You will have heard of the old saying, that a change is as good as a rest, well just once in a while we all need a change, it is refreshing and it does you good. Well I arrived at St. Andrews art club last week and I just did not want to do my usual ink. So I took out of my bag a sea shell, to be exact a mussel covered in barnacles and sea weed, then turned towards it in a lets see what happens sort of way.

Starting with a piece of heavy duty water-color paper, then taking a pencil, a very loose and faint sketch was the starting point, followed by a faint water-fast ink drawing. When the ink was properly dry a few layers of watercolor were applied. The work then received a water soluble ink drawing over some of areas of the work to produce feelings of depth sand contrast. After which, to finish it all of a very fine mist of water was squired over it all, this softens the edges, created a small amount of ink bleed and gave a feeling of looseness to it all. I like it.

Try something a little different occasionally, you will have fun.

Wells next to the Sea is just a few miles eastwards along the coats from Hunstanton (which we visited a few weeks ago) on the south shore of the Wash; it is the kind of place which you could wander around for hours, despite its small size. We found a friendly cafe, which was a little pricey. Lots of crafty shops and an ancient harbor, which is slowly silting up. Commercially, not really a working port now, but full of weekend sailors. One super shop was the chandlers on the harbor wall, amazing jumpers at realy reasonably prices.

I miss travel, role on when it is responsible to get off on our adventures again. 

We are back at home now and being busy doing all sorts of things. I have started a new maritime sculpture, which is challenging, but more of that at a later date. Ink work is progressing and also very important, maybe more-so, Liz is progressing and getting stronger by the day. The highlight of the day is going to be a trip to the pharmacists at Horsell for my prescription, good grief!

 

One in a while, take a step back and think, what have you passed, forgotten or neglected over the past few months or longer. For me the neglect part must be black and white photography; which my father gave me a great love of so many years ago. He took photographs in the glass plate era, sadly non of them have survived, but I have managed to keep a small album of contact prints from a scout camp in the 1930's

Monochromatic and black and white photography, does not work in all situations, however when given an understanding free reign on the right subject, it gives such a depth of tone and texture, which other photographic styles just cannot capture; I feel that textural images in particular work particularly well, of which woodland images and portraiture are prime examples. Look at the depth and texture in the  above image

Most modern digital cameras have a B/W setting. Give it a go.

The above photograph was taken on Horsell Common not long ago.

 

 

Well we are now home, Epiphany is past, so we are well into the new year, festivities were enjoyed and now life continues and moves on at a gathering pace, as new experiences and challenges appear.

Our stay in Hunstanton was lovely, to be honest there is not very much to do there; it is such a pleasant quiet place nestling gently by the coast. We wanted to relax and relax we did, the hotel had only a few guests, the lounges were spacious, everybody polite and pleasant, a few characters were present, but that makes it more fun. The last few months have been tough for Liz, as a result she was tired and slept a great deal. Each day we went for a drive, so Liz did see the surrounding countryside. For myself, when she was sleeping I went for a couple of walks on the beach and most of the rest of the time I spent painting and reading (at the moment it is all about the Viking travels to Byzantium in the 8th and 9th century's). The above is one of the paintings, the location is just below the hotel.

Lots to tell you all, but it can wait until next time.

 At last we have reached the seaside. Oh I do love to be beside the seaside etc, etc.We waited to see what was appropriate, how acceptable it was to travel and simply could we do it safely. Further clamp downs may be coming, but here we have a short gap, so off we went to see our youngest son and his family; that was good.

Now we have a few days in Huntington on the Wash, a superb hotel right on the beach, the place is spacious, with good covis protection work practices, the staff are lovely, our room is superb, food is excellent and the place is quiet. Therefore we can relax for a short while. The photo is of the beach immediately outside the hotel; an amazing beach, miles of it, with lots of wind blowing; going for a walk there yesterday morning, certainly the cobwebs were blown away.

Lots of ink and watercolor work being done, sleeping for hours and hours, Liz is taking it easy as well, we are doing our best to get Liz to the beaches, but that is a little tricky; but it is good and we are enjoying our stay. Out of interest the hotel is the "Le Strange Arms", I recommend the place.