Stone and Wood

I was told that Malham Cove is more spectacular that Newbiggin Crags and in some ways it is, but I went to Newbiggin first , when I was at my foundation college and the place is special. The limestone pavements is split and runs like a river at times across the top of the hill. The twisted trees stand out in such a landscape and when the weather is good, made another contrast against the blue sky.

A couple of quick sketches that I did using a brush pen, which I am still getting use too. What was also fascinating was the comparison that I had with the exhibition of Clare Woods exhibition at the Hepworth Wakefield.

Morecambe Winter Gardens

The Morecambe Winter Gardens is a old theatre that has been closed a good few years, but it doesn't deserve to wither away and die. We had visited Morecambe as my Grandma and Great Auntie were residents in the past and some times it doesn't pay to revisit old childhood haunts. Morecambe is not now the most glamorus of sea side towns, but does have some gems.

Unfortunately, the centre of the town has been split by some large supermarkets, lying by the side of the railway line. Opposite the Midlands Hotel, a famous Art Deco building seen in many Poirot TV series. The old Marine land sea aquarium has gone as has the old lido. The town reminds me of Brighton in the early 90s, down on its luck and waiting for some thing to happen. It suffered the indignantly of being one of the top five places not to live.

Just like the theatre, Morecambe might find its way to surviving and re-inventing itself to a wider British audience.This is definitely a project that needs supporting as you can imagine how wonderful a performance would be in this theatre,even its current state. I look forward to going back and seeing it revive.

The Singing Line

The view from Box Hill looking down toward Dorking. These are meant to be for series of big block print on a large size. I have been thinking A0 (840 x 1,188mm). So using my large brush pen and changing tack from just wanting to use only colour and no black.

 The view from Box Hill towards Denbies Vineyard with Ranmore church and common on the hill top.

This is another view that used a portrait and wanted to exaggerate the central shape. The idea being have the centre part folding in on itself.

One of the changes to I did was to listening to music, whilst I was at work. I usually do when in my studio, but I decided on trying it out and started with the album, Lungs by Florence and the Machine. It was the track the Drumming Song that grab my mind and led to the next series of sketches.