Oh Dear!!

What a disaster.

My efforts at Art Class today were abysmal.

The topic was a market scene and the image was of Norwich Market.

I got this far and realized what an utter mess I had made of it.

The church and building in the background are naive, but not in a good way!  The brightly coloured stalls are the wrong shape and my perspective is all over the place.  Our tutor gave me some guidance on correcting this (the pencil marks are his) and it put me on the right track until, that is, I started to paint in the coverings. I decided to block in the basic colour for each stall to get the basic shapes laid down.

As the painting above shows, I haven’t improved it at all as the perspective is still wrong and the awnings are still all over the place.

We are continuing this next week. I think I will be starting again!

Sandwiches in Sandwich

On Sunday the town of Sandwich celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Earl of Sandwich ‘inventing’ the sandwich.  Lots of activities were held with a sandwich making competition being one of them.

Sandwich Concert Band were there, in the town centre, playing while the present day Earl entertained the great, good and unsung heroes of Sandwich.

1. Earl of Sandwich   2. Earl of Sandwich and Son cutting the cake.   3. Betteshanger Brass Band (taken on my iphone)

The Betteshanger Brass Band played first and then we took over entertaining a sizeable crowd.  Afterwards we were invited to partake in a bit of refreshment – beer!

Another band member, Brent, and I were delayed getting to the tent as we had to put the music and stands away so by the time we got there most of the band members had left.  We saw a decent sized glass jug of ale (Wantsums) and assumed it was for the band and proceeded to partake. Very nice it was too.  We were also by the tent when it came time to cut the special cake (see pictures above) and, by hanging around long enough, were presented with a piece of the cake.  We finished the jug of ale, well it would have been rude not to, and departed having enjoyed a pleasant time eating and drinking and ‘hobnobbing’ with the great, good and unsung heroes of Sandwich.

Our next concert is the Grand Concert at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury on 19th May 2012.

Oast House in Acrylics

Oast House  (Acrylics in board)

Here is the painting of the Oast House I started last week.  I was in a quandery last week as to what I should put in the bottom left corner of the picture. I left it till the class was almost over until I decided that the area needed something to draw the eye over and up the lane.   Flowers!         They seem to do the trick and, although I was not too impressed by them, other members of the class thought they were ‘lovely’.  The fence works well by adding perspective and, again, drawing the eye up the road to the Oast House.  I struggled a bit with this picture.    I can draw perspective but using colour to convey it proved harder than I thought it could be.   I was rescued by our tutor who pointed out that the distant trees were too dark (have a look at last weeks version).   Objects get lighter in colour the further away they are.  So, lightening the trees behind the Oast House and the others behind the trees on the left have done the trick.

I am learning all the time.

Next week it is a market scene with people.

Viking Bay in the sunshine

We haven’t seen it for a few days but today the sun was out.

We went for a walk from Dumpton Gap to Broadstairs along the lower promenade (our favourite walk).

This is what Viking Bay looked like today:

Taken on my iphone.

I was going to take my new Canon 60D camera but decided not to.  Mae remarked during the walk that she was surprised that I didn’t have my new camera with me.  I replied that I would want to take photographs. “Yes” she said “and it would take ages”  And that is why I didn’t take it!

We had a nice cup of tea at The Pavilion on the Sand and then had a look round the funfair that was happening on the green.  Clouds were gradually gathering as we walked back to the car. On the top of the cliffs the wind was freezing.

A pleasant walk.

Creepy Crawly things

These are some of the photographs of crawly things and flying insects I found in the garden this past week.  Spiders, snails, squash bug and ladybirds.  This Harlequin Ladybird is not a native species but, as I understand, a foreign invader.

Lots of flying insects around despite the cold wet weather.  The wasp is a big one. I went on a web site to try and identify it as it seems larger than our own native species but I was left bewildered. There are so many variations in markings, even in the one nest, and trying to decide whether I am looking at a Queen, male or worker has got me confused.  It is spring so maybe it is a queen as they are usually the active ones at this time of year.

I am none the wiser and I haven’t even started  on trying to identify the various hoverflies etc.

