New paintings and regular art updates.
Rode Hall View. Walking down from the hall to the lake. At the end of the pathway is this old boathouse. I didn’t get a look inside so I don’t know if there is a boat in there or not. There’s a lot of moss growing on the roof, so it might be quite damp in there. At least there is a life saver ring on the back of it, so if anyone fell in they could be rescued.
I painted this wooden planter last year? I think. Its been on display with other artists works. It was one of several planters that were done for something called BID. But I really want it back. At this rate it will be too late to plant it up. It’s based on the Pottery called Goss Works, or the Falcon Works, in Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent.
We visited Betley Court and walked around the bluebell woods. It’s a private property so it only opens twelve times a year so we were really lucky to get in today. We will go back! It’s on the road from Keele in Newcastle under Lyme towards Nantwich I think. Its in Staffordshire I think (but its really near Cheshire). Its a lovely place. I really love this Spring abundance.
A metal squirrel climbs up and birds perch on this sculpture at Trentham whilst plants including tulips grow in the planter. 15 minute sketch while we were at Pieminister at the retail Village. I could also see butterflies and a spider. I decided this is an example of art nouveau or that sort of style. It’s made up of four sections bolted together.
One of the metal sculptures / plant supports in a planter at Trentham Gardens retail Village. I like the art nouveau or is it art deco feel to these (I can never remember). They are already pretty but come high summer they will be packed with bright and cheerful flowers. Vines climbing up the sculptural sections of metal.
Watching my friends dance along to the Boat band. There were lots more people there but they were all behind me! I think they were dancing to a polka. Lovely surroundings and a great place to visit. Now I know where it is (down a little lane off the A51 near Rugeley in Staffordshire) I think we will go back. Even if its only to watch people dancing. It’s also close to the river and the Worsley garden centre and Nature reserve, a pub by the river and an antiques centre, so there is lots to see if you want to visit them. x
The Boat band playing at Bishton Hall today. It was great to hear live music. Fiddle, trombone, guitar and squeezebox (accordion?). The fun of hearing reels and jigs, creole and folk songs. Hearing the sloop John B played with enthusiasm. So entertaining. So much fun. They are always worth listening to. Enjoyed it.
I sat and drew one of the magnolias while we were there at Bishton Hall. It was just a black and white sketch so I coloured it in when I got home. The curved edges are because I can’t get my sketchbook page to lie flat. I don’t think I’ve got the colours right, but I have only got a limited range of colours in the set of felt pens I’m using.
Two large Magnolia trees spreading out over a lawn at Bishton Hall near Rugeley. Staffordshire. The chairs give a sense of how wide the canopy of them is. To the right was some sort of glass house or green house where our friends in the Boat band played various pieces of creole and other music. A very enjoyable afternoon.
Never seen a tree trunk like this before. It’s like a hand reaching down grasping something protruding from the earth. The limbs explode above waiting to burst into leaf. I could see catkins but could not identify this gnarly tree. Bishton Hall near Rugeley, Staffordshire was holding a craft fair. Very interesting and enjoyable.
Mallaband-Brown