A Walk at Blaise Castle

-
It's the week before christmas, I've got a little time to paint in my sketchbook before the family arrives in a few days. This one was painted with acrylics. I find painting a face a challenge with acrylics compared to watercolours. What do you think? Which do you find easier and why? I'd love to know. :)

 The title of this post promises a walk but before we go out, let me show you my colourful blanket that I'm making. It's getting nice and big now. Not long until it's finished.

It keeps my legs warm in the evenings while I'm crocheting it. How very useful it is already!


 The sun was out, the sky was blue, perfect weather for a winter walk.

 Blaise Castle is somewhere I've been visiting all my life. For me, it's at its best this time of the year.

 The stonework has been restored and I stared at this sculpture for ages wondering if it was a dog or a lion. I decided on a dog in the end.

 A real dog sprints across the grass!




 This is the back of the house. I've been coming here for so long and seen all the changes over the years when this used to be a mess. I don't have any old photos of this angle of the building but I do have this one below that was taken with my friends around the front of the house when I was 17. I won't give you the year but you might be able to guess from what we're wearing? Your guesses would be fun. :)
(I'm the one in the middle. Is that conversers I'm wearing? Some things never change!)

The reason I like this time of year at Blaise Castle is the woodland. 

 The low sunshine lights up the trees beautifully.

 I love tree roots. :)

 Very Arthur Rackhamesque don't you think?

That's me, far left! :)








Comments

renilde said…
dear Jessie, such wonderful photos,the whole atmosphere of an old castle and it's surroundings, all the stories those trees could tell...and the power roots are radiating.

i have to come back to look at your previous posts but i can see you are in a holiday mood already, have a lovely time.

you look so sweet in those photos, xx
20 December 2013 at 17:32
Catherine Denton said…
Love your painting and that blanket! So pretty.
20 December 2013 at 18:05
Gina said…
Gosh... those flares and is that a tank top... dare I suggest we are a similar age?
I too love making crochet blankets at this time of year because they keep your legs warm.
20 December 2013 at 19:40
CJ said…
Lovely to see your pictures of Blaise, it's somewhere we go from time to time. I like to walk up through the woods to the folly. And also look at the mummer's costume in the museum. Now you have reminded me, I must go again soon! Hope you have a good weekend Jessie.
20 December 2013 at 20:25
Dear Fireflies said…
I'm in shock! I didn't except bright red and blue to welcome me when I visit. LOL. :D

Love the festive feel, Jess. And I love your painting too! I must say I find both acrylics and watercolor to be challenging, although I think acrylics is easier to tame and less surprising.

Thanks for sharing the fabulous photos. Have a fantastic holiday! XO
20 December 2013 at 21:43
denthe said…
Love your journalgirl. The flowers in her hair and the way you did her dress. I don't have much experience with watercolour, but I imagine it would be easier with watercolour if you have the experience. Acrylics are a real challenge, especially on paper. I find it a bit easier on canvas. Your colourful blanket looks gorgeous, love the brightness! And your age ..... Hmm, looking at the flares I'd guess this was somewhere in the early seventies .... ? ;-)
21 December 2013 at 11:41
Veronique said…
Great painting Jess!
21 December 2013 at 17:14
Paper rainbow said…
Love your beautiful photographs, I too love tree roots and the ones you found are amazing! Hope you have a fantastic Cristmas, much love x
22 December 2013 at 15:25
Introverted Art said…
the colors of your crochet are just amazing.... Wish you all the best!!!
22 December 2013 at 19:55
Kim Mailhot said…
How wonderful is that gorgeous afghan !!! Love love !
And your wintery Queen ! She is so perfect for this season.
I wish you and yours the sweetest of holidays, Jessie ! Thank you for the beauty that you bring to the world.
22 December 2013 at 21:36
Victoria said…
Wowness Kindred..love your blog makeover..vibrant and alive! and this newest painting is amazing, she is bewildering and magical..the colors are also magical too! I love using both acrylic and watercolor..I even sometime blend them in the same painting. Love your colorful blanket you made and that fabulous antique chair, the fabric on it is awesome! Thanks for sharing all of theses beautiful photos of you, and the castle and everything..enchanting! and of course the trees and roots are my fave too..so powerful!
hugs and sparkles dear friend and wishing you many blessings in 2014!
Victoria
23 December 2013 at 12:43
Carol said…
Love your new lady and your crochet blanket. I think your photo was about the same time as mine looking at the flares (1975)
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Carol xx
24 December 2013 at 19:15
Palomasea said…
Love all of these beautiful photos...
And you art is splendid, as always!
A Merry Christmas to you, dear Jess!!
Hugs,
- Irina
25 December 2013 at 07:56
Ana M.F. said…
Merry Christmas!!
26 December 2013 at 01:12
Red Rose Alley said…
Jess,
Blaise Castle is wonderful, and looks very enchanting, doesn't it? I love tree roots too, as it symbolizes my own roots to me which means a lot. I love your art piece with the blues. Nel has been painting lately, and she uses acrylics instead of the water colors. I'm so glad I came across your blog, and look forward to all your sweet posts in the new year.

