Thursday 29 September 2011

Norfolk Pages

Here are the pages I started when away in Norfolk.  A brilliant addition to my tool kit has been a reservoir brush (also called a waterbrush).  This means I can do water colours sitting in an arm chair! A perfect companion to my ancient watercolour box which was my Dad's. The brush will clean with a few wipes on a paper towel so is ready for a new colour. No good for sweeping washes, but perfect for what I wanted.






I painted the shell whilst away, but added the photo montage and tracing paper seaweed back home.

Freehand copy of Cromer church window (photograph) done with the reservoir brush - not sure how I will develop this yet.  I have to give credit to my Design Matters Creative Sketchbook course for inspiring me with the cut out and adding a page.



Sunday 25 September 2011

Home again,

I've just got back from a short break in Norfolk. I took my camera and a few arty bits and my art journal. Where we stayed was close to footpaths bordering fields so easy to lose yourself in the sound of rustling leaves - nearly as good as the sound of waves for restoring the spirits. The first day we visited old friends who we haven't seen for many years - we couldn't quite work out how many! After a lovely pub lunch Laurence took us for a walk with his two dogs - Ali had to spend the afternoon preparing lessons - on her day off.



It is really difficult taking photos whilst in charge of a charging spaniel you don't know!
Meanwhile Mr T and his old college pal make up for a few years' news.



The weather was a rather overcast, but there were patches of blue.


Where we were walking was a newly planted woodland with lots of native tree species . Everything seemed to be laden with fruit.

The next day we headed for the coast and Cromer was the closest spot. It is many, many years since I have been to Cromer, and mainly just passed through it on my childhood holidays.

It has the air of a slightly run-down sea-side town. but that is part of its charm.  This was obviously once a much more salubrious parade of shops with its white tiled front.

Despite the sign in the window this shop was shut!

Another rather rundown building, but looking as if it had plenty of history.

The pier however was lickety-spit and topping the bill were The Barron Knights (You don't have to own up if you remember them).  Although it was overcast it was very mild and we enjoyed watching this little chap have a paddle.

We enjoyed lunch in a teashop opposite the Church.


Cosy!


I was rather struck by this reflection of the church windows in a mirror on the back wall.
After toasted sandwiches and tea the sun came out and we drove down the coast to Mundesley.
How perfect was this?

I couldn't wait to get down on the sand.


I took lots of pictures of the weather front as it moved south leaving us with a beautiful blue sky.


I love the butterscotch coloured waves and could easily have sat for an hour just listening to them.


Mr T likes to keep moving, but he enjoyed a bit of beach combing, but there weren't many pickings today.

The break-waters or are they groynes - I don't know the difference, are always fascinating...

and a good source of a bit of rusty corrosion.

On the way back to the car we dropped in to what must be one of the smallest museums around.  Upstairs was the coastguard station.  Well worth a £1.
We spent our third day in Norwich. I didn't take my DSLR camera as it is a bit heavy, but did have my 'point and shoot' in my bag.  However I didn't take any pictures!
I'll share my journal pages later.

Back to reality now, I hope to catch up with you all soon.  Meanwhile how can four nights away generate so much washing!!
Have a good week,
Jill


Wednesday 14 September 2011

Barton-le-Clay on Saturday

On Saturday 17th September 2011 I shall be at Barton-le-Clay Village Hall with my friend Sally.
It is the Annual Exhibition of the Shillingtona and District Camera Club and we have been invited to have a stall there.  So if you live in the area I shall be there from 11.00am to 4.00pm, it would be lovely to see you.

Here are some of the things I will be taking

felt and fabric brooches

hearts and stars

boxes and purses

cards.

And the camera club's exhibiton too!
 SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011
admission £2 - under 16 and members free
VILLAGE HALL
HEXTON ROAD
BARTON-LE-CLAY
MK45 4JY


Friday 9 September 2011

Friday in the garden

I decided to take my camera in the garden. I am using my 50mm 1:1.8 D lens which is brilliant in low light as it has been very dull here today.
Here are a selection of shots - I took lots - over 40, wouldn't have done that with a reel of film.  I would have had to have been a lot more thoughtful before I pressed the shutter. If you click on a photo it should enlarge for you.

I chose some herbs that have gone to seed.

There are a lot of six spot ladybirds around.  This one was enjoying the fennel flowers.


Another ladybird clambering in the fennel.


This is the parsley. If you look carefully there is a strand of web between the seed heads.


Another shot of the parsley
  


This is a close up of coriander flowers which are rather delicate.


 We have plenty of froglets hopping round the pond, but this one was larger - about dessert spoon size I'd say.  It is good to see them as we had a good size dollop of frogspawn which I photographed in the spring.
However I am missing the blue tits, great tits and coal tits which seemed to have totally disappeared since our neighbour cut down their leylandii hedge about three weeks ago.  We are grateful for the light as it seriously shaded our vegetables, but the birds loved it.  Hopefully they have gone on a country holiday to make the most of the natural food available and will be back when the weather turns.  Meanwhile we are enjoying the large flock of house-sparrows that are emptying the feeders as fast as I can fill them.  We saw very few of those for many years, but we counted at least 20 at one point.  Sorry no photos of the bird life.

However I am continuing to enjoy the Creative Sketchbook course.  Here are another couple of pages.



Do have a great weekend - I'm looking forward to doing some more drawing myself.
Jill