Hitting the Canvas

HCA’s first year Illustrators had the daunting task of drawing at the local boxing gym in Hinton (just behind the BP at the Hereford end of the Ross Road). This was unusual as it took place at a time when most students are either asleep or up to no good.

We were warmly welcomed by the imposing figure of Vince McNally, head trainer of the facility and owner of an art career ruining handshake. Once shown to our seats the boxers were unleashed and proceeded to run through some high speed drills (skipping, lunging, short sprints etc.). This was the first indication that we were going to have to adapt our ideas and methods. There was no way I was going to ask them to stay still while we look at them.

Soon two fearsome young men took to the ring and demonstrated the speed, power and quick thinking that is required to be a formidable boxer. As we tried to capture their movements on paper our pages began to look like a collection of limbs, not often joining up with each other (imagine a scene from an Asterix comic with clouds of dust and poor Roman Centurions being punched into the sky).

It wasn’t long before we started to get the hang of it, as our ability to retain images in our heads improved and we became more familiar with our subjects. Unfortunately the developed confidence started to move from the sketchbook and into the physical world as one of our students (Matt), rather loudly shouted to another (Rikki), “which one of these guys do you think you could take?” Sensibly Rikki declined to answer and Matt was left with an awkward and very intimidating silence.

After a couple of hours we (along with the pugilists) were exhausted and had to call it a night, leaving the hectic and sweaty building to the exhilarating cold breeze of an early March evening.

Alan

The image is “Stag Night at Sharkey’s” by George Bellows