I did this sketch of the abbey ruins in Glastonbury. Unfortunately, I made a bit of a hash of the windows of Abbey House in the background, but I was quite pleased with it overall. Since my Trafalgar Square sketch I'd gotten into the habit of sketching directly in ink with no preliminary pencil drawings. This probably came about due to having short snatches of time in which to do my sketches. This particular sketch was the first I'd done while standing up. It had been raining up until this point and when the sun came out I made my move, but the grass was too wet to sit on. I was surprised how easy it was get comfortable while standing. I simply didn't get time to paint my sketches, and days later when I did get time, I felt reluctant to tamper with them.
Glastonbury was our last port of call and it is where we attended a spiritual retreat at Abbey House (the gorgeous house you can see in the background in the above photo and close up in the one below). The retreat was facilitated by the very profound and very entertaining Tim Freke. We had a wonderful time and met amazing people- all in an otherworldly beautiful setting.
This is the view from the backyard of Abbey House, as guests we had access to the ruins.
Glastonbury itself is a very pretty town of which my pictures don't do enough justice. It is a very alternative town which makes it extra interesting.
One of the several fabled ancient thorn trees(above). Lush environs of Chalice Well (below).
One of the common rooms at Abbey House above and below are two sketches I did - again with no preliminary pencil work. My two lovely subjects, Denise and Christine are much lovelier in the flesh than my unflattering scribbles show, but they were generous in their praise nonetheless!
After all this excitement it was back to Heathrow and the next day we flew off in our torture chamber (aka plane) arriving home over twenty hours later. I hope someone will invent a teleporter between now and my next long haul trip.
Now I am in the process of readjusting to normal life again!
Hi Wendy your sketches are fantastic. No pencil too. Very brave or rather extremely talented. The retreat looks really lovely. A very pretty place to relax. Glastonbury a favourite of mine. I am glad you enjoyed the UK despite the flights. Thanks for fitting in a few hours to meet up. Your cards and our photo will be treasured. Shame we live so far away from each other but thankfully we have the blogs. Take care Love Laura xx
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, It was so great to meet up with you both!! I too will treasure my card and photo! It IS a shame we live so far apart.
DeleteI'm glad you also enjoy Glastonbury - I doubt there is anywhere quite like it elsewhere in the world. You live in an amazing country and I so enjoyed spending some time there. I love what you are doing with your journaling!! xx
Sounds like you had a very enjoyable trip Wendy and thank goodness a safe arrival home. I enjoyed seeing your sketches and photos
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lorraine! Yes, it's good to be home again safe and sound, but I'm already dreaming about the next trip!! I think it's a curse to be bitten by the travel bug!
DeleteWelcome home! Congrats on such wonderful direct in ink sketches! the one with the arches and the interior with the window seat came out so great...as well as the children. Since I've been practicing sketching directly in ink too I know that is not an easy skill, but it comes in so handy when you are traveling. We will be doing a cruise and stop in Italy soon, so I now I will have to be sketching quickly in some locations too. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joan! I was surprised with myself that I dared work straight on to the paper in pen, but I think it was really that time was short so I just took the leap. It felt surprisingly liberating too. If I made a mistake I had to work around it rather than waste time by getting too precious about fixing it up. It was so freaky when I visited your blog on my return and discovered that you are working on the same approach at the moment! As usual I love what you've been doing!!
DeleteWelcome home Mate! Australia hasn't been the same without you! I am sure you have been missed. I so loved following your posts during your fantastic adventure!!! Loved your sketches! Love the photos! Loved the text! Thanks for allowing us to enjoy your trip with you! You must be so very tired!!!! Rest! Catch up with your family and friends and then start posting more wonderful "Paintings And Other Creations!" Take care Cobber and again, "Welcome home buddy!"
ReplyDeleteOne Of Your Many Art Blogging Buddies!
Michael
Thanks so much for your welcome home message Michael! I'm glad you enjoyed following my posts. I had hoped to post more frequently but it was hard to fit it all in around seeing the sights and visiting people.
