THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

14 April 2014

LANDSCAPE


I don't do landscapes. However, M has been on at me to do one for ages and, given the beauty of our surroundings, I thought I should have a go. Did I enjoy the process? No, I did not. I'm glad I did it, but it took FOREVER and I really missed the detail in a close up subject. It started well....


Really enjoying myself with the deep shadow on the rocks in the foreground in these first few.....



2 hours later, still feeling quite positive as I do the shelter belt conifers in the distance and start the deciduous stuff on the right......


How can this be taking so long? It's just a bit of moorland. 


I've been at it for nearly five hours now.....time for the horizon stuff.........zzzzzzz


At this point I realised I should have been taking it to the window to take the photographs. Time for a bit of colour. I'm seriously bored now but determined to finish. I thought the colour would take less time; oh no - this sky is taking forever:


This wasn't done in one day by the way - it's day three now and I'm losing the will to live. Grass....


................and more grass............and at last, it's finished. M likes it. I'm not sure. 


Whilst doing my mum's shopping in Waitrose last week, I spotted some cereal I thought OB might like; I hate the way even the lower sugar ones are still full of the stuff and this uses Coconut blossom nectar instead. Still sugar but a lower GI apparently. Anyway, this what he did with it. He thinks I wear a coat too much by the way.


The weather is so beautiful. Cold at night and glorious in the day. The mornings are chilly. Here's Trigger in the paddock up here at a distance:


Early morning sun:


Dew on a spider web:


Lambs love the sun:




So do the dogs:




Today OB had a couple of friends here and we went up to Kestor with the dogs. 


They have no fear of heights:




Neither do the boys:


It's nearly half past ten now and, having got waylaid earlier as I was about to press the 'publish' button, I am now in bed with our little tablet thingy. This is a slippery slope; a descent into a technology based oblivion I swore I would avoid at all costs. I am ashamed. However, I'm very comfy and have a hot water bottle tucked under one arm. I'm close to conversion but will take up my book in a sec rather than surfing the internet. So, until next time when I hope to be on a chair, here are those dogs in the sun again earlier today.


60 comments:

  1. You are so hard on yourself! The landscape is lovely. Nowt wrong with it.
    Jane x

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    1. Thanks Jane - I think I'll try and sell it though!

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  2. Your sketch is just as beautiful as your photography!
    You are sooo talented, Em...seriously!
    Enjoy your week...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. You too Linda. Seeing lots of friends and even going to the seaside on Thursday!

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  3. Your picture is beautiful Em, but I understand what you mean about not being in love with something that you have produced even though it is a lovely piece. You obviously put an awful lot of detail and therefore work into each piece and I can see therefore why it takes so long. It is very interesting to see the evolution of your work as you went through the different stages. Your landscape photos are beautiful too of course! xx

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    1. M likes it but I just wouldn't know where to put it in the house....it has to go I think.

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  4. Well, I love your artwork. You've captured the moor really well. The thing with art, it's best to draw/paint what you enjoy....I'm guessing (correct me if I'm wrong) that you 'Didn't' enjoy the whole process, lol. Still, I'm glad you showed the step by step and end result to us :-)

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    1. I absolutely didn't enjoy it as soon as I stopped doing the rocks Ann. Stick to the detailed close ups from now on!

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  5. The dew on the spider's web is beautiful. As so is your landscape.

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    1. That dew was only in a tiny patch of moor in a dip. Normally something we see in Autumn.

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  6. Your landscape is fantastic. I love the photo of the boys up the rocks. My dogs have been lead in the sunshine, they love it x

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    1. The photo of the boys was the only one where none of their faces was showing....I do try and be careful!

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  7. I like the green in the sketch.

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    1. Thanks Willow......that bit didn't take as long as certain other bits!

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  8. Your sketch is wonderful and filled with detail. It is lovely.
    But as you know art is to be enjoyed. For me it is the feeling of pencil, paint and brush on paper. If the drawing took that long then that is your answer.
    My sketches are done rather quickly especially the watercolors. Because I will overwork it.
    I love your comment about .... the dogs
    "They have no fear of heights" and then next picture is Snippet bum in the air as he look inside a cave
    so it should be "or caves either".
    The dew on the spiders web is beautiful.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. This is a prime example of overworking - I could have gone on for five more hours and only made it worse!

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  9. HI Your landscape is lovely however if you don't like doing them, stick with what you love to paint. Lovely sunny day and great shots while you were out and about. great shots of the dogs and children, not to mention the fantastic dewdrops on the spiders web.

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    1. Absolutely Margaret - that's the landscape out of my system for good!

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  10. Hi Em, I loved to see the progress on your drawing, but quite understand that you didn't like how long it took, as Angry Parsnip says maybe you could try a different medium to express landscapes. Your animal portraits are beautiful and full of detail, but putting all that detail into a landscape is difficult. I really do like it and appreciate the time it took, but I'm not a landscape fan, unless it's photography.

    Love this set of photos, the sheep, the dogs roasting in the sun, and Trigger in the distance surrounded by green grass. Alphabet breakfast is brilliant!

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    1. I would love to do watercolour landscapes but just don't have the confidence. John Sell Cotman is my favourite artist of all time (close second is Turner) and would love to be able to paint like him. They're so stunning.

