ANGLESEY ADVENTURE & ANNIE

I was privileged to be asked to join Joanne Boon Thomas and a group of other like minded people, just to paint together on the Isle Anglesey (North Wales), this included Judith Farnworth - and do check out her blog, her story of the holiday makes very interesting reading.

Joanne is the Queen of brusho, but there wasn't any brusho in sight,  as she is a queen of watercolour too. Thanks for asking me Joanne.

Judith was my partner in crime if you like.  She was my chauffeur and my nemisis at the same time, as I had to be nice to her or I wouldn't have got a lift home!  Well suffice to say I got home in one piece.

First day, we visited Moelfre a lovely small coastal village just long enough to do a painting and visit the pub, before we had to scarper because of a storm. So finished off sketching back at the hotel.

A quiet corner of the tiny harbour, grey clouds gathering

Sketching back at the hotel.  Yes you guessed the sun came out as we returned!

Quick sketch of lavender and my most fun of the holiday, sploshing and splashing about

Second day, First stop Church Bay where there is a restored very old thatched cottage at Swtan. Followed by a stop in Caemes Bay (I think that is what it is called) where I battled on painting buildings and boats - boy was it a struggle.  I was perched high on a sea wall to get the view I wanted.

Large Heavy rusty old kettle done on khadi paper with watersoluble pen going to paint it again with oomph this is proper pastey

Khadi paper but this time with Elegant Writer Pen, which is so quick

The lovely restored cottage, much longer than this section, with a roaring fire inside

Back to my Elegant Writer and Khadi (small pad) a view of an old cottage from the garden of the restored cottage.

You can see why I battled - multitude of house AND boats

Finally we went to a Hidden Garden which are near Beaumauris. Cant find the name of the place, but it was lovely, like a small Bodnant Garden. And then home. Such fun painting with like minded people.  I think there is a market for this as well as proper art courses. You learn from each other and don't feel an idiot painting on your own.  A wonderful few days. Thanks for your hard work Joanne, for organising such a great trip.

Oh and finally Annie Arkwright from Accrington, popped up at the hotel and loved the Cricket gnomes in the grounds, well you know what she's like where there are men, any kind, she couldn't keep her eyes off them.  Can you spot them??

Hwyl fawr - goodbye on Welsh

SWITZERLAND & WOBBLY TRAINS!!!

I have been trying to spend less time on the internet and my blog is one of the things I have been neglecting.  I can't believe how long it is since I last did a post.  Sorry, because that also means I have been neglecting my blog friends.

Recently spend 2 weeks by trains visiting mainly Switzerland.  So long on the train I did some painting and sketching.  Not easy.  It is amazing how wobbly train journeys are when you are trying to paint some detail.

Here is some of the work done on the journey and that one at the end done from a photograph since we came home.

  Stresa on Lake Maggiore, some wobbly people cos of the train!

On the Bernini Express on the way to Turano

Painted from a pic in magazine.  Mint ice cream cake. 

From a magazine

Again, from a magazine

From the Bernini Express brochure  The red is the train

For sale on the Glacier Express this little mountain goat

Painted since our return.  This was the view from our hotel.  One of those 'special' memories that I just had to capture

WINDMILLS AND WEATHER

Had a wonderful holiday cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest.  Weather hot, hot, hot once we left the windmills behind.  So hard to paint outdoors the paint was drying on my palette before I put it on paper.  Did a sketch or smallish (A4) painting each day, to add to my memory drawer.  Here are some for you to see.

I love doing these paintings when on holiday, as they are just for me, no pressure just fun, fun, fun.

Done on the boat in a quiet little corner.

Done on the spot while hubby was watching cheese being made.  I don't like the smell so sketched instead. It's a reconstructed village outside Amsterdam where you can see clogs being made etc.

Too hot to paint on the spot so done inside.  A town on the Rhine I have already forgotten where it is????  How bad is that.

Looking at the ABC Castles.  (Stands for Another Bloody Castle!!) Excuse the swear word but that was quote by someone else.  Obviously I wouldn't say that.

Happy Sunday and have a great week, and if you are off on your travels, do take a pad and pen with you. 

NORMANDY HOLIDAY

What a lovely week we had and here are some more memories that I would like to share with you.  All done in a small Khadi sketchbook approx. 6" x 6".  Some w/c and some using various water soluble pens, these pens are the quickest way to do a sketch, well for me anyway.

I said sorry to my hubs, I just have to paint this old mill.  He duly sat patiently while I painted away.  Sometimes he is an angel!

Photo stop at the Normandy Beaches, Omaha beach.  A sculpture in stainless steel,  To me it looks like an explosion.  Such a lovely place.  It is hard to image the carnage that took place there.

Rouen Cathedral.  A lovely medieval city.  Famous to us Brits anyway, as it is where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake.

A picturesque little place called Les Andelys.  The castle was built by Richard the Lionheart, way back in ancient times. Boy was it hot and hard work walking up that blinking hill!!!

Quick sketch with water soluble pens of a fountain at the Palace of Versailles.  Classical music was playing. A Perfect last sketch and last day in France.

Well I had to paint some food didn't I. Cheese and grapes, just in case you don't know what they are.

Au revoir La Belle France.

Have a lovely weekend fellow bloggers and thank you for dropping in to see me.

