We all sat in the balmy afternoon air under the oaks not fifty paces from Fazende where we often spend a summer holiday. And with a little direction and collaboration took in the shapes and hues of the collection of buildings. Transposing colour and shades made for a delicious array of images all saying the same thing. Well done to the etudiantes Molly, Katie, Imo, Paddy and Serena and look forward to their exhibitions of work in years to come.
Everyday for ten days the rhythm was much the same. Enjoyable and arduous in equal measure and without doubt cathartic after a nasty bout of covid in the confines of the West Country. As I make my way from Le Puy en Velay in the Auvergne and at five-thirty in the morning the rousings of fellow walkers would start: so that by first light we could step into the freshness of the day well before the unforgiving sun took hold. Breakfast maybe a scratchy apology for nourishment as we clambered to get out to take full advantage of the early part of ...
It is said that the atmosphere of a cricket game is unsurpassed by that of Lords on a sunny day. And with the first team playing New Zealand the tension was there in a wonderful match which, according to the cognizant, “could have gone either way”. Anyway England won. As a first time visitor of the real thing: and one who normally listens to the wireless whist weeding the garden I found the close arena of different buildings of all ages and architectural merit and all with this similar function, of viewing for hours on end nearly static beings and ...
Who would ever have thought that to follow trails through a grecian mountain range might beat those azure blue island beaches and all the sun that goes with it. Well we did both and the novelty of the hills alive with no-one was a delight. Staying in high villages of a lost age where the building are fine and the aspects tremendous but alas devoid of the young and proper activity or even a shop. So that might be a detraction, though not really as we found the solitude of the hills, the ravines and the wonderful trees, a place ...
Every day that the sun rises so magnificently over the sea is a sight to behold from the end of the Cobb wall and no boat needed. On the other hand boats were the only thing needed by the locals unabashed by the madding crowds to be a part of the sail-by to celebrate the 100 years of the sailing club. An ancient time-held tradition from the Greeks we had everyone from the harbourmaster and the RNLI to the six man gigs with every type of sail lining up and quietly past the decorated committee boat PJ for the dipping of the ...
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If we couldn't get abroad we had to return to the old hunting grounds on the Cornish coast. The trick was to avoid the traffic and to get into a spot away from those who would normally be in the med. That was only possible by leaving a eleven at night and booking the lodgings two years ago and we squeezed north and south in all weathers. We got jabbed by the wind, jabbed by the rain and nothing else to worry about but food and our maps. Doubly good for the soul. Helford on the Lizard side - as glorious ...
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As Christmas 2020 looms, the thought of the absence of real 'get togethers' has brought a new light on the way we celebrate. Whilst physically disconnected from each other, there is a bigger sense of caring between folk, as the reflections on quite difficult times for more people than we may imagine come into focus. For all those we know, and those who have helped the communities so well, we wish a peaceful time over the next few days and into 2021 when surely we can plan to be fulfilled, hug each other again and paste over the last few ...
Philip carries out most of his work en plein air and he can be found in unusual settings fitting in an hour or two of sketching before moving on.... In the African bush Coffee on a cold beach [caption id="attachment_1204" align="alignnone" width="800"] PK paints on verandah at Eglatine[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2235" align="alignnone" width="715"] © Photograph - Richard AustinTel: 07831-566005[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2237" align="alignnone" width="1024"] © Photograph - Richard AustinTel: 07831-566005 across the fields of Devon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2236" align="alignnone" width="828"] © Photograph - Richard AustinTel: 07831-566005[/caption] IN THE STUDIO for once
Using a variety of media and styles the work responds to mood and geography but is more than often an observation of simple scenes in everyday life and on the travels across Europe.