Lynton, Something big April 2021

 For a long time I've liked the idea of making an image of the whole of Lynton. Its a tiny little toy town nestling in a little valley, behind a big hill, sheltering it from the Atlantic north winds. And its been my home for the past 9 years, I'm very proud of where I live, so when we went to see a friend who lives on the opposite side of the valley I took the opportunity to photograph the whole town.

When I say its a tiny town, it really is tiny town, smaller than a lot of villages, only just over 1000 permanent residents.

I started by joining all the photos together on photoshop, then divided it into 4 to make it easier to work on. So far I have finished 3 of them and just about to start work on the 4th.

They are not perfect and but I've learnt a lot and want to draw Lynton again from several different view points.

180 degrees at Landacre

Landacre 26/4/2021

A trip to Lanacre with mummy and the boys, plus the gipsy dogs. Ron was a nightmare, desperate to run and chase stones, too many people around to let him off the lead, no one wants a wet half greyhound running through their picnic. So not much sketching done, but enough to draw later.

Towards Pinkworthy Pond April 2021

 26/4/2021

Another favourite dog walk, I live on Exmoor I have a lot of favourite dog walks 😄

Ilkerton is only 3 miles from home, up the hill out onto the wild and windy moor, to vast atmospheric views.  I especially love the view across Ilkerton Ridge towards Pinkworthy Pond, the curve of the hills and the little trees in the distance.

It'ss another image I will revisit in time.

Woolacombe April 2021

 We like to go on road trips to walk the dogs. Woolacombe is 20 miles away, so we go a lot as its a massive sandy beach that stretches for miles  especially in the winter as its a popular dog walking beach. In the summer its full of tourists, so not a good place to take 2 idiot lurchers. But whatever the season its perfect for the tiny boy's.

I never used to draw buildings, I couldn't be bothered to master perspective, but 20+ years later I am fascinated about how the shapes fit together. Maybe its due to 15 years of working with geometric shapes in my blanket designs. I even like the idea of tackling perspective, but not going to worry if its wrong, I quite like slightly wonky.

These are all sketchbook sketches so it doesn't matter if they are good or bad, I've developed the ideas and 6 weeks later using them in a big project.

Cloud Farm April 2021

 My first drawing out of the sketchbook was Cloud Farm. Cloud Farm is along one of our favourite dog walks, its in Doone Valley and sits on the banks of Badgworthy Water. Its been taken over by the National Trust and has a tea room & campsite. If we didn't live so close it would be on my "places to stay" list, as it is we get to see it at all times of the year.

 I bought some water colours, dug out my very ancient Karisma coloured pencils. 

As soon as I'd painted the hills I knew I'd over done it, but thought I could bring it back with the coloured pencils.

But I couldn't! Although at the time I really liked it, now I realise its a practise piece, and steep learning curve.

There are elements I still like and have carried on developing, while I learn to find my voice again. I will revisit Cloud Farm in the future and hopefully do it justice the next time.