DeleteIt is wonderful to be home again as I really missed my family and friends even while having such a fantastic time swanning around the place. I'm slowly getting back into my normal routine which includes responding to comments from my great art buddies like you! I missed not being able to keep up with everyone's blogs and replying to comments.
I thought of you when I visited the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. I came face to face with one of my favourite Vincent paintings - "A Wheatfield, with Cyprusses" it was glorious!!
I hope all has been well with you!!
Your Recovering From Sensory Overload Art Buddy
Wendy
Welcome home. Wendy! Thank you for sharing all your beautiful sketches and photo's the last weeks. I hope you had a wonderful time. The ruins look amazing and the ancient trees too. Great sketches!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilje! I particularly thought of you when I was viewing the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin. I know how it has inspired you!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your latest post! You are amazing!!
Your sketches and photos of your trip are wonderful! So glad you had a great time, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane! I loved catching up on your blog on my return!
DeleteWendy - these ink sketches are wonderful. I wouldn't tamper with them either. Such great photos too of the lovely abbey and Glastonbury. Everything looks so clean and beautiful there. Bet it is hard to settle down to regular life! So glad though you got to visit so many lovely places. That Abbey would make me want to return again for sure. Hugs
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Debbie, yes, it is strange when first returning home but at the same time it allows me to see everything here with fresh eyes again so it's almost as if the adventure continues for a little longer. I hope you're having a great week!
DeleteHello Wendy, welcome home! Your sketches are so confident - I admire your variety of line quality and line weight. I hope someone invents a teleporter before your next trip too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your very kind comments Lisa!! Yes, wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to zap yourself around the globe within seconds?
DeleteYour stamina with your gorgeous daily paintings is an ongoing inspiration!
Hi Wendy! I really enjoyed reading and looking at your posts from your trip. Loved your sketches! I'm in France at the moment lstudying and practicing the language. I hope to do some sketching in about a weeks time when I'm back in Paris. I'm in Semur-en-Auxois at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen! Wow, how exciting to be studying French in France - that has been on my own bucket list for years. I'll look forward to seeing your sketches!
DeleteI love your sketches Wendy! Great post, absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Thanks so much Barbara! I hope you get a lot of painting done in Nova Scotia!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous place! Another one, now, on my list of places others have been to that I want to see! Those old buildings are just calling out to me! I like how you drew the Abbey ruins, and how the composition turned out. I think it's a challenge to draw in ink, knowing you can't erase, but it also brings out a different strength in the artist. I really admire how perfectly you drew the women on the bench! wow! The whole experience sounds so memorable and rewarding.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Katherine! Yes, you would be in heaven in the UK with all the fabulous architecture. The sheer quantity of listed buildings is staggering! Everywhere you look is a picture in the making. I'm already suffering withdrawal symptoms!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to visit. I am envious of the rich history and beautiful buildings! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura! Yes, well worth putting on your bucket list!!
Deleteso NICE to see these photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all this wonderfulness = )
Have a GREAT week!
Thanks so much Sue! I'm glad you enjoyed the photos!!
ReplyDeleteWendy,
ReplyDeleteOther than a couple posts I have yet to read (still catching up, I have been so busy I have not had my online time as of late) it sounds like you really had a great trip.
Sorry you did not get to see the "Lady of Shallot" painting. That one is on my list of originals I would love to see!
Envious you got to see ruins too! We don't have ancient ruins here in the US of course. I bet they just resonate with history.
I like all your ink drawings you did while there, you have some really great little studies you could easily turn into paintings. Any plans for artwork generated from your trip?
Would look forward to those.
Keep painting...
Thanks so much David! I feel that happening upon the technique of using ink directly onto the paper has been a very exciting outcome from my trip and I hope to continue with that approach (as you will see I did so just last night!) Although, I used an old photo for reference on this occasion, generally I feel more inspired than ever to sketch and paint from life. Although I feel my photos of the trip came out great, they were just mere shadows of the real-life glory of the landscapes and architecture. I still hope to use my photos for future work but I wish I'd had more time to paint and sketch on location. Maybe on my next trip I will focus on my art entirely.
DeleteThanks for the encouragement David. Love your work!!