer and that those warm days we craved for months and enjoyed under the sunshine wearing flip flops in the garden, will soon be over. This particular 1st of August has added to these mixed feelings, a new goodbye: Sketchbook Live Studio at Kingly Court opened and closed its doors for the last time.
This is the third time that Sketchbook takes its illustrated world out of the pages and screens into the real world, making vivid and touchable the experience one can get when flipping through its pages or reading the blog. The roaring success of the Pop Up Shop at the Newburgh Quarter, was followed by an impressive space in Earl’s Court for the Clothes Show, when Sketchbook artists teamed with Carnaby Street celebrating it’s 50 fashionable years. This last space, at Kingly Court, offered a platform for artists, illustrators, photographers and designers looking to expose promote and propagate their talent. On a space of 10 days , the three floor studio, hosted daily fashion shoots, live wall size illustrations, and the putting together of the much expected third issue of Sketchbook Magazine.
At the day of the final event, the spacious studio turned small under the presence of more than 150 visitors, 2 floors with art being exposed and auctioned, countless boxes of delicious Ben’s Cookies and creativity galore transpiring through every corner of the place. Every piece exhibited participated on a silent auction which profits will be given to the Prince Trust charity.
Everyone was welcomed to come in. Their first encounter was a fox in a feather boa and vintage dress, part of the wonderful wall of Supermarket Sarah, done in collaboration with Vintage Academe. Drinks and cupcakes fuelled the attendance and Holden entertained with live music. The afternoon flew naturally, like time only goes by when you have fun and feel among family.
Goodie bags by vintage accessories Rokit –what’s an event without goodie bags? - were gifted to collaborators and people who’s fashion for the event constituted on its own, a little work of art.
Back in the day I first met Wafa Alobaidat, editor in chief and creator of Sketchbook magazine, she said “I want Sketchbook to be the place where you can start developing your career, and setting your first steps into the real world; and I don’t want to deny that to anyone”. After a few months of following Sketchbook’s endeavours and seeing all the artists, writers, photographers, interns, illustrators that are passing through its pages, is easy to see how those wonderful intentions have become a reality. And even so this is the end of the summer and it was the end of Kingly Court live studio, it is without a doubt the beginning of something else, something new, something exciting that will come along. How do I know it? Is a certainty that runs in the Sketchbook family. Welcome along.
Text: Mariana Moyano
Photos: Courtesy of Wafa Alobaidat & Amy Edgar
