At the present my work is looking towards an exhibition in Guildford towards the end of the year, dates times will be posted later. The work is looking at small fishing harbours and craft around the British coasts and to be honest it is all rather good fun. This work involves going through many of my ancient sketchs from years ago to get the relevent information, as well as revisiting other places 

One of my favorite memories of Dungerness is of a pleasant, if cool and windy morning out sketching amongst the boats. being Neanerlithic I was dressed in shorts, flip flops and and shirt. Realising after a while that I was surrounded by a photographic club from Wolverhampton out for a day snapping.They were all dressed up for the Artic with anoraks, wooly mittens, boots and warm hats covering every inch. Not roughy toughy types. Is my body temperature clock wrong???

Above is a wreck (one of many) found at Dungerness, it seems to be a fishing boat graveyard, whilst present day small fishing craft still operate around the deserted decaying wrecks. It is a majical place, abounding in nature, wind and solitude. I love the place, it is simply stunning.

When out walking yesterday a couple passed us going the other way and I heard the end line of a conversation. She said, "You know that I am always right, even when you are". I would hesitate in arguing with that lady, but they seemed happy enought.

Isn't life great!

 

A busy week is ahead of us both, its going to be charging around all over the place, so a quick blog and a painting of the old jetty at Exmouth which I painted a few weeks ago from sketches of a trip there a few years ago. It was a lovely few days, our youngest son was there with his family as well. The painting is one of the works, in working towards my next exhibition in November.

Sorry no pearls of wisdom this morning!!! Will write soon.

 

Good morning, I am still really enjoying my painting of small fishing harbours around our shores, however my tree ink work continues.  The above in about a mile south of Guildford on the banks of the  River Wey. The aim of these drawings at the moment is so exciting; you will notice on the above image how various vegitations  grow in differing ways, Its all about learning to look at how things realy are. The present set of drawings which I am undertaking at the moment are A3 in size; and an A3 detailed ink drawing is a massive undertaking, which takes hours and hours to produce with hard levels of concentration being used all of the time. But I love it and when a piece of work comes to the final few strokes and is finnished, I experience quite an experience of satisfaction and achievment.; which makes me feel good.

However the above is all hard work and tiring, that is partly why I am doing the harbour series. They involve lots of colour and fun, which I obviously enjoy; so another harbour image in a few days.

Charles.

 

 

Liz and myself have just returned from Maidstone Kent, where we we attending a conference at the Kent showground called "New Wine". Many thousands attended the event, of whom the majority camped. We certainly did not, rather staying in a very pleasant flat four miles away. The teaching at this event was awsome and massivly encouraging, particularly the chap who spoke in the mornings; he seemed to be saying so many of my ongoing thourghts and afferming them. I left the conference greatly encouraged.

We always treat this annual event as a holiday and spend the afternoons sight seeing, going out and relaxing; whilst doing the serious bits in the mornings and evenings, this way we avoid spiritual indegestion and learn a great deal; as usual meeting friends, making new friends and enjoying the event, the whole happening was excedingly good.

In the afternoons we have a well rehersed method of sight seeing; which is driving along until we pass a very small, narrow, country lane, then following it. using this method we find amazing places, such as the above, called Oar Creek. The building on the right is a very pleasant bar come cafe. the sun shone, coffee was good and we chilled out for a while. Even the dogs stopped barking and the children were very well behaved. That was a trully lovely afternoon.