Paintings
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Nikko II
The temples in Japan are extremely elegant – none more so than this example in Nikko called Rinno-ji (輪王寺). I suspect that I could have painted a more accurate picture of this building using brushes, or drawn it more cleanly using a pen, but I have to say that spreading these rich colours across the…
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Torii
The island of Naoshima, situated in the Seto Sea just off the mainland coast of Japan, is well known for its contemporary art exhibitions and installations. However, as far as I am aware this torii gate which we saw on that island is not a piece of art, but in fact a real torii gate…
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Nikko (日光市)
Nikko is a popular tourist site in the mountains to the north of Tokyo, full of superb shrines and temples, nearby a picturesque lake and several onsen (hot springs), and at this time of year full of autumn colours. There is also this bridge, which no longer carries any traffic but which (for obvious reasons)…
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Autumnish
We all know autumn well – it is something that occurs every year. This happens to be an autumnal view along the Pilgrims Way as it crosses Reigate Hill, although it could be almost anywhere at this time of year. This also happens to be a picture that I painted four years ago, although it…
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View from Blackfriars
On our way back home recently, after visiting a Van Gogh exhibition in London, we found ourselves waiting for a train at Blackfriars Station. The view from the southbound platform (which spans the Thames) is always inspiring, and on this occasion at dusk the view was more than a bit like Vincent’s painting “Starry Night…
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Plaça Nova
Despite the name. Plaça Nova (New Square) is rather old, as are several of the buildings around it. However, this view is looking resolutely the other way at the newer buildings, in particular the building of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia, which sports a large Catalonian themed frieze designed by Picasso (which I have rather…
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Flamingos
I have seen flamingos several times in bird parks and zoos, but I had always understood that they were native to some far-flung and exotic continent, like Africa perhaps, or one of the Americas. So it was quite a surprise to see them in the wild on the coast near Montpelier. I know they are…
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Walled Garden
A walled garden is usually a haven of peace, and often contains a variety of colours and textures to entertain the eyes. I think I have captured a bit of each of these aspects here, but I am sure that more could have been done. The choice of watercolour as a medium helps with the…
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View from Chartwell
Chartwell was the family home of Winston Churchill, who as well as being a renowned wartime leader was also a prodigious artist – indeed many of his paintings are on display at the house and in various outbuildings in the grounds. I think that here I have managed to pick a view from a window…
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Dunster – Entrance
A stone archway can often be relied upon to make a good frame for a picture, as long as there is something interesting visible through the arch. In the case of the entrance into Dunster Castle (or more precisely the exit as this is the vista as one leaves the castle!) the view through the…
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Girona – at High Speed
Girona is a beautiful old city. It is a place apparently well known as the backdrop to a series of “Game of Thrones” – a popular drama series that I have never seen, but which apparently many others have enthusiastically watched. Girona is also on a high speed train line from Barcelona, with an ultramodern…
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Stained Glass – Sagrada Familia
I can’t quite decide whether this painting is okay or not! On the one hand it definitely doesn’t capture the vibrant colours in the glass that my eyes saw at the time and that my camera captured for posterity. On the other hand, it is quite a pleasant picture to look at, and it does…
Doodling ... 