Husb and I went to Berlin for a few days last week and spent an intense few hours at the Käthe Kollwitz Museum. I love her work and her life is an inspiration, she never relinquished her belief in social justice despite the enmity of both the First and Third Reich. I took a fewContinue reading “My Hero”
Tag Archives: travel
Never Forget
Husb and I spent a few days in Berlin this earlier this week and spent some time visiting the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp on the outskirts of the city. It was moving and chilling; I was shocked to discover that it was surrounded by a nice, middle-class housing estate. People turned a blind eye to theContinue reading “Never Forget”
The Last Howes
This is the last of the drawings I did recently of Sweyne’s Howes, this is the more complete northern one. These Neolithic monuments, over 4,000 years old, are part of a lengthy series I have been drawing over the past year and a bit with prehistorian Dewi Bowen and filmmaker Melvyn Williams. We are tracking theContinue reading “The Last Howes”
The Northern Howes
Here’s the second of the two ancient burial chambers I drew recently at Rhosilli on the Gower Peninsula. This is the northern Sweyne’s Howes, much more complete than the ruinous southern chamber which has been stolen over the years. These Neolithic monuments are over 4,000 years old and although named after the Viking Sweyne, whoContinue reading “The Northern Howes”
Cool Places
I haven’t blogged for a few days because I’ve been adventuring in Berlin, just a short break with family. Cool place, had a great time and I even did some drawings. I just got back, about an hour ago and it’s 10pm so I’ll just post a quick drawing I did a couple of weeksContinue reading “Cool Places”
Taking It Further….
I’ve been thinking about how artwork develops from my original sketches. I always carry a sketchbook and have dozens and dozens stuffed into cupboards with thousands of sketches done over the years and most stay locked away. But occasionally I find something that inspires me to use some of them as the basis for newContinue reading “Taking It Further….”
The Place Of The Castle
This is the third of the three drawings I did en plein air at Penlle’r Castell (The Place Of The Castle) up on Mynydd Y Gwair this week, in the wind, the cold and the looming rain. I prepared Fabriano Accademico paper with white gesso and my home made walnut ink which suited the multi-layered, stratified landscapeContinue reading “The Place Of The Castle”
Stratified With Walnuts
I managed to do three drawings en plein air up on Mynydd Y Gwair this week, in the wind, the cold and the looming rain. It was hard work! The Fabriano paper, prepared with white gesso and my home made walnut ink, dribbled and sponged, suited the multi-layered, stratified landscape and I worked very quickly, indicating theContinue reading “Stratified With Walnuts”
Murky Mountain
Up a mountain once again, Mynydd Y Gwair this week, with filmmaker Melvyn Williams and pre-historian Dewi Bowen, visiting Penlle’s Castell. Although it looks reasonably fine, it was shockingly windy and the rain clouds loomed murkily in the distance and I struggled to draw. It was very hard work, staying upright and drawing but one ofContinue reading “Murky Mountain”
Preparation And Plein Air
Here’s another view of Maen Bradwen, or Carreg Bica on Mynydd Drummau Mountain in Neath Port Talbot. It’s a massive stone and local legend has it that it bathes in the River Neath on Easter morning. I drew this fairly quickly with Daler Rowney soft pastels onto Fabriano paper that had been prepared with twoContinue reading “Preparation And Plein Air”