Husb and I took a road trip up some of the South Wales valleys today, calling in at the new Studio 18 gallery in Pontycymer owned by artist Kevin Sinnott, a fabulous artspace filled with gorgeous art; paintings, etchings, drawings, well worth a visit. Then over the mountain to The Workers Gallery in Ynyshir toContinue reading “Baseball Bat And Chips”
Tag Archives: Wales
In Praise Of Rhubarb
It’s rhubarb season and I made the first rhubarb crumble of the year a few days ago. It’s Husb’s favourite crumble and didn’t last long. It’s been around in Europe since the 14th century and it’s popular in gardens and allotments as well as being grown commercially where it’s often forced, especially in the RhubarbContinue reading “In Praise Of Rhubarb”
Visitors And Welsh Cakes
Had a busy day with lots of visitors so I made a batch of Welsh cakes and served them warm off the griddle. In The Welsh language they are called “picau ar y maen”. Maen means a stone and in ancient times before iron was smelted, a bakestone would be used to cook flat breadsContinue reading “Visitors And Welsh Cakes”
It’s Wonky But I Like It
Just back from life drawing at Swansea Print Workshop, working with one of my favourite models, an older woman with a face and body full of character. I drew onto brown wrapping paper with white, sanguine and black conté crayon, in that order. The drawing is a bit wonky, but I actually like it likeContinue reading “It’s Wonky But I Like It”
A Bit Stiff
Husb and I paid a rare visit to a pub yesterday evening to see a live band, Carreg Llafar, who play contemporary folk in the Welsh language. Being a rock chick, I’m not a big fan of folk music but I make an exception for Carreg Llafar who bring authenticity and atmosphere to traditional music.Continue reading “A Bit Stiff”
Maybe A Drypoint?
Here’s the second drawing I did at life drawing group recently, a quick one, just a few minutes. I drew it onto a scrap of Somerset paper with a Faber Castell Pitt drawing pen. It’s nice and scribbly and I think it might make a good drypoint. I might give it a go next week.Continue reading “Maybe A Drypoint?”
The Coalfield Part 3
Here’s the completed drawing, one of several I did on my visit to Big Pit / Pwll Mawr near Blaenavon last Sunday. I used my sanguine conté crayon to do the final strokes on the drawing, after the black and white. It’s a lovely area with spectacular hills and intriguing industrial heritage. Husb and IContinue reading “The Coalfield Part 3”
The Coalfield Part 2
Husb and I visited Big Pit / Pwll Mawr just outside the World Heritage Site town of Blaenavon. I had a scribble en plein air in my A4 spiral bound brown paper sketchbook. I stood on the grass up above the mining site and after quickly drawing the darker areas of the rugged mountainous landscape of theContinue reading “The Coalfield Part 2”
The Coalfield Part 1
Visiting Big Pit / Pwll Mawr in Blaenavon on Sunday with Husb, I took the opportunity to do some drawing en plein air in my A4 spiral bound brown paper sketchbook. I stood on the grass up above the mining site and quickly drew the darker areas of the rugged mountainous landscape of the SouthContinue reading “The Coalfield Part 1”
Big Pit / Pwll Mawr
Husb and I had a grand day out today, driving up to Big Pit National Coal Museum near Blaenafon. We met up with a gaggle of artists (is that the right collective noun?) from The Worker’s Gallery and Workshops in Ynyshir in the nearby Rhondda Valley. It’s a fabulous small gallery that punches way aboveContinue reading “Big Pit / Pwll Mawr”