Tuesday 17 April 2012

Dorset Coast At Easter

We had a great time based at Jackie and Dave Hall's house near Blandford - David Bachmann, David Pilgrim, Valerie Pirlot and that old chap with the glasses.  The weather was either lovely or lousy but we made the best of it, each doing a dozen paintings over the 4 days.

On Good Friday, David P (our driver), Valerie and I dumped the kit at Jackie's and headed straight for Handfast Point and Old Harry rocks.  I worked against the light for the first one, looking towards Swanage and then had a less successful attempt at Old Harry with the tide out.  The others plunged straight in with Old Harry, which was probably a better decision.


Handfast Point Against The Light

Valerie working with the light.  You need the umbrella to shade the canvas, otherwise there is a danger that the painting will be too dark.

David Pilgrim at Handfast Point - note the use of the umbrella for shade, again


The next day I led us on a fruitless trip round Holes Bay and Poole, until we decided to cut loose and head for the car park above Durdle Door.  Just as expensive as Lulworth but a much shorter walk.  Two paintings later we decided that this would be a great location for Easter Day, so headed back there on the Sunday with David Bachmann who had arrived from Seville on the Saturday.


                                            Back of Durdle Door - Saturday Afternoon

                                            The Downs above Lulworth, Holy Saturday
We blitzed the place on Sunday, each doing 5 paintings.  The crowds were amazing.  I had not realised that this part of my beloved County had become so popular.


                          Swyre Head and Bat's Head from above Durdle Door, Easter Sunday

                                                           Durdle Door, Easter Day
Easter Monday was a washout but we each struggled with an oil sketch of Lyme harbour.  I felt like throwing mine in the sea afterwards: the others fared much better.  We headed back to a big log fire and Richard Pikesley and Ken Howard on DVD in the afternoon. 


                                          David Bachmann and Valerie sheltering at Lyme
At this point the others were probably becoming bemused by the possibility that I might be related to half the county.  I still have loads of relatives in Dorset.  Dairy farmers and dairymen moved round inside the county but not generally outside it, inter-marrying all the time, so that by my generation we were connected to dozens of Dorset farming folk.  A few escaped to the New World: I still get e-mails from Deb Palmer-Redfern in Kentucky, with whom I share a GGGGG Grandfather.  There are no lords and ladies in any of my lines: I am a true paysan!


                                            Dorset Peasant Painting In The Rain, Lyme
On Monday night, whilst packing, Mr Pilgrim and Mlle Pirlot made the brave decision that we should head off very early in the morning, not home but for Old Harry because the weather would be fine until lunchtime.  What a brilliant choice.  The 4 of us did two paintings each of the brilliantly lit stacks with chalky water swirling beneath them before rain threatened. 



                                                     Old Harry, Tuesday Morning

Old Harry, Noon on Tuesday


We dashed back and just got Valerie onto her train from Salisbury.  David, who had driven at least 500 miles already, then took me home.

12 comments:

  1. Fantastic paintings!!! Love them all, thanks for sharing with all the snapshots too!

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    1. Hi Banji, You would have loved it but I know how busy you are. I got a message this morning from Roy Connelly about his new show. I will try to make it but the Sennen trip is coming up fast and I am due to be a granddad any day now so ...!

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  2. Tim, great post and love the paintings!! You really were on top form. Hard to choose a favourite but if I had to it would be one of those two from the final day at Old Harry. You caught the light and colours beautifully and I'm glad you managed to rag away that pink undertone :) You nailed it! I love that little speed boat zipping out from the behind the back of Durdle door. Great trip...looking forward to hooking up for more easel action in Sennen!!!

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    1. I think quite a bit of any success I had was down to you three actually - and your advice about the pink ground has been taken to heart. If a mix of Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine is good enough for you and Prof Howard it's good enough for me. I am waiting in eager anticipation for the new Pilgrim and Pirlot blogs!

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  3. Tim,
    What a great trip and what super paintings you produced. It would make a great show if all the groups paintings could be displayed together.

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    1. Thanks Douglas - yes I would like to see the whole lot put up somewhere. Looking forward to other blogs of the trip

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  4. Hi Tim.
    All wonderful paintings. If I was much younger, I would join you all. All the best Tim.
    Vic.
    Or should I say Granddad?

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    1. Not quite 'grandad' yet Victor - although it looks as though things are beginning to happen. Must go and see them after the birth - haven't painted in Brighton for a while!

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  5. Super paintings Tim. By odd coincidence I was painting Dorset at the same time but inland!
    Rob

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    1. Hi Rob, Haven't seen you since the bonny banks of the Thames! Yes, it's a pity we didn't meet up for the Dorset sessions - I guess you are travelling further afield now Brass Monkey has finished for the winter. Next stop Sennen - only a week to go before the long drive to Cornwall.

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  6. HELLO THIS IS FROM NEPAL ..SANTOSHEE MANANDHAR FREIND OF WILLIAM KING . WHEN YOU ARE IN NEPAL I WAS WORKING IN RABI'S CYBER CAFE ....
    TREMENDOUS OW SOME AND BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS........LOVE AND LIKE IT VERY VERY MUCH.......IF THERE IS ANY PLAN TO BE IN NEPAL FOR FUTURE PLAN HERE I AM .. www.nepaltrekinfo.com
    my email address is saleshett@gmail.com or sizzlesantoshi@gmail.com
    with lots of love
    Trekking,,tours to nepal , rafting , bungee jumping,, kayaking , paragliding ,
    with lots of love from NEPAL AND NEPALI FREIND

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  7. Hi Santoshee, Yes I remember you and Rabbi very well - and Nima too. That was a very eventful climp on Yala Peak but William's foot is fine and he is now a dad! Baby boy 3 weeks old. He and Georgi his wife want to return to Nepal one day to see where we lived in Dharan and do some trekking, so keep in touch. Best wishes, Tim

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