Lodore Falls Hotel

I went proper sailing on Friday evening, it was something I wasn't really excited about, but looking forward to spending the evening sailing on Derwentwater with friends. But isn't it fantastic when you do something new that you really enjoy, I was in charge of the 'Hudder' I think it's named and spelt this way but not sure! Now would you put someone who doesn't know right from left in charge of a sailing craft!! Adrian our Captain just kept shouting 'head for Catbells Jane' and then, more excitement and challenges the sail went up. ' Feel the wind Jane and keep sailing into it' at this I had no idea but just kept moving the Hudder, but what absolute great fun. So we sailed on Derwentwater and moored next to this boat ( see below) getting on and off was a laugh especially with 'Bex's who had the handbag filled to capacity with everything a woman would need, but we managed and made our way to the Lodore Falls Hotel' I can't believe that all the time in Keswick this was my first visit. So after a slight appetizer, Dusk had fallen and darkness was nearly all about we made our way sailing under the starlight sky back to Portinscale. So today because I was so taken with Lodore Falls Hotel, I've been back to meet the manager, had a good look round the gorgeous rooms, fantastic Indoor and outdoor Pool and amazing gardens with stunning views over Derwentwater and we have a 'Lakeland Art Course taking place next year at this fantastic location. I'm updating the web site at the moment and hope to have all details on by the end of this week
 Here's a quick link to the hotel the  date will be Monday 18th until Friday 22nd July 2011

Sunset over Skiddaw

Pillar from Wasdale Inn a truly classic walk

A truly wonderful day in the Lakes, it began early in the morning waking up to the sun shinning brightly, lighting the east ridges of Great Gable with colours of warm ochres and soft pinks. Boots on,bags packed full of sandwiches, plenty of water and camera at the ready a classic walk began. Along beside the bubbling stream, and into the open empty valley with Herwicks, dotted about grazing quietly in the warm morning sunshine. With only gushing waterfalls to be heard making our way up the bracken and heather filled mountain pass, hot sunshine highlighting the emerald inviting pools. Along the ridge and old friends appear Gable, Blencathra, Kirk fell and Scafell all basking contentedly in a cloud free blue sky. Near the top and views one cannot buy bring overwhelming tears of pure joy and pure happiness. Colours, shadows, shapes,drama and memories will all help to paint these marvellous fells, will it be Pastel, Acrylic I doubt that watercolour can do it justice. So after four mountain  tops along classic ridge paths with views of Lakes, Wild Tarns, and a sandy beach leading into a calm turquoise sea  through to the mountains of Isle of Man. Meeting a few happy walkers who all declared what a fantastic day was to be had, it was time to make our way down the steep scree, slipping but safely returning with tanned skins and a wonderful memories.

I hope to post very soon paintings from this glorious day.

High Raise and Rest Dodd

Bank Holiday Monday in the Lakes found us up on the fells bagging these 'Wainwrights' the 1st top another 'High Raise' there are two! The other in the Landales but ours today was the 'High Street High Raise'

If you look carefully at the photo above the small knobbly hill in the middle is in fact ' Great Gable'. I know this because one of the joys about walking the 'Wainwright' is taking the books along with us and sitting having lunch at the top and reading what the great Alfred had to say about the 'Summits' and his sketches from the top cairn give details of surrounding fells. It is amazing on a clear day how far you can see.

If you also look closely at the photo you will see a mountain biker!!

Even though it was bank holiday the fells were fairly quiet, but you can imagine my surprise to see a pony 2,300 feet high, I think this makes a lovely photo shot. But in olden days they used to race pony's on the summit of 'High Street'

The other top of the day was 'Rest Dodd' but we decided to have our 'Rest' here with a beautiful view down towards an emerald Brotherswater. The only thing about this was making our way STEEPLY, hanging on for dear life onto the bracken, now I call a 'Scramble' one when your hands clutch the ground, this was a scramble!

