Floating in the sea or sky?

It was a grey, overcast day at Bovisand yesterday. The port of Plymouth off to the right of this photo was busy. There is a breakwater to protect the harbour and make the inlet safe as ships and boats travel up to the Tamar and Plym Rivers among others that flow into the sea here. But because of the grey light and indistinct sea surface, some of the ships seemed to be floating in the sky! In the distance is the coast of Cornwall. The Tamar river is on the boundary between England’s two most westerly counties. Warm and welcoming in the summer. It can be cold and wet, blustery and stormy at all times of the year. But a very beautiful place to visit.

Three counties open

I’m very pleased to say I have had my painting ‘coast’ accepted in the three counties open exhibition in Burslem School of art later this year.

Burslem School of Art is famous for teaching artists their skills in the early twentieth century. I think Clarice Cliff was one of their students. I know the artist Arthur Berry studied there before becoming famous as the potteries ‘Lowry’.

It’s great that a physical exhibition will actually be held this year. I hope many people will be able to come and see it.

Blue crab

Finished painting

I said I would post a picture of this finished painting of a blue crab when it had got to its new home. I tried to make it accurate but its quite hard to work out the fine details. I also brightened the blues and toned down the sandy background. I made the area behind the crab softer so that it goes backwards out of focus and added more detail to the foreground. It’s new owner is pleased with it I think.

Work in progress

Blue crab, I’m going to lighten the background of this acrylic on canvas. This was promised a year ago, but I was struggling with the complexity of it. I’ve overpainted some on the legs. It’s hard to work off a photo on my phone which is all I had to go on. And it’s very easy to get bits wrong. I didn’t draw it out or draw a grid, I always go for things freehand. I get bored with drawing out then having to paint out lines!

Seahorse

I always draw seahorses when I go to a sandy beach. This was today’s drawing. I didn’t have anything other than a long flat razor clam shell to draw with.

I don’t know why I like doing this but it’s become a tradition for me. The next tide will wash it away but I know it was there, looking out to sea.

Rhyl

Rhyl is in the North of Wales and is an old favourite of Midlanders in England and people from the North West who want a seaside holiday.

There are holiday flats, caravans, and hotels. Lots of work is being done on the coastal defences. The sea view includes a windfarm of about 200 wind turbines. They are far enough out to be not too visible. You can see them in my drawing but not so much on the photo…

Out all day

It’s been a long day. We went to the seaside to visit a relative but when we went to the sea it was fenced off! Apparently there is work being done on the sea defences to protect the coast from flooding.

That was really disappointing but we did visit a friendly ‘cat cafe’ which was lovely. The cats and kittens are being well looked after and it was very calming after a long drive.