Street Art and Vinyl

So yesterday was ridiculously sunny here in essex, and although an overwhelming amount of uni work is still technically at the top of my to-do list, I couldn't resist taking a short train journey to London for the day. So instead of surrounding myself with the contents of my art collection, trying intensively to rack my brain for some inspiration, I threw caution to the wind, and unsurprisingly I stumbled across a lot of cool stuff throughout the day. 

Like this for example, on Brick lane: 

I guess it's sort of a form of cubism? I especially like how they have mixed real human features with block colour. Surreal. I think it has something to do with raising awareness of homelessness. Which is of course a very serious topic, and what better way to promote an important issue than to plaster it onto an outside wall on a busy street for all to see? Clever advertising! 

his eyes look sad.

Brick Lane/Shoreditch is definitely one of my favourite places to visit in London due to the ever changing street artwork. Also I love the amount of funky stickers that plaster the walls/street lamps/anything remotely freestanding. Awesome! 

But something that really struck me yesterday was actually a record shop. Rough Trade began in the 70's as a record label, and are still running to this day, having signed a lot of really cool bands/artists including the Mystery Jets and Arcade Fire, two of my faves. They also, back in the day, had signed the Smiths, so they're a pretty big deal. Also, back in the day, they had opened a few record stores in various places around the world. Today, there are only like two left I think as the rising digital music industry pretty much put the stores out of business, and they are no longer affiliated with the record label, although they are still apparently strongly linked together, somehow. But anyway, theres one in Brick Lane and it's probably the coolest record shop I've been in. And low and behold, right as you enter, is a coffee counter (which I can only assume also serves tea as I didn't order anything) which was also rather interesting. This gave me lots to think about with regards to the british ideals of Tea, and the stereotypical way in which we consume it. It's not all top hats and jam scones, but also vinyl and a fag. Shock. 

I went away and did a little sketching, as one does, and yeah, drew a tea shop really. 

Its sort of a mixture between a shabby chic tea counter, and an edgy, urban record shop. Originally the floor was blank, but I figured a little bit of tea staining turned black and white might look cool. Sort of looks like concrete? Or a really dirty carpet, ew.

 Thanks for reading/just looking at the pictures, I'm grateful for either! 

X