But down we came in one piece, and a lovely day in the Lakes, with Sunshine for company. 

Summer Evening, Keswick

Stage 1 after blending with water.

I thought I would get the Pastels out, I used ' Fisher 400 paper,' Taped it down onto a board then roughly laid down some colour. Then blended it with water, smells horrible!! Gave it a blast with the hairdryer making sure all the paper was dry before I laid on any pastel.

WHY you might ask do I blend the pastel with water

I like a complementary colour underpainting and using this paper and technique, non of the undercolour pastel blends into my next layer, so I will hopefully get clean colours and not too much smudging. It's not so daunting starting a painting with most of the paper covered.

Stage 2 starting to build up the back and middle ground.

Summer Evening, Keswick  Painted in Pastel by Jane Ward

Hound Dog

I had an idea last night to cycle round the lake, with paints stopping off at different stops to do quick sketches of things that inspire. I thought maybe six sketches, anyway only managed two, I had a late set off but no excuses. I will have to try again. So not in order!! here is the 2nd quick 15 minute sketch, it was the Haystacks that caught my eye here in Borrowdale.

I was asked the other day, whats it like when you are painting outdoors, do people come up and have a look? Well here I was quietly painting my two haystacks and when I next looked up here was a young lad trying to move them!!! Can you believe it!! I wanted to shout 'Hey up that's my prop'

The trusty bike above and Skiddaw watched over by a family of Ducks, they behaved themselves! I did hear a chap shouting for his dog 'ELVIS Come back boy' Maybe it was his Hound Dog!!!

Skiddaw a quick colour sketch

 Hound Dog  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJsQSb9RFo0

For all you Elvis fans

Lakeland Art Courses on Radio Cumbria

You never know what's going to happen, I was sketching quietly enjoying the Grand Canal, a little Zucchero on the ipod, cup of coffee going cold. The phone rings and it's Steve from Radio Cumbria, 'Hi Jane do you fancy doing a real easy bit LIVE on the radio' Oh no I can't do live, I can barely put my words together. Anyway I said yes of course, so 2.45 was Live time in Lakeland Art Course world. A few comforting words from 'Fern' the DJ, then we are Live in 30 seconds!!!!!!!! It's amazing what runs through your head, luckily the Black Labrador across the road popped up in the window, so I had something to focus on.

So how was it? Like waiting for your turn at the dentist chair, But Fun, nerve shaking, frantic but did it.

Now I don't know how this painting is going, it's had a lot to cope with and looks like it's in Pisa and not Venice, but hope to rebuild it tomorrow.

I think you can listen again on the iplayer, I'll pop a link if I can

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p009g2jf/Kevin_Fernihough_24_08_2010/

This should be an active link for 1 week!! I'm on at 44 minutes and 33 seconds !!!

It will make you smile

Lakeside Latterns

It was a truly perfect evening in the Lakes last night, calm reflective waters, the sun setting slowly over the fells lighting up the ridges a great night for my brothers birthday BBQ. Born to a certain age we had to have Sausages and Burgers and birthday buns. With darkness falling the 'Latterns' came out not just a battery operated type but the clever ones you light and off they float up, and up into the evning sky!!

Been novices to these Lattern's we didnt read the instructions, we were so excited at this new creation.So we just lit the thing!

 Holding on until we got scared. Up it floated 6 feet, ooohs and aarhs,  then down it came landing gracefully 10 feet from us in the Lake.

It sat for a while glowing bright in the dark lake, and then all went dark! Now the 'Wardy's will not be beaten and so back into the Lake the Birthday boy went to collect his lattern.

Amazingly it lit again, and this time we hung or at least Simon did, exclaming that he could 'feel it wanting to go this time!!

And so it did, this time, with quite a crowd watching from the campsite, up, up and away, floating 30, 40 feet into the clear Lakeland sky before dropping again gracefully into the Lake!!!! Thank goodness not on anybody's tent!! But we were all ready with water just in case.