~Sheri
29 December 2013 at 20:21
Red Rose Alley said…
Happy New Year too!

Love,
Sheri
Jess
Nel

ps you kind of look like my Jess
in these pictures.
29 December 2013 at 20:23
Kyra Wilson said…
I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
30 December 2013 at 15:20
rossichka said…
Dear Jessie, Happy New Year's Eve to you and your big family! May 2014 be peaceful, creative and successful to all of you!
I hope we'll read many new posts of yours, inspiring and interesting like this one (and all the others)!:)
Cheers!xx
31 December 2013 at 14:32
Irja Viirret said…
Ensimmäinen kuva vei sydämeni, oli niin ihastuttava..
2 January 2014 at 16:16
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

More Cottages During Lockdown and a Change in Medium.

-
Image
I've been thinking about why I'm drawing cottages lately.  Maybe it's because there aren't many people around where we live and on our daily walks we rarely come across anyone else which I suppose is a good thing as we're still in Lockdown and have to practice Social Distancing which has now become a very well used phrase in our language! Maybe it's this lack of seeing people around that my mind is turning towards houses and flowers? The ones above are done in ink. I love the pearlescent inks, they're so beautiful when they catch the light. The paintings above and below are painted in acrylic. I've been obsessed with watercolour for a few weeks but I felt I'd like to get some acrylics out again. I've always been like this, going through phases of being obsessed with a particular medium thinking yes this is it! This is my final medium and then finding myself being drawn to changing once again to a different way of wor...
Read more

A Give-away! A Give-away! :))

-
Image
I'm having a give-away but first of all let me show you the two new listings I have on Etsy. Both paintings are painted in pen and ink with watercolour on good quality paper. The top one is called A Musical Journey and measures 7 x 10ins. The second one is called the Big Red Cat and measures 12 x 9 ins. They're $40 each in US dollars which will automatically be converted to your own currency on Etsy (That's approx. £25) CLICK HERE for more details :) And now for the giveaway as promised! Here below are 9 postcards printed from my larger paintings that were originally on canvas. Choose 2 of your favourite ones and if you are the lucky winner, I'll send them to you with an extra little surprise gift. :) All you need to do is to leave a comment on this post and I'll include your name in the draw. Easy Peasy! :) update-update-update..... My painting A Musical Journey has been included in an Etsy Treasury! YAY! :))
Read more

A Double Giveaway!!

-
Image
Hello, I'm here today to tell you about my giveaway! I reached 100 likes on my Facebook page a few days ago,  142 today!  ♥ THANKYOU! ♥  There will be two prizes, one will be my original watercolour painting, painted on thick watercolour paper, with lovely soft hues of pink and mauve called 'Peace' :) I'm also offering you a print on lovely Bristol paper from my mixed media painting 'Open Up To The Best'. Here they are.. Peace,   watercolour painting, 8 x 11 inches Open Up To The Best , art print 8 x 10 inches. (The copyright watermark will not appear on your print.) To Enter: Go to my Facebook page where the link for my giveaway is and 'share' and 'like' the link.  There! That's all you need to do. :) If you're not a Facebook person , that's still ok, just copy and paste one of these pictures above to your blog with a link to this post but don't forget to come back here to tell me that you've...
Read more