Monday 31 December 2012

more "old stuff" from journal

more from my sketch book/journal. All, unless stated otherwise,  in pencil and watercolour


a good day

 Lutje reading


whilst on the wall behind me, as I draw, is this lovely painting, (George Lemmen, 1908)  of the artist's wife reading

also in the room Lutje's mother 

and an evangelist
pencil on acrylic 



ancient history? optimistic beginnings

The first page in my sketch book; it would be a journal if there were not so many jours missing!



I was sitting with my coffee, my Rotring sketching pen and a paintbrush whilst an optimistic couple were marrying in the church at the bottom of the garden - on Rapture day. The world did not end!
click here to see this view in the winter on my other half's blog

We have birthday parties in the garden with the grandchildren (double page from journal, gouache and pencil on acrylic prepared background) 


and more parties!  gouache in tiny 3" x 4" sketch book. paper too thin and it cockles


Saturday 29 December 2012

looking back over 2012 ....... pt 2 Somerset Arts Weeks

Once again in the second half of September we opened the house for the Open Studios in Somerset Art Weeks.  Once again it was fun; we met many interesting people, sold a few pictures and, best of all, the house got a thorough cleaning from top to bottom.



Flemish apple cake by better half - painting by me



nonchalantly placed visitors book 



we really did have visitors!


Thursday 27 December 2012

looking back over 2012 ......... pt.1 Paris

Before we dive into 2013 and start what I hope will be a fairly regular record of my current work and things visual in general, I want to  think about some of the things that gave me delight this year.

My other, and far better, half took me on my first visit to Paris for a birthday weekend. My conspiring daughter arriving on Eurostar from London an hour after we cruised in on Thalys from Brussels was perfection!

  • Cold and so beautifully bright.  Mid January.
  • walks by the Seine (see below) jazz bands playing in the frost ,   
  • Musee d'Orsay - not room here to write of the treasures there - maybe another day?  I was almost over whelmed.  
  • Some lovely bistro food. Appalling tarte tatin!
Here are a few pages from my little pocket sketch book.



the view from our room, a good, friendly hotel

strollers
 in the frosty sunshine by the Seine

Notre Dame from the same gardens

We had much merriment watching agile, flexible, solitary Japanese tourists with their iPhones  at arms length, trying to get both Notre Dame and their faces in the photo at once.


Wednesday 26 December 2012

Christmas 2012

It is December 26th, Boxing Day, The Feast of Stephen, and I feel I must start my blog, which has been at the back of my mind for months.  I have a first class degree in procrastination!

So this is our house, my painting base and, appropriately, our Christmas card for this year.
























There, I managed it! 
My first ever blog posting; and it wasn't too scary!