Today my friend Shirley and I went to the Guildford Institute in Surrey to make the final arrangements for a 3 week exhibition we're having there. When we walked into reception I caught sight of some paperwork behind the desk that had my painting on it. After enquiring why, from the receptionist, she smiled and said "Oh haven't you seen it?" And it turned out to be their Autumn event and course catalogue. I was really pleased as this was a first, but then I looked at the credit inside, only to find my fellow exhibitor's name and misspelled too........ Oh well it still looks nice.
So if any one's in the area do drop in, they do a great lunch there and Guildford's a pretty good town for shopping.
The weekend before last we went to the amazing Dugeness Spit in Kent. To those of you who don't know it, its a shingle area of land that's unique in Europe and is the nearest thing we have to a desert in Britain. It's growing at the amazing rate of 8' per year.
It's definitely one of those places you either love or hate. For us it was love at first sight.
Now this may sound strange when the area is bleak with nothing but huts and ships and fishing paraphernalia as far as the eye can see.
With a power station at the end of the road.
But it's this very bleakness that has drawn people to live here, some of whom have embraced the stark beauty of the place and used it to fuel their artistic imaginations.
The little white hut with the bunting is an amazing studio for displaying this artist's work as is his front garden.
What a great way for beach rubbish to end up.
And this is the artist Derek Jarman's cottage.
And some of his amazing sculptures.
Us on the beach being blown around by 40mph gusty winds.
With all the decaying fishing equipment on the beach there were plenty of wonderful textures to be had.
I have no idea what this is, but it made me want to sketh it.
On the third day of our stay it rained quite hard on and off and the clouds were changing all the time so I stayed put in my cosy mobile studio and tried to capture the bleakness of the place.
We were so impressed with the quiet of the place and the lovely people that live there, so tolerant of visitors poring over their landscape, that we're going back up on our next trip, so hopefully the weather will be kind and we can find some more inspirational ideas for our artwork.
6 comments:
What a fascinating place Dungeness is. I've seen pictures of Derek Jarman's garden in various publications but nothing of the rest of the area. Isn't it nice to know that some parts of the UK are increasing each year? It compensates for those areas which are being eroded by the sea. One day someone will have to redraw the map!
I love the inspiration pictures you made on the beach!!!!
Nice! I think I could love that place too!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this post Sharon. Not least of all congratulations on having your artwork featured in the brochure. I have been promising myself for years to go to Dungeness but have never got there. I know like you I would be fascinated with the atmosphere and all the many textures. I can see a definite textile piece in your second textile photo. What an amazing place!
Great photos Sharon, looks like it was a fun trip despite the wind!!
Congratulations on your exhibition, I hope it goes well.
lovely textures there Sharon, and I do like your last pic of the sketch.
Hope all is well. I'm dropping by after a long absence blogging and delighted to see your work, also to add a little note... I'm changing my blog and webpage to http://thestudio-helensuzanne.blogspot.com/ and thought you'd like to update/add any old link you might have for heb-art journal.
all the best and looking forward to my next visit.
Helen S
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