Glorious Skies

 I've been walking into work this week - the combination of Hammersmith Flyover being closed and emergency gasworks on South Ealing Road means I overtake the bus as the traffic is so slow.
I  was supposed to get in by 8 on Wednesday to set up a 6hr experiment but was a bit late distracted by the wonderful skies over the river. It almost (almost) makes  me think I  should get up earlier more often (and there's always the off-chance that might see  Colin Firth again as he drops  his kids off at school)

But then the colours of the evening  walking over Kew Bridge are almost as impressive.

October Boat Friday - 401st Post

Frustrated at not being able to save my Powerpoint presentation for Monday after several hours at the computer, I left work early and being a Friday, decided to revisit the boats along the river by Kew Bridge.
It was a very low tide - the water almost dwindles to nothing on the RH side of the 'Ait'.  I noticed quite a few gaps - there's been a lot of 'tidying up' with the new development. I wonder whether mooring costs have increased  or  not renewed so as not to block the views from the swanky flats?

Happily some of my favourites were still there.

As dusk started to fall and the temperature fell,  it was very atmospheric with the smell of woodsmoke. However romantic, I wouldn't want to live on one  and  was happy to cycle home to create nice smells of my own baking fruity bread.

Another Boat Friday

Another slow walk home from work along the Thames towpath, taking photos of the boats. This time I ventured a little further coming out opposite the boatyard. So many people on their houseboats, sitting on the benches and grass alongside basking in the sun  that too inhibited to draw ( and as the walk was impromptu, not much  sketching gear anyway). On the way back at St Pauls Church there was a display of application plans to expand the Kew Bridge development  - left my comments as a pedestrian and cyclist who goes past it every day.Opening up access should be a good thing although I hope it doesn't change the character of the place too much.

Old Boats

Taking photos of my older work (both quilts and paintings) I borrowed back this piece from Sue based on boats at Pinmill . It dates from 1999, the watercolour it was based on from 1997 (painted on a course with John Tookey at Flatford Mill - I also bought one of his paintings! ) . Still looks good to me - like Elizabeth Barton I sometimes question how much I've improved since!

This print of a boat,based on a sketch  at Topsham (Devon), is even earlier from 1985 when I went on a stone lithography printing course near Ulverston . I loved the process and the results but not something you can do at home!!!
Reviewing these and other older works I  have a renewed appreciation of my drawing skills which seem to have lapsed - I used to go on several painting courses a year and the benefit of continued practice shows.

I've also renewed my interest in old boats with my daily walk into work along the river Thames near Kew Bridge - I take  lots of photos of these houseboats and barges  with  water at different heights according to the tides. I really must take my sketchbook out.

Yesterday I found treasure along the towpath - this piece of wood with flaking paint which I've placed with  other 'finds' in the conservatory.  Just asking to be incorporated into an art work or at least a source of inspiration. My work colleagues were singularly unimpressed when I walked into the lab brandishing my trophy but were too polite to say so.