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  11. Your photos are brilliant as always as is your landscape.
    Our eldest did some lovely painting for A level then went to a foundation Art course and got into textiles. And did print design at uni. I used to say - Paint me some more pictures, but she didn't enjoy it - she said they took too long!

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    1. You just have to love it and I don't. I really must try Cotman's technique of a strong pencil drawing followed by a watercolour wash, but with a good architectural subject. I'd have loved to do print-work. Would love to see some of your daughter's work.

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  12. I can appreciate all the work and patience too but if you don't enjoy doing it it seems silly to endure doing another... Be true to yourself... express yourself and let your heart sing!
    Love your dogs... lots to be learnt from dogs... Smiles Cass x

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  13. The landscape is beautiful, thanks for sharing the process with us :-)

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  14. that's one great sketch in my opinion... your dogs & sheep look to be very happy in that sun... hope all is well. have a great day~

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  15. I will have to come and admire your photos if I want to enjoy spring at all, as mother nature seems to be playing with us right now. Beautiful sketch!

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    1. I can't believe you still have snow Jenn - even if it is melting now.

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  16. I think your landscape is lovely despite it taking you so long to do.
    Sarah x

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  17. I think the landscape is very good. You have a lot of patience! I would maybe suggest using less details as you move more into the distance as that creates a better sense of perspective. I hear you with the tablet thingy and the descent into a technology based oblivion......luckily my husband won't let me use his tablet and since I broke my daughter's lap top she is not letting me use that either so it is back to me using the computer which I can't use in bed! So my addiction is curtailed thus.

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    1. I wonder how you broke that laptop??? Absolutely on the detail front and Cotman needs to be my inspiration. I'll have a go when I've got over this one!

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  18. Ahhh Em, you are going to kill me on this one :) I love the landscape and think you should really do more of them! I agree with M, you live in a beautiful surrounding with so much inspiration for art. Have you tried watercolor wash and ink? They make the art go quicker.

    I've been working on a couple of commissions that past two months. Talk about slow :)

    Love the sheep and lambs, great photos of the dogs.

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    1. I need to try pen and ink. I'm so scared of failure but, in the end, it's just a drawing!

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  19. I think the landscape is pretty good and very 'you' :-)

    Lovely shiny dogs- they look really well judging from their coats. I love the shot of trig's paddock- haven't seen it from that view before x

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    1. I can't tell you how much I wish we owned Trigger's paddock. I'm so lucky to be able to use it for nothing though. The views are stunning but I don't think he appreciates them! x

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  20. ps- Just to clarify- the style is very 'you' but I get completely that the subject matter isn't. Life/ Art- it should all be fun. Stick to what you love doing x

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  21. Yes as someone has said the landscape is indeed lovely, and the the whole process a pleasure to watch...

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    1. Thanks Thelma. Better to get it out there than let it fester in a sketchbook for years! I guess I could try and sell it.

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  22. The landscape painting is lovely and its fascinating to see the different "stages". You did well to complete it so quickly - my husband can take months over them!!! Most are never finished :(

    Wonderful photos as always.

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    1. I think paint is the way I need to go. Coloured pencil, which I find less frightening, is what takes the time.

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  23. You really are an artist! Lovely photos as always, but that dew on a spiders web really dropped my jaw down. Beautiful!

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  24. Your painting is lovely and I was fascinated, too, to see how you painted it. The spider's web is beautiful too. I love seeing all the animals out in the sun, how welcome it's been!

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    1. It's really interesting that so many people think it's a painting, and rather gratifying too! I have to get my brushes out and have a go.

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  25. I would probably be quite thrilled if I could sketch anything approximating the view from my window. While I can't criticize as one with much knowledge of art I can state that your rendition of Dartmoor is appealing--surely worth of a frame and display [?]
    Your photo of raindrops on the spider's web is exquisite.

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    1. Worthy of sale if anyone might want it perhaps. I think I would just find it annoying to look at and would want to keep working on it!

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  26. Lovely to watch the process of your landscape. I can understand how it`s difficult not to overwork a larger subject when you are used to detailed work with the animals.

    Have you tried looser watercolour wash type landscapes of Dartmoor? Some of your wonderful moorland skies would lend themselves to that.

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    1. Absolutely DW and that's what I want to try. Well, perhaps want is too strong a word....feel I have to perhaps?

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  27. Love the lambs and the Dogs in this beautiful landscape. You really live in a stunning place.
    I wish you and your familiy happy Easter days.
    Take care
    Alex

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    1. You too Alex and thanks so much for doing the follower thing - it put my mind at rest!

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  28. Lovely photos and an amazing drawing - you are so clever, love your photos too. Great to catch up with you as always. By the way, I'm working on the Cafeteria cosy......

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  29. Hi Em, I think your landscape is amazing. Photos are lovely also. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day and Happy Easter. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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    1. Hi Chris and a happy Easter to you too. Will be over to visit....

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  30. Em - LOVE your landscape - I LOVE the contrasting location from the sea here. I keep saying I am going to do some painting - we are planning a house alteration and it just may present a large wall.......and the heather on the Yorkshire moors would make an ideal subject! Backside gear get into - rearrange the last words to make a statement! lol!

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    1. It takes a HUGE effort to get off my arse too!

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