Church Stretton Hills

 This is an old painting, but one I like. I don't think I ever posted it, so here you are!

Morthoe, and the need to be alone...

A house sit in Barnstaple, October 2011 enabled me to get out to the North Devon coast to paint. However, it became apparent to me that painting should probably be a solitary activity - unless you are with similar minded artists who are all happy to give each other space and time.

To Bull Point Lighthouse, Mortehoe Watercolour.  2nd October 2011. Size: 18.5cm x 13 cm £45.00  Unframed.

I was struggling with feelings of guilt at wanting to go away to paint. I would be leaving my unhappy boyfriend behind yet again... I was wondering if other artists have this selfish need to spend time alone? And how their partners cope with it? (Insert advice here please!) Since I don't have a studio, and rarely ever paint indoors, finding something inspiring on your doorstep can be difficult. I'm not actually sure if it is selfish - to need time alone for ones painting? It's like reading a book - it's not a joint activity.

Grunta Beach, North Devon Watercolour.  2nd October 2011. Size: 26.5cm x 18.5 cm £50.00  Unframed.

Although I work away a lot in the summer, painting always gets sidelined and comes after work. It's hard to fit it into sporadic odd hours and difficult to switch mindsets from one activity to another. I try to tell myself that painting is my work to get it higher up the priority list... and denying my needs will only lead to further frustrations...

So in my bid to try and make everyone happy, I compromised by inviting my boyfriend and then a family member along on the trip. It didn't work so well for me in terms of painting - I didn't get very much done at all compared to time alone. It's just so difficult to have someone waiting for you. I ended up just deciding to enjoy the lovely walks, beautiful scenery, and crap weather. I always feel like it's a lost opportunity not to paint if I'm away though. 

This is Morte Point, Mortehoe on the North Devon coast path. 

It's a very inspiring place for me. View my last trips sketchbook in North Devon (5 days in April 2009) to compare work.

Morte Point, Morthoe Watercolour.  9th October 2011. Size: 26.5cm x 18.5 cm £50.00  Unframed.

I've read lots of interesting points recently in a book called 'The Artists Way' by Julia Cameron. Early in the book she talks about the need to refill our inner well, our artistic reservoir like restocking a trout pond. If we don't do that we become depleted, stagnant or blocked. Filling the well involves the active pursuit of images... The artist brain is the sensory brain: sight and sound, smell and taste, touch. She talks of doing what intrigues you, exploring what interests you, what delights you and is fun. Focus your attention on things and encounter life experiences, don't ignore them.

View of Woolacombe, North Devon Watercolour.  2nd October 2011. Size: 18.5cm x 13 cm £40.00  Unframed.

She recommends artists (and anyone creative) make dates with their inner artistic child, - especially if you have been neglecting it. This is something that you do by yourself, and just for you, something that you've really wanted to do - be it taking a few hours to visit a gallery, going to the beach to collect shells, take a drum lesson, whatever you want. It's about making time for your inner artist, to do something that will inspire you and refresh you. Protect this time at all costs - do not let chores be an excuse not to do it, or other people come along with you as a joint activity. This time is for you only to enjoy. This time must be protected.

Walkers cross Mortehoe Watercolour.  9th October 2011. Size: 35.5cm x 12.5 cm £65.00  Unframed.

When I read these things, I felt like she really new what I was struggling with, and she was reiterating how important time and space is to an artist. When I've been house sitting on my own in the past, I've been on an extended artist date. I've experienced and painted new places, I've restocked my pond to over flowing and without any distractions - I can get lost in my creative space and grow. Each day builds on the last and this 'work' (because painting each day becomes a purposeful habit) is highly fulfilling.

Space is also a wonderful thing for getting perspective on life though. And at least I've recognized that making space is an important part of being a healthy artist and that compromises aren't always helpful, no matter how well meaning you want to be.

Sea, Skies and Beach at Hunstanton

Here are some paintings from a camping holiday on the east coast (camping on the beach) at Hunstanton in September 2011. Lots of windy walks, open flat views of the sandbanks and huge skies.

Horses at Hunstanton Beach. Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size:35cm x 13 cm £50 Unframed.

Tide Out. Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size: 35cm x 13 cm £65 Unframed.

Heavy Cloud Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size:35 cm x 12.5 cm £50 Unframed.

Lone Walker Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size:35cm x 13 cm £50 Unframed.

Stormy Kite Surf Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size:26.5cm x 18.75 cm £55 Unframed.

 

Hunstanton Cliffs Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size:26.5cm x 18.75 cm £55 Unframed.

Kites at Hunstanton Watercolour. Sept 2011. Size:35.5cm x 25.5 cm £65 Unframed

Purchased Monoprints and Watercolours are sent in a clear cellophane sleeve,
either in a board backed envelope or a postal tube. All payments are made via PAYPAL.

Blakeney Point

Blakeney Point, is a 3-mile-long sand and shingle spit, and a paradise for all kinds of wildlife. It comprises of an extensive area of saltmarsh, vegetated shingle, dunes and grazing marsh. Wide open spaces and uninterrupted views of the natural and dynamic coastline make for an inspiring visit. 

