Monday 7 April 2014

Arlington Court

The new season at Arlington Court has now started, and I'm back helping...such a gorgeous place to be a volunteer.  New ponies to look after, more about them in the weeks to come, but for the moment I checked out the harness room and the old hay loft displays...

photo (1) .... I love this harness room it's got such a cosy feel about it...


and to the right from where the above photo was taken, the Stables...


then to the left from the harness room photo (1), there are displays of carriages including this ....

  Queen Victoria's
Pony Phaeton



This carriage was used by Queen Victoria at Osborne House on the  
Isle of Wight.
The dash board was made higher than normal as the Queen felt it inappropriate to see her pony’s bottom! (umm…~ obviously not amused ~ I suppose she didn’t want to watch what came out of it!!)

This carriage is painted in the royal colours, maroon, lined bright red.
~
There are lots more displays of carriages at Arlington, and I'll get around to
sketches and doing photos of those too.
~

On up to the former hay loft which now houses more displays


During the day I took the opportunity to do some sketching...


... this Clock Tower was on Winsor & Newton watercolour postcard paper, I actually
gave this sketch away to a visitor, who went off happy with it (I hope).

Other sketches I did were...


and


which I intend to 'abandon' this week over at Arlington.  I've joined a group on Facebook called
Art Abandonment,  where you leave a piece of art with a little message that it is Free Art for somebody to keep -
 (here's a bit more about the group)
 I pop the sketches into a clear plastic sleeve with a message on the front...


and on the back...



Over the coming weeks I will be doing more of these
and hope that people will enjoy them.

Incidentally, I will be letting the Art Abandonment Group on Facebook
know what I have 'abandoned' under the name
Ann TheSketcher

~~~~~~~~~~~



24 comments:

Judy said...

Art abandonment, what a fenomenal idea! There is something similar going on in Holland with books: places where you can pick a free book and leave another one for someone else to read.
But leaving a free art gift is sooo nice! I hope you get a message soon from the one who took it!

CJ Kennedy said...

Arlington Court looks like a lovely place. I have a watercolor postcard you did for a giveaway of Arlington Court. I'm sure your free art will delight the recipients.

ann @ studiohyde said...

That sounds good with the books Judy - and yes, I hope I hear about the painting (wonder who got it).

ann @ studiohyde said...

Yes, I remember that CJ....I seem to get my inspiration for en plein air painting over at Arlington.

Christine said...

oh wow, what a neat idea!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Isn't it just...I'm going to enjoy leaving little pieces of art about the place.

Down by the sea said...

It must be fun helping out Arlington Court. That's a lovely gesture leaving your wonderful sketches for others to take home. I hope that they contact you and you can discover where your pictures end up! Sarah x

ann @ studiohyde said...

I hope I hear about the paintings too, fingers crossed somebody will get in touch :-)

Dartford Warbler said...

I love the Art Abandonment idea - someone will be thrilled to find your gift painting!

It`s years since we went to Arlington Court but I remember the wonderful carriage display. How funny about Queen Victoria and the pony`s bottom :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

I came across Art Abandonment on recently on facebook. Once I started reading about it, I really felt I had to give it a go. I'm always sketching over at Arlington anyway, so I might as well give away or leave a sketch for somebody. I might even do some William sketches too!

Yes, and I wonder what the pony thought of Queen Victoria?!! - Not amused I expect.

allison tait said...

Oh, those are just gorgeous. I'd pop into Arlington Court just to search for one if I were anywhere nearby!

Cris, Oregon Artist said...

Cool idea on the art. Wonder if people will let you know. Fun place to help,out. How many days do you help,out?

robin cox walsh said...

Love your sketches, as always. (I haven't left any art for years now, maybe I'll get back to it. Thanks for the push.)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Allison :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

I hope people will let me know. Usually help once a week, but when they are busy or short handed, I'm there for that too.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Robin....it's a fun way of giving work away. If I kept everything I drew, I would considered a horder!! lol

Anonymous said...

A great place to be in and I JUST LOVE the idea of the free artwork- what a treat for someone! That did make me laugh about the high carriage, to avoid sight of the equine bottom... :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

I had a laugh about the carriage too.

Joan Tavolott said...

Great photos of Arlington Court's stables. Nice sketches. Someone told our art group a while ago about the Art Abandonment. I think it is a nice idea. I'll have to check out the Facebook group. Has anyone gotten a response yet from someone who found their art?

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Joan, glad you liked the photos. I think Art Abandonment is really good too, although I'm not sure if people have heard back, I expect they have though. I'm still new to the group myself, but looking forward to it, not only for the drawings I'll abandon but seeing what other people do.

Willow said...

It must be such a wonderful place to be helping out at Ann.

ann @ studiohyde said...

It is lovely there Willow. Hopefully another blog post about it soon :-)

Jez said...

I remember going to Arlington court years ago when the children were young, and it was the carriages they loved best. I have heard of the free card idea before and always meant to do it, but never got around to it. But I would prefer to do it anonymously, so maybe this summer Ii will start leaving them at the gallery here. You have prompted me so I'll have a go.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Glad you enjoyed Arlington Court, yes the carriages are a big part of it. They no longer do carriage rides, that finished last season due to the extreme wet weather - with pathway/routes around the estate making them impassable...of course, these days the cost is such a large part and decision maker too isn't it. I like doing this Art Abandonment thing, good idea to just leave things anonymously too, although if I were to find a piece of art I would like to know who did it and also that it was a part of a group I could contact.