Tuesday 10 August 2010

WEEKEND AT WELLS NEXT THE SEA

Been catching up at home since returning from 3 wonderful days at Wells next the Sea at Sandra's cottage, coinciding with the week long carnival. Sandra, our host, had to pop off two mornings to invigilate at the local art exhibition and we both went over to Kings Lynn on the Saturday afternoon, leaving Anita happily sketching around the quayside and cottage garden.

Here you can see how beautifully Sandra has revamped her cottage in lovely soft blues and creams. We sat round the fireplace from time to time just chatting together before and after visiting the carnival musical evening events. We had fun singing along with an amazingly good live Beatles sound alike band and even had a temporary tattoo each from a little teddy bear, stars and (of course for me) a group of three flowers. Here is the comfy sofa .......

Got up fairly early for me and spent time in the garden sketching. All the fruit trees were laden with quince, damsons, apples and pears. Here's a little group of apples sketched whilst eating my breakfast of croissant with real butter and Wensleydale cheese and cranberries and cup of coffee .....

.... and here's something that grabbed me from the first day - the contrast between the colourful boats stored at the bottom of the garden seen through the black wrought iron gate.....

Planned to sketch little objects in the garden in a double spread, but only managed this stone chimey pot acting as a plinth for a bowl of found very round stones placed in front of another apple tree on the other side of the brick pathway that divides the garden and runs right up to the cottage door.

Really pleased how much I sketched despite our various outings. Down to serious stuff now, preparing three water colour works for the NOVA Sherringham event in October under the theme of Reflections.

7 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

Lovely sketches from what sounds like a lovely trip away - you have been so busy lately with family and friends and trips!

DJ said...

Joan, Your yellow sofa really needs to be included in a finished painting, ink lines et al. It makes me happy just looking at it...
Love the other scenes you've chosen; what a great eye you have, my sweet friend.
Best wishes for your upcoming endeavors ~

Vicki Greene said...

Your sketches are delightful and I am amazed that you are getting so much painting in with your very busy schedule.

Anita Davies said...

God forbid art becomes serious! LOL!
Well done Joannie, you got lots of sketching done aswell as your various chores while away and we still managed a natter and a sing song. ;)

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Yes everyone thanks for your comments and it was a wonderful weekend of many inspiring corners to sketch. .. but if you liked my yellow sofa DJ just go and take a peep at Anita's 6 posts in her blog http://artbyanita.blogspot.com
In fact, you should all see her work - a stunning sketchbook artist of local renown.

Marie Theron said...

What a lovely story in pictures, Joan! Very delicate sketches, I think this narrative style is so precious!

Gretchen Bjornson ART said...

I love your sketches...very light, airy, and whimsical.