My destiny?

I am busy working on a large commission at the moment, so I thought I would post this photo that Dad found yesterday. It has been suggested that my destiny was sealed the moment I was dressed up as a pot of paint to enter the fancy dress competition at the village garden fete in 1958! I think I came second!

Hatherop Estate, Sunday morning walk and more beginnings and studies

Annie, who owns, Just Maude in Cirencester, and I went for a long walk on Sunday morning. Here is her wonderful dog, Eddie looking very regal!


The sun came out very briefly.


A quickie pastel


Hatherop Estate First layer



I forgot to take a photo of this on Saturday. Looking at it now, it's interesting to compare the photo with what I laid out. Quite depressing really... I have really 'plumped' up the composition! Now, the big decision is whether to 'fix' it or leave it.

I drove home today and took a couple more photos on the way. If the weather had been a little more inspiring I probably wouldn't have got home until after dark. Driving across country is always more interesting than using the motorways.

More wanderings...

Hot soup was required after this morning, but I was back out driving around trying to find another amazing spot and I came across this beauty! Wow! I couldn't believe my luck.. and what a gorgeous sunset to boot! I didn't have time to lay out a painting, but started a quick oil pastel instead.

Wanderings...

Above Quenington



The beginnings



River Coln, Glos.



Texture of linen


Since dropping Barry off at Heathrow airport meant that I was well on my way to the West Country, I arranged to continue on and visit an old friend whom I haven't seen for many years in Gloucestershire. This area of England is exceptionally beautiful so the bonus is that I get to go out and paint

I found this lovely spot on the River Coln looking towards Coln St. Adwyns. It was hard to choose, as there are so many gorgeous little places to paint. I could hardly move after a couple of hours it was so cold, all I could manage after an earlier sketch, was a simple layout with very thin colours, just staining the linen. When I work this way, I realise that this is why I chose to paint on linen (as opposed to cotton) because when painting thinly you can enjoy the lovely texture of linen, which I think adds something special to the painting.

I haven't forgotten about the 'Painting Giveaway'.. just didn't manage to get the painting finished to give to Barry to take back to the States.. not that winner will necessarily come from the US! Sign up and start leaving comments for your name to be entered into the hat.

What a Glorious Day!

We have been waiting for a good day to go out painting together before Barry leaves.... (on Thursday) ... will need lot of nice messages please! Today, we were blessed with an amazing day, so we drove out to Norfolk, which is only an hour or so away and everything was perfect!

Rocks

After our jam-packed long weekend in London, visiting friends, spending time with the kids, going to the museum and the movies, we drove down to Kent to visit an old college friend of mine, Jim, who happens to have MS. I try to visit him every time I come to the UK as he is no longer able to travel. He is a great artist and a wonderful classical guitarist, but sadly his hands don't work the way they used to. It's a heart breakingly horrible illness. Jim is the reason I have painted scenes from Romney Marsh on many occasions.

Just after we left him yesterday, Barry and I nipped down to the beach and found these wonderful chalk cliffs. Not surprising really since Jim lives just along the coast from Dover. We were amazed when we stood back to look at this particular grouping... it's just like San Francisco de Asis Church at Ranchos de Taos (where Barry and I actually met 16 years ago!).

A small departure

I usually try to keep my blog for work purposes and inspirational photos... but this I had to share. My middle daughter, Rosie works at the Dorchester hotel in London (even though she is a graduate of archeology!) We finally got to go and experience afternoon tea there yesterday... with a little champagne! This is a photo of the amazing cakes that we couldn't manage to eat and had to take home in a doggy bag! How amazing these would be to paint!

Glasgow Boys

The White Drake by Joseph Crawhall.

Barry and I have just returned from one of the loveliest exhibitions. I could only find this link to illustrate some of the wonderful paintings. The exhibition has been so successful that the catalogue has sold out. (Very annoying!) The subject matter may seem to some a little sentimental perhaps, but at the time these were painted (1880-1890), the artists were rejecting "the mid- Victorian tradition of dramatic views of the Highlands and sentimental genre scenes in favour of a robust form of naturalism" (Royal Academy gallery guide). I guess I am a total sucker for a wonderfully painted landscape, a few ducks or geese and some beautifully painted children. I almost cried over the watercolour and gouache painting on linen, (above) a technique I have not seen before, of a white drake. It was absolutely gorgeous. There was also a superb black rabbit painted with the same technique, also by Joseph Crawhall.

What was interesting to me was that a few of these artists actually came down from Scotland to Lincolnshire to paint and in one of my favourites, 'To Pastures New' by James Guthrie, you can see Crowland Abbey in the distance!




Highlights were also the large painting of 'A Funeral Service in the Highlands' again by James Guthrie. All blacks and warm grey tones and dark sky looming in the distance over the men's (only) bowed heads. Very dour.




Plus a portrait of 'Willie, Old Wurthy' also by James Guthrie. It looks as if James Guthrie was my favourite!




As usual, seeing the paintings in reality is the only way to appreciate their incredible quality and skill. The thick luscious paint made me vow to get more paint on my canvas.

Late Autumn Morning, Tweed River Valley

Late Autumn Morning, Tweed River Valley
24 x 36 Oil/Linen

I think I have finally finished this one. Any thoughts? Is it dramatic enough, or does it work well enough as a quiet still late autumn morning.

We are off to London tomorrow to go and see my children and friends plus the Glasgow Boys exhibition at the Royal Academy. When I return I shall work on the painting that I am going to give away so that it's ready for Barry to take back with him if the winner happens to be in the US. Start spreading the news... just a few more days to wait for the details!

Sacred Creatures Exhibition

For those of you who might be in Florida, here is an invitation to the Sacred Creatures show!