Thinking the wind would be as cold as it had been on the other days on the holiday, I wore my insulated walking trousers, but the sun beat down on us as we ploughed through the shingle all the way along the spit. It became one of those days where you anticipate the weather doing one thing, then it goes and does the opposite. I was overdressed and over heating! In desperation, there was nothing else to do but get my knife out and cut my legs off - my trousers that is. Well they were old and tatty walking trousers. What a relief!

So enough of my rambling on and down to some painting. I like the way two of these landscapes seem to have been stretched sideways - flat marshy expanses made some interesting shapes in the landscape. It would be a wonderful place to stay, there are little wooden shed-like huts near the lifeboat house tucked behind the dunes just idyllic for a bit of solitude in nature (and painting).

We sat and had a lovely picnic lunch brought from the deli at the village. We were out of the wind, looking out across the marshes. On our walk back the seals followed us in the sea, just off the shore, their heads bobbing up at intervals ahead of us expectantly. 

Blakeney Point Lifeboat House. Watercolour. Sept 2011. Size: 19cm x 12.5 cm £35 Unframed.

Blakeney Point, Boats at Low Tide. Watercolour.  Sept 2011. Size: 26.5cm x 9 cm £50 Unframed.

Blakeney Marshes. Watercolour. Sept 2011. Size: 26.5cm x 9 cm £50 Unframed.

Monoprints, lino & St Mary Magdalene

Church of St Mary Magdalene,
Shrewsbury

A small trip outdoors with my paints after spending what seems like weeks hibernating indoors.  I ended up at St Mary Magdalene's Church near Shrewsbury, The church of St Mary Magdalene was built in 1406, as a memorial to those who fell in battle there on the 21st July 1403. (See photos of this church here).

I painted one picture before the light went. I wish the sun had stayed out to create more dramatic shadows. This church is sited near Battlefield 1403 and a nice walk around some historic fishpools.

Study of tumble down stone cottage
in the mountain side. Watercolour.

Other than that I've been working on some printmaking - lino prints, monoprints with Chine-collé technique (glued tissue paper) over collage and some watercolour studies trying to improve my technique. Here are a few samples: 

Lino print of poppy fields.

Hills and field tracks, Monoprint. 22nd December 2011 Size: 21cm x 14.5 cm. Unframed. £25.00

Hills and trees - Monoprint. (SOLD)

You may have noticed you can also buy some of my paintings on this blog now and at my Etsy shop : LizCaddWatercolours

If you want to purchase anything not marked with a price and not marked sold, please just get in touch at art@elizabethcadd.co.uk

 

Winter landscape with trees - Monoprint Nov 2011. Size: 20cm x 14.5cm. £25.00  Unframed.

Blue landscape with trees - Monoprint Nov 2011. Size:20cm x 14.5 cm £15.00 Unframed.

Purchased Monoprints and Watercolours are sent in a clear cellophane sleeve,
either in a board backed envelope or a postal tube. All payments are made via PAYPAL.

Shapes of Trees - Watercolour Dec 22nd 2011. Size: 30cm x 23 cm (12" x 9") £75.00 Unframed.

This last image is inspired by my Italian sketchbooks. I'm still slightly haunted by the shapes of the trees and colours I found out there.  

Hills and field tracks, Monoprint. 22nd December 2011 Size: 21cm x 14.5 cm. Unframed. £25.00

Hills and field tracks, Monoprint.

22nd December 2011
Size: 21cm x 14.5 cm. Unframed.
£25.00

Hills and trees - Monoprint. (SOLD)

Winter landscape with trees - Monoprint
Nov 2011. Size: 20cm x 14.5cm.
£25.00  Unframed.

Blue landscape with trees - Monoprint
Nov 2011. Size:20cm x 14.5 cm
£15.00 Unframed.

Shapes of Trees - Watercolour
Dec 22nd 2011. Size: 30cm x 23 cm (12" x 9")
£75.00 Unframed.

Private View Invitation - Gateway, Gallery 3, Shrewsbury - 29th July 7.30pm

Hello All...
Please come and join me at

The Gateway,
Gallery 3, Shrewsbury
for my first Private View at
7.30pm on Friday 29th July
for drinks and nibbles.

This is my summer exhibition of contemporary plein air watercolour landscapes, some of which can be seen on my website at www.elizabethcadd.co.uk

 
The exhibition continues from
30th July - 12th September 2011.

For those of you not familiar to Shrewsbury, here is a link to the Gallery Website & Map

All welcome, it would be lovely to see you all!

Spring fields of Leicestershire, 25th April 2011

Paintings from Bank Holiday Monday..more cycling around yellow fields of Leicestershire and a puncture or two later..

Gate at Wistow, Leicestershire. 25th April 2011 £40.00 Size: 24cm x 10.5cm in white single mount.

Gate at Wistow, Leicestershire. 25th April 2011

£40.00 Size: 24cm x 10.5cm in white single mount.

