Doodle time...

It's all a matter of how you view things

Yes, you are correct - pen marks on kitchen paper 

(it just happened to be to hand on my workspace)...

but

turned

around

it 

becomes

a face.

Another sketch from a recent holiday

Sketched en plein air

in

Cornwall

There was something lovely about sitting by this harbour and watching the world go by.
The little orange boat you see in the picture was the local Lifeboat,
thankfully not being used but ready to go if needed.

The buildings on the left were apartments, just hope people didn't get their feet wet too often!

Quick sketches

I should have posted these ages ago,

here's an outline sketch done whilst we visited Cornwall recently

(I will eventually get around to adding watercolour)

and this drawing of buildings, I used coloured pencils 

Inktense - although Ink they do come out looking like a cross between pastel and watercolour

- quite like the effect.

Exeter Races

Had a lovely day with our daughter at Exeter Races last Sunday.  Not our usual entertainment, but this was a special day.  Do you remember me posting about Adventure Clydesdales on Dartmoor - click here for post if you missed it.    Well, some of the Clydesdales from that yard were actually RACING in Aid of The Devon Air Ambulance.   What better reason to go and see them race and help sponsor the air ambulance.

Enough chatter....here's some pictures I took on the day...

The course

The big screen was useful, there were loads of people around the Parade Ring. This screen meant we were able to see riders and horses closer.

I guess it was a bit like watching TV, but actually being there!

Looked so strange to see jockeys on such large horses.

on their way down to the start

After the race, as they canter back to the parade ring -
and there's a repeat of the race on the big screen




~ We didn't win any money, but it was a win win for a grand day out ~



🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇

Charlecote Park National Trust

Although our visit to the Charlecote Park National Trust property
started with a long walk, it was well worth the effort.

(There was a buggy service available though, but the exercise was good for us)

For one thing, the walk gave us the chance to take in the views of the parkland.

The grand entrance was also very impressive to this Victorian home.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROPERTY
HERE - it will tell you far more than I can put into this blogpost:

CHARLECOTE PARK NATIONAL TRUST

It was nice to see a lady in costume cooking in the kitchen,
that really brings things to life and almost like stepping back in time.
We have come across a few National Trust places who do this,
it makes such a difference to the visitor experience.
(I tried to ignore her watch though) ;)

Around the property -
Wooden detailing on doorways.  Beautiful work
and even the door handles were a rose (a Room Guide told me the detailing was a link to the tudor style of the property) and look at the detail around the keyhole.

I had wondered what this colourful plant was.
When I asked online via Facebook about it,
Charlecote kindly replied:

"Our gardener has replied and has said its a Cotoneaster.  There are lots of species and hybrids but is possibly a Cotoneaster Frigidus"

I thought the response was very helpful and kind of them to take the trouble to respond.


🌿🍁🍂🍃🌿🍁🍂🍃🌿🍁🍂🍃🌿🍁🍂🍃

Wordless Wednesday

A recent trip to Coventry

...we discovered the canal.  So lucky the weather was good and we enjoyed a walk .  

Here are some pics, I hope you’ll enjoy seeing them. 

They say that Inspiration can appear in all sorts of places....

......even on a wet bathmat!

But can you see what I see?

Okay let me help you out...

(I think I can even see a dolphin at his feet, 

but I reckon the dog is enough imagination for one bathmat)

I even drew it

Now tell me this was a cheap fountain pen

This HERO Fountain pen

(Metal body)

Extra Fine nib

with converter

was

£1.46 

INCLUDING POSTAGE!

ALL THE WAY FROM 

CHINA

 This is known as a Hooded nib

and it is a nice weight to hold, not flimsy in any way

I filled it with DeAtramentis Black Ink

Draws really smoothly

quick sketch on sketch paper
and the pen worked really well




~ AMAZING PURCHASE ~

Something a little different...

...Painting at Arlington Court yes, but this time I chose to Sketch in Reportage Illustration style - so I took my sketching kit to the reception/shop area, knowing I would be guaranteed seeing a lot of people.  

 

It took a few goes on scrap paper to get my pen to loosen up and gain eye/hand co-ordination.

The speed with which people move sometimes amazes me.  The best part is when they are standing at the counter, their attention is held for a few minutes, so they don't move away...ideal.

Anyway, enough chatter, here's some of the drawings.

~ Recording the visual happenings around me,  I loved it ~

🎨🎨🎨

Wordless Wednesday

You know us, we always have to visit the National Trust.....

....when we're on our travels.  Recently we visited Cotehele (previous post) and then we visited

Saltram  

Have been there before, but the beauty of visiting these properties is there is always something different and new to discover, so well worth going back to.

This room had paintings stored as the room they usually hang in was having the carpet and other items repaired, but I'll show you the pictures of that later in this post

I loved this courtyard, which went to the kitchens

The kitchen was interesting as it was set out as though still being used. It really gives an insight to how life was back in the day.

The large range on the left had a flue under the floor, which went to the fireplace you see on the right. It then went up inside of the wall and the heat turned the rotisserie - the heat also gave them hot water to the taps over the sink in the next picture.

These copper sinks were in a side room.  The usual two taps, and the third was from water collected in the garden

These sinks were for preparing meats

and this sink for vegetables...Yes, it is a LEAD sink!!!!   Not such a good idea!

I wasn't expecting to see so much scaffolding but it was needed to protect the ceiling and added a walkway for visitors to view the work being done on the carpet

Can you see the walkway on the left of this picture, it made a really good viewing platform.

The work looked so precise and backbreaking

Not so many years ago, a lot of National Trust properties would close during the Winter months.  That's when some of the major works/conservation  would be  carried out.  But nowadays, properties try to remain open as much as they can, hence visitors now get to see conservation-in-progress.  

I really enjoy seeing this side of the Trust, it's nice to know how things are preserved and learn more about them.   Another factor to the properties remaining open is central heating.  Not that they want properties to be too warm, that would damage precious artefacts, so temperatures are monitored carefully, but it does ensure that volunteers will still help. Nobody wants to stand around in the cold all day for their volunteering efforts.  

One volunteer I spoke to at Saltram told me she wouldn't be helping if it weren't for some heating, so there you have it, there has to be some compromise between them staying open in the Winter and preserving the property.

You wouldn't expect me to visit without doing some sketching...

Visitors in the gift shop

Visitors walking the grounds

and finally my sketch of the house itself

~ Hope you enjoyed this post ~