PARIS & NORMANDY

Here's some sketches from my recent visit to France.  I tried to do a sketch a day, however quick. And the equipment I took.  Was in a really happy mood, so each one is a happy memory!  I do try and sit somewhere very discreet as I get all embarrassed if someone is watching me.  Are you the same?

These next three sketches are what I do when I am hanging around

Rouen Cathedral.  This lovely middle age city has narrow street, timber beamed houses and is famous as being the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake

Just in case I fancied doing a bigger painting I had a larger pad with me, but didn't use it.  The Khadi pad is really handy and the plastic oil dipper containers for my water.

I wish you all a lovely weekend, see you next week sometime. Au revoir.

BONJOUR!!!

Lucky me.  Just come back from a visit to Paris and Normandy.  Highlight was a visit to Monet's Garden.  It has been a dream of mine to visit there.  I wasn't disappointed. We picked a really good time of year to go.  And, of course, I just had to do a quick sketch while there.

Drawn in green water soluble pen.  Quick sketch but the memory will last forever!

Me in action.  Very small notebook in hand and soaking up the atmosphere while sketching.

ESCODA - NEW FAVE BRUSH

Always wanted a big posh sable brush. I was lucky and  I sold two paintings so had enough money to buy one.  I have become a convert to Escoda because of their quality and price compared to others that are similar.  The point is to die for.  Anyway got a 16 Reserva Kolynsky Sable and painted practically this whole painting with it, except the fine detail. Which at a push I could have tried I suppose.

The view is of a beautiful spot in Scotland.  The Bonnie Prince Charlie Monument near Fort William.  Taken from a photograph I took on my recent holiday there.

This was just after heavy rain, suddenly the sun came out, but this man still had on his lovely red jacket, so had to put him in the foreground.  I am going to darken the sky a bit and feel the man should have been on the right hand side to balance the painting.  But what the hell, I am only playing.  And enjoy playing with my new brush I did!

SCOTLAND AND SKETCHES

Here's a continuation of my Scotland trip.  One day I threw a tantrum as I didn't want to go on a long, climbing walk in mud and bog.  So, yahey, I had an afternoon all to myself to paint.  I found a lovely spot by the edge of a Loch with a nearby shelter.  I had to dash in a couple of times because of a storm!  It was so quiet and lovely and I enjoyed every second.

We went on a steam train - pic sketched on the train from a brochure

Just had to paint this little red boat (can you see his smiley face).  My hubby was in a panic as we had just over 15 mins before the train left!

View from the corridor outside our bedroom. We stayed in a little castle complete with old baths, turrets but a beautiful garden full of rhodedendrums (can't spell it)

This is what I painted when I had my free time.  The Loch is a sea Loch and is Loch Shiel.  Apparently there were otters and deer nearby, but I never saw them.

Have a lovely Sunday!

OCH AYE TH'NOO

Have just had a wonderful few days up in the Highlands of Scotland.  Spent lots of time of the train getting there.  Here are some sketches done to help pass the time away.  Not easy on a wobbly train.

Just used a tiny tin of paints and a water brush pen, and a permanent 0.5 black pen

Sorry to any of you thinking of buying this car, it is NOT as short in the bonnet as I have made it!  Once I had drawn it in pen I couldn't rub it out!

A few things I found in the newspaper.

All done in a 6 x 4 W&N sketch book

LAKE DISTRICT EN PLEIN AIR

While in this lovely area, I went out with a proper artist, and we managed to find two fine days to paint on the spot.

I am still recovering from painting this one!!!!   It kept raining so I kept picking up the seat easel and running to shelter, however, one of the times I tripped, fortunately a chair broke my fall, or I probably would have hit my head on a wall.  But boy did I hurt my hand, and my knee.  Should have painted the bruise, it was large and full of rich colours!  It is the view from Allan Bank, a small National Trust property on a hill overlooking the lake at Grasmere.  Wordsworth once lived there.

Sizergh Castle Near Kendal.  A lovely spot with beautiful sloping gardens. I felt I ruined this, as at the last minute I decided to darken the water.  Anyway it was a lovely spot and I enjoyed myself.

Have a wonderful weekend to one and all.

FRANCE & CHALLENGE ME

Have been cruising in the South of France.  Zis was a wonderful 'oliday.  Beaucoup de sunshine and beaucoup de wonderful places to visite!  My objective was to do one sketch each day, even if only 5 mins. Here are a few sketches followed by an Easter Challenge. More of that later .....

Tourancon - A Medieval Castle and sketched whilst the boat was moored.

Avignon - I was singing "Sur le pont D'Avignon..." as I was sketching this bridge that is not complete

Within the walls of this hospital in Arles,  Van Gogh stayed and painted.  It is called Espace Van Gogh now!

Avignon from outside the city walls.  You can see the Palace where Popes used to live at one time, based in France.

Now then time for a Challenge.  Last year I asked you for subjects to paint over Easter, as I have, hopefully, four days to myself to paint (hubby is off playing or watching Golf).  So bombard me with ideas and take me out of my comfort zone yet again.  I so enjoyed it last year, I couldn't wait to get up in the morning and get on with my paintings.  Any subject at at all.

Sorry I haven't been looking at your blogs, but will be back up to date soon.