Stocking Farm, Calver - our Ezra's book/diary

Stocking Farm, Calver - our Ezra's book/diary. This is as far as we get on our Tuesday and Thursday walks with our little prince. The kissing gate on the right of the drawing is in the top 3 of Ez's favourite gates. It's quite difficult to prise his fingers off the woodwork - we usually have to drag him away! We wonder if he would stay there all day opening and closing the gate if he had the opportunity (it does make a nice "bang" when it shuts).

Ez's diary/book - concrete chickens

Calver Sough Nurseries - the koi carp pool is surround by various products. These were concrete (I think) chickens. Ezra loves to watch the fish sticking their heads above the water expecting to be fed. Some have human like features to their faces, some are golden, some have red and white patches and they all look pretty and tasty!

The Bridge Inn, Curbar..... Ezra's diary/book

The Bridge Inn, Curbar - just over the frontier with Calver (the River Derwent). This is where Ezra starts yawning and we often turn back to Palmers Café. There's also a very interesting pavement gully (shown in the foreground) with chevron shaped gratings which Ezra loves to use as a trampoline. 

Ezra's diary - sketching re-starts

Our Ezra's fascinated by tractors (or "actors" as he says). This one which I think is rented out by Froggatt Edge Garage did a U-ey outside the garage on the very busy A625. Nice manoeuvre!

17 Calle D'Alaro, Puerto Soller, Mallorca

The view from the balcony at the front of our rented house was fan-b*****-tastic (see my previous Bay/Harbour blogs). This is the view round the back and side - shady seating/eating areas and a sunny area for 4 sun beds - but it was too hot to sunbathe! 

Old Monastery Puerto Soller

The Old Monastery (now a Nautical Museum) above Puerto Soller, Mallorca. This view is from the outside area to the coffee shop where I consumed my cappuccino on several hot and sunny mornings. It's a view I've drawn/painted this view many times on our holidays to the Port over the past 15 years.

Deia, Mallorca

Beautiful Deia about 12 miles south of Puerto Soller from Café Sa Font Fresca. This time the medium was a touch of the coffee I was drinking. We then walked down to the stunning Cala Deia for lunch overlooking the turquoise Mediterranean. 

Son Bleda above Puerto Soller, Mallorca

Hotel Son Bleda from C'an Prohom above Puerto Soller. This time the media was a touch of orange juice from the drink I was enjoying on the shady terrace. I did my back in drawing this one - I was crouching to look under a hole in the grape vine draped over the fence..... still suffering for my Art.

Puerto Soller Mallorca - the Bay/Harbour 2

Another from Puerto Soller - the Bay/Harbour from further round towards the south. We were sampling the champagne sangria which I then used as the medium for the watercolour or "champagnecolour" as it is now known. Tip: champagnecolour doesn't evaporate like watercolour - it remains sticky for ever - wipe out your palette if you don't want it to smear your rucksack (in my case). 

Puerto Soller Mallorca - the Bay/Harbour

Puerto Soller Mallorca. The entrance to the Bay/Harbour from sea level - literally - my feet were in the sea and I was sitting on a rock. I dipped the left hand of the paper in the sea and I used sea water as the medium, so it's my first "seawatercolour" painting. I then went for a swim in the medium!

Sunset bar at the Nautilus, Puerto Soller, Mallorca

The first sketch from our holiday in Puerto Soller, Mallorca. Lunchtime at the sunset bar at the Nautilus. There was a 200 foot drop down to the Mediterranean on the left! I didn't take any equipment out, so daughter Sian tore a sheet out of her sketchbook and loaned me a pen and some watercolours. She was keener than me to sketch... at last I've passed on the baton!

Mr Miscellaneous at Sheffield's Art in the Gardens

Sheffield Art in the Gardens 2014 - the Miscellaneous Category - that's the painting and me receiving the prize certificate from the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Peter Rippon yesterday (he's the one with the chain around his neck). We look like best friends! The official photographer (with his back in the photo) said "there's always one" - he's got no sense of fun. It's not the first time someone's said that to me.... hope it's not the last. They now call me Mr Miscellaneous.

