graphite drawing by Alexandra Blum looking down onto Westminster Industrial Estate London focus on recycling plant

Alexandra Blum, ‘Aftermath’, graphite on paper, 42 x 59.4cm, 2023. Photo credit: John Howard Davies

After a lorry load of paper offcuts have been tipped into recycling skips beneath my studio window, the area becomes alive with people picking up escaped slivers of paper….

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graphite drawing by Alexandra Blum of people picking up paper in recycling area

Alexandra Blum, Detail from: ‘Aftermath’, graphite on paper, 42 x 59.4cm, 2023. Photo credit: John Howard Davies

Sometimes it’s necessary for someone to jump into a skip too…

Detail of graphite drawing by Alexandra Blum focus on person in skip

Alexandra Blum, Detail from: ‘Aftermath’, graphite on paper, 42 x 59.4cm, 2023. Photo credit: John Howard Davies

The insect on the windowsill, drawn twice as it meandered around the ledge, felt like a pivot in the drawing, marking the point of transition between exterior world and my hand, drawing on the interior, studio side of the window.

Detail from graphite drawing by Alexandra Blum looking down onto Westminster Industrial Estate London focus on insects on windowsill

Alexandra Blum, Detail from: ‘Aftermath’, graphite on paper, 42 x 59.4cm, 2023. Photo credit: John Howard Davies

Detail from graphite drawing by Alexandra Blum looking down onto Westminster Industrial Estate London focus on hand drawing

Alexandra Blum, Detail from: ‘Aftermath’, graphite on paper, 42 x 59.4cm, 2023. Photo credit: John Howard Davies