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….

**STOP PRESS ** This drawing will be shown within ‘Drawn Together’ a group exhibition curated by David Remfry RA at Paul Smith, 9 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4BL from Thursday 11th September until Sunday 9th November 2025, 11am - 7pm Monday - Saturday and 12pm - 6pm on Sundays. I hope you’ll drop in to see the show if you are in the area.

Scroll down to find our more and see close ups of ‘Aftermath’ ...

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