My Ringinglow Village - Flyer

"My Ringinglow Village" is now on the flyer for Heeley Art Club in October. Pay us a visit - it's free!

"My Ringinglow Village"

"My Ringinglow Village" - another one for the Winter Garden in October. This and the previous image posted have been selected. This painting is a compilation of buildings, landscape, sheep and snow that frequent our village at over 1000ft above sea level. We do have llamas and alpacas but they would look really odd in a painting!

Limb Brook Ringinglow, Sheffield

Limb Brook Ringinglow, Sheffield. It's about 100 metres from our home. The local waterfall in the distant is over a metre high! I've painted this for submission for selection for Heeley Art Club Autumn Exhibition at the Winter Garden in Sheffield from 3rd - 12th August this year (soon).

Oxford - Bridge of Sighs

My first ever visit to Oxford. The city is not only jam packed with bicycles and dreaming finials/pinnacles but it has a Bridge of Sighs. That's me sitting on the steps of a side door to the Sheldonian Theatre sketching the view.

More from our Ezra's Diary

Just beyond the underpass and what should we see but a man from Derbyshire County Council up a tree cutting it down (from the top) with a chain saw. It was alongside the old bridge across the River Derwent. Free 20 minutes entertainment! 

Ez's diary again

Now the Art Show submission season is over I have time to devote to our grandson Ezra's diary again. To cross the busy A623 at Calver between Chesterfield and Manchester we use the underpass (above). It's concrete wall to wall and floor to ceiling like an echo chamber so I can demonstrate my yodelling expertise to Ezra. I think he's impressed. He's in the No 2 pram with Grannie in control. That's Hulleys of Baslow bus crossing the underpass so it must be 10.45 - 15 minutes to coffee time!

Barker's Pool, Sheffield

My take on the Lib Dem Conference in Sheffield in 2011. There was quite a lively crowd outside the City hall with a lot of shouting but it seemed good natured with some police officers amongst the crowd chatting away to all comers. The beautiful red curtain walled building on the right is one I helped to detail in 1985(ish) during my career as an architect. It is my only painting with a political slant - I didn't create the placards - I just used the ones that were  most apt!The reason I'm posting it today is because there's an enlarged image of the painting now on display at the New Market on the Moor in Sheffield until 7th July. There are also 6 of my paintings on display at the Great Sheffield Art Show tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday in the Octagon at the University.

 

Scary Google

Opened Google this morning on my 70th Birthday, hovered over the cup cakes and my name came up. How do they do it? ...... and they've got my number, it's all a bit scary!

Houses of Parliament on Father's Day

Re-union with the Uni of Sheffield Dept of Architecture Class of '67 in London last weekend visiting the Shard and Cutty Sark. Free on Sunday morning so did a 10 minute sketchette of the Houses of Parliament from under the London Eye. All equipment supplied by daughter Sian for Father's Day - watercolour paper postcard, squezzy watercolour brush, and emergency palette (seen in top RH corner) which consisted of 12 watercolour pencil dabs on paper... add the postage stamp, find a post box and the job's a good 'un!
Sian took my paintings to Art in the Gardens Submission Day and all 5 were accepted.

"Churchill's View" Camera de Lobos, Madeira

My final (of 5 paintings) for Art in the Gardens submission day on Saturday is framed and ready! It's from our beautiful holiday in Madeira last April/May and it's the scene (with a bit of artistic licence on the boats) from below the terrace that Winston Churchill used for his paintings in Camara de Lobos.

Grateful thanks - blowing through a straw 03

Grateful thanks to the previous generation(s). My father would have been 100 years old this year, I'm 70 in 2 weeks time, our son is 40 and there's a grandchild due later this year. I'm from the lucky generation!

Blowing through a straw 02

This time - steam train coming up the line.

Blowing through a straw 01

Heeley Art Club meeting last night. The theme was "blowing through a straw". We sucked up watery acrylic paint and blew it onto paper. I swallowed the paint just once (which was less than Gwen sitting next to me). I decided to give my artwork a bit of structure with the side of a credit card dragged across the paper!

