Melk in Bavaria Germany, was one of the wonderful places we visited on our recent travels. The village itself lies beneath the Monastery which is situated high above on a rocky outcrop. Very picture post card stuff. But the best part was the people, they were so friendly.

 At on point Liz was wandering around retail gazing whilst I was doing the above ink/watercolour sketch. Two eight or nine year old girls, with their mum, they were local and joined me to watch me paint and chat. A lovely memorable twenty minuets or so.

Very busy, sorting out the painting, sketches and photos; really enjoying myself. This hot weather is super as outside water-colour work is so possible, with the quick drying times.

Oh well must go to a BBQ, see you all soon.

We are back home again and well into the routines of life. There is something good about going on holiday and in reality being satisfied and pleased to be back home again. New Wine contacted me asking me to exhibit; that's good news and all the framing, etc etc is done. So any body who is there can see my work in the Market place, I will also be around if you want to natter.

The trip from Budapest to Prague, via Vienna and many other amazing place stunned both Liz and myself.  Painting went into overdrive, so with Liz's help ninety one drawings and paintings were produced, plus photos; when put together it will be a worthwhile body of work. Vienna was stunning, the water-colour and ink sketch above, is of one of the roads leading off the main Basilica square. My only complaint was the time factor, we only had a few hours in Vienna and nine sketches in that time was a tad rushed. Still we managed to get a good feel of the place.

A few of you keep asking me about my wire sculptures, so here is another one of meadow flowers; the flowers represented are cranesbill, daisy, thistle and speedwell, These are not serious botanical representations, but rather decorative works showing the great beauty and diversity within God's creation. For various reasons these pieces are rather tricky to photograph or scan, so please excuse this slightly iffy image, as the real construction is much more colourful and bright

I am working on a much larger work showing a beech tree with all the varied flowers around it's base. The plan is for it to be ready for New Wine in July; however although the work is at an advanced stage, a great deal more needs doing as of yet. Have no fear my ink work is not being neglected..

Europe calls and travels with my camera and ink pot can't be put off any more; so no blog for the next few weeks. See you all soon. 

Its bank holiday Monday and I am having a lazy day, or at least trying to. A few jobs to do, like popping into town, then  going round to a friends for coffee. The jobs of a more practical nature, I will not bother you with.

Last week on the last day in Somerset, it was such a lovely day that we drove over to Knightshayes Hall for the afternoon. The same sort of reaction from the staff happened again. These NT places just love artists turning up. I was welcomed with arms open wide, so to speak. As usual the staff wanted to see the finished sketch; so here it is. Thank you all.

If you do paint or sketch, whilst at the same time being a little nervous of painting out of doors in very public places, try NT sites. Working in the grounds of these places I have never had a negative reaction from staff. Working out of doors, ensuring that there will be no spillages of colours, by using such things as enclosed ink pens such as biros and not dip pens, you will receive very positive encouragement. Try it.

Well Liz and myself have been of traveling again, this time we were invited to Taunton Somerset to lead a workshop on the use of ink and the width of it's the uses art-wise in general. The workshop was at St James's in the centre of the town and I must congratulate them all for being so flexible and adaptable to new (to them) ways of working.

Staying with long-term friends Jenny and Martin and were made very welcome. 

Visiting two old halls in our spare time, the first being Lytes Cary Manor. When some of the staff realised that I was an artist, the welcome was very warm. So for Celia (I think) and others, a couple of quick sketches. There is more, but space on this page is limited

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The second venue to be visited was Killerton Hall, but more of that in a few days

A busy week, and thankfully all the extra-curriculum type charging around is over for the week (a workshop on small still life which was real success in Leatherhead; that was the main challenge ), so relax a little with routine; well, almost; it was a good idea anyhow. 

Next week we are off the Taunton in Somerset to lead an ink workshop. That is with friends so it will be good fun and a pleasant couple of days to relax a little.

Sadly my scanner was on the desk when the hole punch fell off the shelf and landed on the glass screen. Oh dear, but to be positive I bought it eight years ago at a get rid of everything sort of sale, for £25, and it was a jolly good buy; it served me well. I was surprised that a replacement  A4 scanner was a lot cheaper than I thought. Well not cheap, but cheaper than expected, for certain it did not owe me anything.

Above is a water-colour and pencil of Kimmeridge Bay, which was produced a couple of weeks ago when with Liz we were in Weymouth. Lying amongst the pebbles I picked up a couple of small fern type fossils, very small, but special as I found them myself.

A friend is coming round shortly and we are having a curry together, so that will be very nice.

Two images today.

Please excuse the rather poor scan quality, but as it will not lie flat on the scanner and it to big to put the lid back on. And then just to make a few more  problems it needed  two scans  being joined together; not to bad considering.

The creation is made from copper wire, then coloured loosely with acrylics. If  my work is accepted for New Wine this year there will be a small number of these included.

At the present time I am working on a piece of meadow grassland, with daisies,speedwells, thistles and maybe something else, lets see what transpires. This way of working is fiddly but good fun. Don't worry my ink work ink work is not being neglected.

Just had to show you all another one of Weymouth. The building immediately to the right of the bridge is where we had our flat; Lovely. We had a super time.

See you all soon.