Monthly Archives: June 2016
Scotney Castle, a beautiful spot in Kent
Hi Everybody
Last week we had the pleasure of a visit from some very good friends from the USA. It was an opportunity to explore some places in the South East of England that they hadn’t visited before.
One of these was Scotney Castle, today a National Trust property quite near to us in the heart of Kent.
It has a fine Victorian house which itself it well worth visiting as it was lived in by the former owner until 2006 and has all the furnishings and items as it was at that time, a time capsule of two hundred years worth of the family’s history.
However the other jewel of Scotney Castle is the ruined castle situated on a small island in the middle of the lake at the heart of the estate. In spring the walk to the Castle and the surrounding area is bursting with Azaleas and Rhododendron bushes of all colours and fine perennial plants and trees.
It is painter’s paradise and has been the subject of my watercolours before.
This visit revealed some new aspects to me and so this watercolour shows both the Castle by the lake and the Victorian House on the hill above.
The second painting from last year shows another aspect of the Castle in spring time.
If you are in Kent do visit Scotney, it is a truly beautiful place.
I hope you enjoy this short post.
Happy Travelling!
Brian
Scotney castle and the Victorian House in the Spring
Scotney Castle
One view, two paintings!
Hi All
Ah, Venice!
What a wonderful City, such views, such enigma, such a great place to go!
I am very lucky as we have been there quite a few times and it never dissappoints.
The crowds in St Mark’s Square may seem overwhelming, but, at almost any time of the day, just a few minutes away is a quiet backwater canal with beautiful bridges, little squares, beautiful Palazzos and waterfront cafes. We have spent hours wandering through these parts of Venice before emerging back at the bustle of the Riva Schiavone. From here walk along the lagoon to Riva Sette Martiri where the whole expanse of that part of the lagoon can be seen.
Over the years I have painted quite a few Venice scenes, but alas I have never been able to have the time to sit and quietly paint whilst there. It always seems to be from photographs.
But this post isn’t about all those other paintings, they can be for another time.
This post is about just that one view across the lagoon from Riva Sette Martiri where you can see the beautiful scene of San Giorgio Maggiore and to the right the entrance to the Grand Canal which is dominated by the Santa Maria della Salute.
These 16 inch by 12 watercolours have been painted in the studio from a mixture of photos from previous visits.
Here are the two paintings of that same scene.
The first on a cool spring day and the second that same scene as sunset approaches.
Venice – Across the Lagoon to San Giorgio Maggiore. Watercolour 16 inches by 12.
Venice at Sunset – Across the Lagoon to San Giorgio Maggiore. Watercolour 16 inches by 12.
I will be back there!
I hope you like them.
Happy travelling.
Brian.
