" Return to Crete"

                     A recent visit to the lovely Greek island of Crete. These are some small
                    acrylic on canvas "rough cut" paintings to be developed into final artwork.
                    A response to the light and landscape of the region of Chania.
  

                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Neil Murison RWA 1930 - 2018"

                   Today was the funeral of our friend and colleague Neil Murison RWA.
                                 He was a great artist and inspiration to us all.
                           
                          (see my previous blog "Artist in Focus No.2" from July 2015)
                                                         

                                                    "Neil in his studio at "The Grange"

"Oresund"

                        We're entering the brightly lit tunnel. From Copenhagen this is a fast
                        way to cross the "Oresund" via the bridge that links Denmark to Sweden.
                        We're not "underground" so much as "undersea" as we emerge into bright
                        sunshine and cross the bridge itself, the sun glinting off the water as we
                        make our way to the Southern part of Sweden.
                       
                                 

                                                                         

 

"Oresund"-  Acrylic on canvas  20" x 20"   

 

"Scandinavia" - Part 2 - Denmark

                Waking up to bright sunshine, our destination today is the contemporary
                 art gallery "Louisiana" a short distance North of Copenhagen.
                
                 On arriving at the packed car park it seems that everyone else had the
                 same idea. No matter, although the exterior of the gallery hints at a small
                building, the modern extensions mean that the space never seems unduly
                crowded.

                 Starting our tour in the beautiful gardens where sculptures by Moore,
                 Miro, Calder etc. look out over the sun dappled water, we move inside,
                 where paintings by both Danish and international artists rub shoulders
                 with sculptures and drawings by Giacometti from their permanent collection.
                                                                                                                                         
                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "blockbuster" Spring exhibition is a collection of ceramics by Picasso.

With over 150 pieces exhibited the presentation and lighting was superb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading off for a late lunch we reach the picturesque fishing village of Dragor.

Wandering around the small harbour, I photographed the fishermen's huts and

narrow streets,before stopping at the Dragor Bistro for a typical Danish meal ,

before returning to Sweden, once more crossing the Oresund bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hakkebof" meal at Dragor Bistro

 

 

 

 

 

"Scandinavia" - Part One - Sweden

               There's a thick fog around the airport. I'm sat in the departure lounge looking
               at the electronic board as a number of flights are already cancelled.

               I'm on my way to Sweden  for a long weekend and hoping that my flight
               will be delayed  and not cancelled completely. Eventually we take off and
               arrive at Copenhagen airport in Denmark one hour behind schedule.

              I'm met by Sven who drives us across the Oresund bridge from Denmark to
              Sweden and on to the small town of Vellinge.

              The following day we drive North ,we're heading for the nature reserve at
              Kullaberg. After Helsinborg , the ferry port between Sweden and Denmark,
              we pass through the small villages of Viken, Hoganas and Molle and on to
              the promontory of Kullaberg, glimpsing the coast line of Denmark all the way.

                                                      

 

 

                                                           "Kullaberg nature reserve"
                                                                                  

                                                                           

 

 

 

 

"sketchbooks"

 

 

"rough cuts" for possible acrylic paintings

 

At Kullaberg we walk to the lighthouse, the sun glinting on the sea and

the woods seeing the first green shoots of Spring. This rocky headland is

a haven for wildlife and I make some sketches and notes and take a few

photographs.       

                                                                                          

We return to the fishing village of Molle and, after lunch at the Grand Hotel,

walk to the harbour. Only a few sailing boats are moored there as it's still early

in the year. One couple were lying on the deck of their boat wrapped in scarves,

hats and coats against the chilly wind, but basking in the Spring sunshine. 

 

I sketch and photograph the terracotta roofed houses rising up the hill in this

small peaceful village and by late afternoon we leave to return to Vellinge .

  

                                                            "Harbour at Molle"
                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Giverny"

                           A painting from my time spent at Monet's garden at Giverny.



                                                                        

"Giverny" - Acrylic on canvas 20" x 20"

                           "People discuss my art and pretend to understand, as if it were
                            necessary to understand , when it's simply necessary to love"
                            Claude Monet 
                

" Lagoon"

                            "the ripples dance bountifully across the serene lagoon
                                
                             they possess only beauty and grace with their shimmer

                        still then is Mother Earth until she roars her thunderous rain "



                           Anonymous poem


                                                        

"Lagoon" - Acrylic on canvas  24" x 24"