Along the canal from Wistow, Leicestershire. 25th April 2011. Size: 25cm x 11.5cm. £40.00 Unframed, unmounted.

Along the canal from Wistow, Leicestershire. 25th April 2011. Size: 25cm x 11.5cm.
£40.00 Unframed, unmounted.

Canalside travelling towards Felton Locks, Leicestershire. 25th April 2011. Size:35.5cm x 13cm. £70.00  Unframed, unmounted.

Canalside view towards Felton Locks, Leicestershire. 25th April 2011. Size: 50cm x 40cm. £155.00 Framed in white wood frame and white double mount.

Leicestershire spring countryside 22 April 2011

Here are some more plein air watercolours whilst out on cycle rides in Leicestershire.
Getting back in the swing of things! First, I rode to Wistow and painted the first three from within the same field. Later I rode out to Foston with huge expanses of yellow fields rolling into the distance, this was a successful place to paint, quiet and seemingly miles from anyone. The last two are views around Countesthorpe and Great Glen

Wistow oak and yellow field, Leics. 22nd April 2011. Size: 25cm x 19cm. £155.00  Framed.

Wistow rape seed fields, Leicestershire.

Under the oak tree.
22nd April 2011.

Foston yellow haze, Leicestershire. 22nd April 2011. Size: 39.5cm x 32.5cm. £140.00 Framed.

Farm at Foston, Leicestershire.
22nd April 2011.

On the road to Countesthorpe, Leicestershire.
22nd April 2011.
Mounted.

Top of  Great Glen travelling towards Burton Overy, Leicestershire.
22nd April 2011.

Leicestershire spring fields - 16 April 2011

Great yellow fields of oil seed rape are coming out at the moment. Here are a few watercolours from a walk around them today.

All todays paintings are 14.5" x 5.75" (37cm x 14.5cm)
Watercolour& watercolour pencil.

Landscapes in JONES' Coffee Shop Whitchurch, North Shropshire

1st Feb 2011 - 1st March  2011  @  JONES' Coffee Shop

I have just put up an exhibition of watercolour landscapes at Jones' Coffee Shop on the Whitchurch High Street, North Shropshire.

This exhibition is on until the 1st March 2011, when it then moves to Market Drayton. Please come and see!

Pembrokeshire coast - Oct 2010

A quickie high up on the Pembrokeshire coastal footpath. I love quickies.. with a clear sky. I think we walked up from St David's, a lovely part of Wales and great walking country. 

Pembrokeshire Coastpath. Watercolour, black watercolour pencil £40.00 Unframed. Oct 2010. Size: 23cm x 12cm

Purchased Monoprints and Watercolours are sent in a clear cellophane sleeve, 

either in a board backed envelope or a postal tube. All payments are made via PAYPAL.

Landscapes in Theatre Severn restaurant, Shrewsbury

Up on the second floor of Theatre Severn, in the restaurant, I've put up a set of watercolour landscapes, so if you're in Shrewsbury, please take five minutes to have a look!

Kurt Jackson talks about plein air painting on Midweek

Here is a nice little radio clip about Kurt Jackson's working process. I love his work and total approach to painting. Listen from about 23 minutes in.
BBC - Midweek 28/07/2010

Kurt Jackson's new exhibition 'The Dart' (4 Sept – 6 October 2010) is on at Lemon Street Gallery, 13 Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2LS.

www.lemonstreetgallery.co.uk

Caer Caradoc from Ragleth Hill, Shropshire

Some sunshine at last this week, so up the hill (heading east) from Church Stretton I went up onto Ragleth Hill. Some great views all around of Wenlock Edge, the Mynd, and Caer Caradoc painted here. It was a job to hang onto my paper!

View of Caer Caradoc from Ragleth Hill Watercolour, watercolour pencil 23cm x 12cm 18 August 2010 SOLD Here are some interesting photos of the hills I took, the shadows were particularly interesting for me as they looked like mirror images distorted on the hill. View of the Mynd, heather colour just showing through the dark shadows.

Norton Camp

A walk around the woods of Norton Camp from Craven Arms, Shropshire was a lovely ramble. This painting was one of the few distant views of hills available on the walk, since mostly I was in the woods! During this painting one of those low flying jets came from overhead, flew to the hill in the distance (I think it was Clee Hill), banked and headed off again. Overall it took a mere one or two minutes at most. Crushed hazelnuts still green, A beech limb fallen across the path, up a steep banked lane. Squares of corn and dots of oak, A wandering line of a hedge. An arm wet with sparkling water, A damp grass seat, Fading foxgloves, Strong swirling breeze. Unripe blackberries, Mature cheddar crisps, A Tunnock teacake, A chest full of fresh air, Time to walk on.

View towards Clee from Norton Camp, Craven Arms
Watercolour, watercolour pencil. 37cm x 15cm.
Painted 16 August 2010
£80.00

Purchase this painting unframed and unmounted. Signed and dated.
Paintings are sent sealed in a cellophane envelope, rolled in postal tube.