LAKE DISTRICT EN PLEIN AIR

While in this lovely area, I went out with a proper artist, and we managed to find two fine days to paint on the spot.

I am still recovering from painting this one!!!!   It kept raining so I kept picking up the seat easel and running to shelter, however, one of the times I tripped, fortunately a chair broke my fall, or I probably would have hit my head on a wall.  But boy did I hurt my hand, and my knee.  Should have painted the bruise, it was large and full of rich colours!  It is the view from Allan Bank, a small National Trust property on a hill overlooking the lake at Grasmere.  Wordsworth once lived there.

Sizergh Castle Near Kendal.  A lovely spot with beautiful sloping gardens. I felt I ruined this, as at the last minute I decided to darken the water.  Anyway it was a lovely spot and I enjoyed myself.

Have a wonderful weekend to one and all.

MEMORY SKETCHES

Had trouble getting into my blog!!  Wonder if anyone else has had problems today.

Anyway, here are some personal sketches of my recent visit to the Lake District in the North West Corner of England.  Six of us hired a lovely stone cottage and these were all sketched around Grasmere (of Wordsworth fame, the poet) I wandered lonely as a cloud ta da. Also there is a wonderful Artist and his father  well know in this area. If you like Lakes and Mountain paintings do check out this artist, sadly no longer with us, William Heaton Cooper.

Here are me little ole sketches.  Done in a small W & N sketchbook using water soluble stabilo pens and a touch of an Elegant Finewriter pen too.

View from the Daffodil Garden across the River Rothay towards a lovely tea room with outside space.  This Village is built in Lakeland stone which is a beautiful colour, similar to the water in this picture.  

Right in the centre along side the small green, there is this Gallery of Heaton Cooper's paintings and also a well stocked Art Shop (I always buy something, can't help it)

Most of you know I hate painting flowers - so can't believe what is happening to me, I actually sketched a couple of wild flowers tucked in under a wire fence.  On the other side were new little lambs, black and white. Ahhhh

View from right near our cottage overlooking the fields filled with sheep and lambs

One of my favourite places in the whole world!

GRASMERE HOLIDAY

Been to The Lake District for a week. Grasmere my favourite.  The Gem in the Lake District's crown as far as I'm concerned.  Six of us hired a cottage.  Many laughs, good food and even a little painting too, despite the wind, rain and cold.

The National Trust has taken over a house that had a bad fire in 2011 and has opened it up to the public.  It isn't a fancy mansion or a stately home but a large house that has been cleaned  and is now free from fire damage. (well some rooms are still closed off)  It is a hands on kind of place and one room has a long table, lots of drawing implements and even plastic aprons for little ones.  They let me sit and paint a view of the lake at Grasmere from one of the windows.  Not my best painting but painting on the spot is not the easiest thing to do, and to do such a view justice is an impossible task.

Here is my view from Allan Bank compared to the actual view.  A lovely memory, far better than any photograph!

The house is part way up a hill although it looks flat. I exaggerated the island, which is hidden by the trees, as it is an integral part of the Lake.  Yep, I have more muscles now from chopping down those old trees.

I came home to find I have lost my place on Joanne Boon Thomas's brusho course, as the email asking for my deposit came while I was away.  Talk about bad timing!  I was so looking forward to it.

I came back to so many lovely paintings by my blogging friends, and while I will try and look at them all, I doubt if I will have time to comment on them.  I intend to do more painting and less time on t'internet.  Wonder if I will keep it up, well perhaps the odd sneaky look now and then.  Happy blogging

PS Had to add that I have now heard that I am actually on Joanne's Brusho course.  So chuffed.

SHARON'S CHALLENGE NO. 2

This is the second challenge that Sharon Whitley set this month (the photo is by Gary Jones and is stunning). It's one of my favourite places in the Lake District. Slater's Bridge is in the picturesque Langdale Valley.  There is nothing else there except occasionally walkers and the odd sheep.  You walk from a pub called The Shires Inn and after a l0 min walk you see the tiny bridge in the bottom of a valley.  This packhorse bridge was used many years ago by the slate mine nearby, hence the name.  It is made of random pieces of slate. It is very worn and narrow.

Notice the two mouldy barm cakes in the bottom right hand corner!  They were left by me after the picnic I had when painting there last year!

GRASMERE IN THE SNOW

We've recently popped up to Grasmere in the Lake District.  This is a view of Sam Read's Bookshop (yes it is called Read's)  This was painted after a previous visit.

It is one of those places that feels like a second home.  We are lucky to live nearby to either pop up for the day or a short break.  Grasmere is famous for Dove Cottage (Wordsworths quaint old home) and there is a really well stocked art shop (I always go in there) who sell prints of a well known lake district painter William Heaton Cooper, they are brilliant do check them out.  Apparently he would sit hours waiting for the right light to sketch from.

Oh, and by the way, I found my old school folder, going back .......... years!!!  If you want to take a peek I am putting some on my other blog http://pollyluvspaintingetc.blogspot.com  and comparing them to my work now.  I thought I'd mention it because although the schoolwork is in poster paint, the other work will be watercolour.

You may have your old school work or memories of painting when you were young.  I'd love to hear your stories.

CHOCOHOLIC

Yes, I'm a chocoholic! So what did I decide to paint today  ...................  ?

Copied from a brochure where you join a chocolate club. How dangerous would that be? I couldn't paint from real chocolates, they would have been eaten in no time.  The shadow hasn't worked on the left of the white chocolate so must add that.  Good news is we had some chocolates, it being Sunday, after our dinner, they were our absolute favourite little chocolate squares from Friars in Keswick (The Lake District).

What are your favourite chocolates?

LAKE DISTRICT

We've just come back from spending Christmas in the Lake District.  Typical Lake District weather!  Even so it was still very beautiful.  I never tire of the views. 

This is a view of the lake at Grasmere looking towards the village.   It's no wonder Wordsworth loved it so, and William Heaton Cooper painted it so often.   Every day and every hour the light is changing, never mind the changing seasons.  It is one of my favourite places.