Sheffield Canal Basin 003a

My third version of the Canal Basin - Sheffield's Victoria Quays - this time looking south. It's almost there, hopefully finished today. Might take up narrow boat decoration in the future!

Ez's diary - walking with Gramps again

This time walking up Lowside Calver during the hot weather last week. Even closer to the pub!

Tuscany ready

Finished version of my post on 24 May. On the road from Florence and Siena. Art in the Gardens submission!

Ez's diary - walking with Gramps

That's me and our Ezra walking down High Street Calver in the general direction of the pub. 18 years time he'll be taller than me (and I'll be 88ish!)

Sheffield Canal Basin 003

Another work in progress. Canal Basin Sheffield looking towards the Nabarro Building. This will be mixed media from my "IYF" (in your face) colourist style and my third Canal Basin painting. The narrow boats are ripe for a bit of colourist's creations! I did a lot of detailed production drawings on the Nabarro building in my previous life as an architect working for Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson in the mid '90's at the end of the last recession. Thanks HCD.

Ez's diary - absent in Madeira 2

Another pen and watercolour sketch to explain the gap in our Ezra's diary - this fishing boat was parked on the slipway at Camara de Lobos, Madeira.

Tuscany

Another work in progress for Art in the Gardens submission day. This was one from our first visit to Tuscany last autumn and is between Florence and Siena. Lovely lush landscapes!

Ez's diary- absent in Madeira

There's going to be a gap in our Ezra's illustrated diary for the end of April to May so I thought I'd put in some explanatory sketches so he can see where we were at that time. This one is the initial pen sketch of Capelo Corpo Santo in Funchal Old Town Madeira - I'll paint it soon.

Supertram at Commercial Street, Sheffield

Started work on producing my artwork for submission for Art in the Gardens. Need to do at least 4 paintings by 13th June. This one will be in pen and watercolour.

Hotel Zone west of Funchal, Madeira

Last sketch from Madeira - the Hotel Zone west of Funchal drawn from another extended coffee stop - this time at the Café Quasbar . The Atlantic was swelling up as usual but not enough to stop a couple of intrepid swimmers in the foreground risking a quick dip. It was one of the few places around where you could walk down a (pebbly) beach into the ocean. Most people were sun-bathing. It's all too hot for me!

Camara de Lobos 002, Madeira

Another from Madeira. Back to Camara de Lobos via another sardine lunch next to the Atlantic at the Praia Formosa. This sketch from outside the Taberna dos Lobos over looking the boatyard and across from the Churchill restaurant terrace where, we were told, the man himself used sit and sketch - that's the building above the brow (pointed end) of the good ship Estrela do Mar.

Tree with Atlantic Ocean beyond

Another coffee time view from the Magic Café - looking south - there's a 100 foot drop down to the Atlantic beyond the tree and planting.

Capelo Corpo Santo, Funchal, Madeira

Capelo Corpo Santo on the east side of the Old Town, Funchal, Madeira. This lunchtime sketch turned into an afternoon sketch. Nice place to while away a bit of time!

Pestana Grand Hotel from the Magic Cafe

Yet another coffee time sketchette this time a view of the Pestana Grand Hotel from the Magic (on the) Rocks Café. The Atlantic below the cliffs on the left and the truly Magic Gardens behind us - don't miss a visit to this garden if you're ever in Madeira, there's an amazing range of ex'otic plants to be drawn/photographed.

Bank of Portugal, Funchal, Madeira

Coffee time sketchette at the Golden Gate Café on the Avenue Arriaga in the centre of Funchal, Madeira. The corner entrance to the Bank of Portugal caught my eye as well as the armed guard at the door!

Camara de Lobos, Madeira

My first sketch in Madeira. Camara de Lobos - about 90 minutes walk from our holiday apartment. It took a lot longer than that - we had a lunch of 4 grilled sardines at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at Praia Formosa. It was perfection - sun, sand, sea and sardines! It wasn't the last time we passed that way - it was my favourite walk and destination.

Heeley Art Club Collage

Last night's exercise at Heeley Art Club - collage of your choice. Somebody said it reminded her of Torremolinos.... then she said she'd not been there.