Monet's Bales of Hay

Back from Brittany and Normandy and itching to paint, it great to have a little break and come back inspired with new ideas, with no real mountains, we saw some fantasic moody skies, fields and fields of bales of hay you could see why Monet was taken with the texture and light. I did find the DDay beaches unbelievably moving and peaceful.

Mont Saint Micheal, as close as we got, without crowds.

A lone Oyster picker on Cancale beach.

This sky is just shouting watercolour, I will have to have a go.

Poppies and Oysters

Just a quick blog today and sorry no photo's but will descibe a few places I 've been in the last few days

Pont Aven  a friend told be to visit, riverside boats moored up, green hedges and prett gardens flowing down banking sides to meet the Tidal River and galleries too many to mention with Oils of Poppies and Watercolours of riverbanks. Oh and Artists who looked typical 'Artists!!

Cancale Oysters, more Oysters and even more Oysters tricky for someone who can't eat Seafood, but a very pretty bustling port

Mont Saint Michel seen first in schooltime French many years ago and always wanted to visit, the Poppies in the foreground just made it perfect

An artist town

Having a few days in Brittany, It's my 1st visit and it's lovely, nice to see some sunshine, this photo above was taken at a very pretty Auray, with many painting locations along the port.After reading that it was an artists town I had to visit, this little street was full of Galleries. So while in Brittany I've sampled pastries, Churros, which are long chip shaped donuts with chocolate sauce and the famous cidre served in teacups! Good job we've got the bicyles.

Summersalts and drinks all round!!

They are back, the crosses are gone yipeeeeeeeeeeee

So for some reason my Picasso album was locked, managed to unlock it after nearly a week of cursing the computer.

Thank you

Heavy Body Acrylics by Daler Rowney

Poppy time

Painted in the New System 3 Heavy Body Acrylics, these where lovely paints to use, definitely recommend them.

Update on Photo's still not working, I keep trying different ways, still driving me mad!!

The Hands of Derwentwater

I was taken with these two cuties, Mum Herdwick and this years Baby Herdwick, Baby is still a little camera shy!! I've had a day with the new Daler Acrylics spent 2 hours messing about and not getting anywhere, then started again after Lunch, this time hardly using any water and just neat Acrylic!Still not got the photo's back, driving me mad!!

Dashboard photo's are all in the hands of someone! These lovely hands are beside Derwentwater, and they seem to be getting better with age!

The one above is before Lunch and now off the easel! And below is after Lunch and still in progress, will report back tomorrow

The new Chinese Bridge over the Derwent

Otter's Island, Abbots Bay  Grey skies and frequent showers but a lovely  place to stop for a picnic. This little Island is my favourite on  Derwentwater, now that is a question! Is an Island on Derwentwater, or in it? Anyway the waterlilies are out lining the route and the Heather is about to flower with lovely shades of pink.

I fancy coming back to this spot with the Acrylics and having a go, I've some new Daler Rowney's to try out.

This is the new Chinese bridge over the Derwent, looking towards Brown Slabs, the rock face on your left, if you look closely you can see someone climbing. I climbed this, only to find out I had quite a healthy fear of heights!! I've not been dangling on a piece of rope since.

This plaque is just before you cross this bridge, I think it's a lovely thought and wondered if it would give me the answer to my mysterious photo disappearances on Dashboard!