Oast House

Oast House (Acrylic on board, approx. 10″ x 7″)

This is a two week project at Art Class.  There is a lot of corrections to do. One of the joys of acrylics is that it can be painted over.  I need to do the road again and the trees need re-doing as they are just bocks of colour. They need a bit of defining and some gaps putting in so that the sky shows through and makes a more interesting area of the painting.  The area at the bottom left needs something. I haven’t a clue what to put there.  The Oast House needs windows and shadow . . . . . .  lots more required  anyway.

Finished item on show next week then!

Sailing on the River

Back to Art Class today after the Easter break.

The subject today, as a way of easing us in, was boats on a river.

I chose this one:

‘Sailing on the River’  Watercolour with pen & ink (approx 9″ x 6″)

It was nice to get back to painting again.  I had intended to do some during the break but something always distracted me (that is not hard to do) and I did nothing.

That has to change!

Rainbow Over Sandwich

What a horrible day it was yesterday (today is not too brilliant either!).  I was in the warm and dry organizing the Sandwich Concert Band’s library so it didn’t bother me.

I did pop out for a minute to take this photograph of a double rainbow over Sandwich.

Taken on my iphone.

Did you know that everyone sees a different rainbow?  All to do with where you are standing, angle of view etc.

I saw this one!

Test Drive

Thought I would give my new camera a test drive over the weekend.  Out I went into the garden to begin my annual ‘garden safaris’.

I am impressed by the clarity and sharpness of the images and the versatility of the camera is amazing.  I have not got to grips with most of the cameras functions.  I find that when I want to alter a setting I have to refer to the manual as there are so many variations available and so many function that can be utilised.

I have run out of battery power at the moment.  The battery charger is USA style and I haven’t (can’t find really) a power adaptor plug. Not to worry, I have a charger on it’s way from China.  Exactly the same model as the original charger but with a UK plug courtesy of Ebay.

And, talking of Ebay, I now have to sell my old camera and some equipment that goes with it to pay for my new one.  Worth it though.

A Week in New York

We, that is, Mae and our daughter Sharon and Grandson Callum, went to New York for a week last week (Monday to Friday).

I love New York! It is just so full of life.

We stayed in a hotel just a short walk from Times Square and in easy reach of everything else.  We flew British Airways and it was a great flight. The only hiccup was our pre-arranged transfer from JFK airport to our hotel.  Our entry into the USA took ages as three flights had landed at almost the same time so it took nearly two hours to get through the border controls. We had expected that a driver would be waiting for us but there was no-one there. I rang the car hire firm (Execucar) to be told that the driver had waited for two hours and had left. They wouldn’t send another car unless we cancelled the original arrangement (losing our money in the process) and re-booked paying again.  I declined. We took a yellow cab that was cheaper than the car transfer.  Another passenger using the same company had the same problem but other passengers found their drivers waiting for them.

I only took my iphone to take photos with.

Click on the below image to take you to the Google+ page to view other images.

Now, those who know me, are wondering why I didn’t take my Canon 350D.

Answer: Because I intended to buy another camera. Which I did. I am now the proud owner of a refurbished (good as new really) Canon 60D.

What did we see?

Christie Brinkley. A model (who I hadn’t heard of) who was departing her hotel and posing for the press. I got a couple of snaps.

Empire State Building

Statue of Liberty

Ground Zero (or 9/11 – World Trade Centre). This was a bit disapppointing. The site is surrounded by screens. It costs to see the memorial and there were long queues.  Lots of street vendors trying to sell glossy publications about the site.  We were told while on a bus tour how revered the site is but it is now a cash cow.

Times Square

Central Park

Lots of shops such as Apple, Rockefeller, Bloomsbury, Maceys but especially B & H Cameras. The largest camera store I have ever seen. I purchased a refurbished Canon 60D camera and  zoom lens with extra accessories at a really good price. Good as new.  Lovely camera. Callum bought lots of clothes and basketball kit.

We will be returning next year as our American friends Tim and Leslie have invited us over and I think we will try and squeeze in a short stay in NY.

And finally, we quickly got a refund on the airport to hotel transfer that didn’t happen. Well done Expedia.