Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral is the most uniform of the English Gothic churches having been completed in just 38 years.  It also boasts the tallest spire in the UK and one of 4 copies of the Magna Carta.  It was built without the constraints of older churches preceding it, too.  While we were visiting the choir was practicing for Evensong.  These structures are so massive and tall that it is difficult to choose a point of view.  And I'm working without an eraser.  Excuses, excuses!

Prior to visiting Salisbury, we stopped at Stonehenge, another reverent place.  The similarities in how man sought to create a sacred space is interested.  Both offer inner spaces surrounded by narrower ambulatory spaces.  It was wonderful to sit and draw Stonehenge; to etch it into my memory.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Communing with Will

The Garrick Pub is a timber framed building dating back to the 1400's. It is reputed to be the oldest pub in Stratford-Upon-Avon.  It has nice curved walls and tables.  We enjoyed a pint while Mr. Shakespeare's likeness watched over us.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Christopher Wren

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has a wonderful collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.  I chose to draw a 1630 bust of Christopher Wren by Edward Pearce because Wren is responsible for some of the most beautiful architecture in England and the world.  He rebuilt 52 churches after the Great Fire including St. Paul's and the south front one of my favorite, Hampton Court.  Plus, he was educated in Oxford.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Oxford, UK

I'm in the UK for the next month and will occasionally post some drawings (I hope).  The King's Arms, pictured here, is a typical English pub located diagonally across from the Sheldonian Theater.  It is very warm with rich, dark, walnut colored paneling.  Custom is to choose from the menu, order and pay at the bar, and await delivery.  We had excellent steak and ale pie.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Little Harbor

I'm working on this little painting along side the Field of Queen Anne's Lace.  It is 10"x16" oil on board view of the the Little Harbor with Buzzards Bay beyond.  

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Field of Queen Anne's Lace


The horizontal band of green in the center of the picture plane marks the end of the Queen Anne's Lace field.  Beyond that lies hay of some sort.  Queen Anne's Lace is also called wild carrot.  It was introduced from Europe and it is from that plant the carrots we eat today were cultivated.  One can eat the QAL's tap root.