nichepoetryandprose

poetry and prose about place

painting my way along the Cornwall coast 7-4

with 20 comments


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street in Crafthole (image from Street View)

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7-4 1 Journal

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7-4 1 map

map showing distance travelled (map from Google Earth)

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One of the things I like best about my virtual journey along the Cornwall coast – the names of the communities: Crafthole, Portwrinkle, Freathy !

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a dog looks at me from the window of a house in Crafthole (image from Street View)

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Today, I drove through Portwrinkle along Finnygook Lane.

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July 3, 2013 ‘Portwrinkle’ Jane Tims

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Here is an interesting  sequence of photos and a visual commentary on the width of the roads.  First, I see a truck coming toward the Street View car …

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Help! I am sure there is no room to pass! (image from Street View)

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Then we squeeeeeeeze past …

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I look back and I don’t see any indication we did pass (no tracks in the shrubbery for example) …

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And, I was so busy trembling over passing the truck, I almost didn’t see this door in the side of the hill …

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you'd miss it if you weren't looking

you’d miss it if you weren’t looking (image from Street View)

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July 8, 2013 ‘hidden door on Finnygook Lane’ Jane Tims

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Best View: houses in Crafthole …

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I am having fun trying to understand painting with watercolors.  I have always worked with oils or acrylic, but watercolors are quite different.  I love that the colors have a mind of their own.  If I allow the colors to go where they want to go, sometime the surprises are wonderful, sometimes, not.

I am trying to use less paint, more water.  This improves transparency and gives a fragility to the painting.

I am trying to clean my brush well and to freshen the water more often.  This prevents ‘muddiness’.

I am also trying to leave more white space.  This provides white ‘color’ and space for adding color as the painting progresses.

Here are two attempts at painting houses in Crafthole.  I include the original image so you can see my inspiration.  As you can see, I used lots of artistic licence.

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In #1, I like the scaling of the houses, the houses in the background, the gardens, the pinkness of the wall, and the grey house …  I don’t like the windows …

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July 3, 2013 ‘houses in Crafthole #1’ Jane Tims

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In #2, I like the chimneys, the red door, and the background houses … I don’t like the windows however I think these houses have personality in their ‘lean’…

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July 3, 2013 ‘houses in Crafthole #2’ Jane Tims

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houses in Crafthole (image from Street View)

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Now, what do you think of that door in the side of the hill ??????

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Copyright  2013  Jane Tims  

Written by jane tims

July 26, 2013 at 7:15 am

Posted in my exercise plan, virtual cycling along the Cornwall coast

Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

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20 Responses

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  1. I think that England is a very magical place! and you are right, the hedgerows are really something to try to drive through… very little visibility!! and lovely natural archways in some spots. It was really something to be in a car there, they drive on the left side of the road of course, which was quite frightening to me at times in the passenger seat!! and at times, there is not enough room for two cars, so one car will have to back up until there is a spot for them to let the other car pass by. The drivers there are so used to it, it is a no brainer for them though!! what passes for a road to the English is barely a lane to us Americans, not sure about your neck of the woods!! Blessings on your virtual journey, Jane, hugs, Leigh

    Like

    SingingBones

    August 22, 2013 at 6:38 pm

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    • Hi Leigh. I think about going to Cornwall in reality and then I think about those narrow roads. Your description confirms what I have surmised. Most of our roads are wide enough for two cars to pass. Only the smallest woods roads are like cart tracks. Jane

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      jane tims

      August 23, 2013 at 9:00 am

      Reply

      • Hi Jane, well don’t let the narrow roads stop you from traveling there!! just maybe let somebody else do the driving… one evening I found myself on the right side (the passenger side) of a rather large van, driven by a friend I had met, it was raining and we were lost, going up and down the tiniest lanes that the English call roads… it was anxiety-producing while also fun! and btw, there are no straight roads in England, no matter what the English might tell you when giving directions! Everything is constantly curving one way or another.
        Enjoy your days as the weather is changing, these are the magical days of the season now. hugs, Leigh

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        SingingBones

        August 24, 2013 at 12:56 pm

      • Hi Leigh. Some of the best times are those with a twinge of anxiety! Jane

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        jane tims

        August 25, 2013 at 8:19 am

  2. It has to be a Hobbit door. What a great catch! And I love the names of the towns and streets. My favorite is Portwrinkle.
    Your paintings are wonderful, Jane. 🙂

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    Robin

    August 21, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Robin. Thanks! I agree, the Hobbits have been there! The names get more interesting as the days go by. Jane

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      jane tims

      August 21, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      Reply

  3. The ‘hidden door on Finnygook Lane’ has the wonderful feeling of an Impressionistic painting. It’s interesting reading about what you do and don’t like about each painting.

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    Barbara Rodgers

    July 29, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Barbara. Thanks! If I do two or more versions of a single scene, I usually wish I could merge them since I rarely like every aspect of the painting! Jane

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      jane tims

      July 29, 2013 at 3:37 pm

      Reply

  4. I love your watercolours, Jane, and also your watercolour lessons. Thanks!

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    Jane Fritz

    July 27, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Reply

  5. Hobbits…. full of Hobbitts…

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    Sue Tisa

    July 26, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Reply

  6. I’m really liking your Cornwall virtual trip. Steve and I spent some time in Cornwall 3 years ago – it is really special. I was wondering if that door on the side of the hill was a root cellar, but seems to be nearer the road than houses. The more whimsical answer has something to do with hobbits!

    Like

    robertadclowater

    July 26, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Roberta. Glad to hear from you! These narrow roads with their interesting names have all sorts of stories to tell. I would like to go to Cornwall someday. Jane

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      jane tims

      July 26, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      Reply

  7. I love the door in the side of the fill! Perhaps there is a fence hidden there as well, all overgrown…hiding a secret garden!

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    weedimageoftheday

    July 26, 2013 at 11:57 am

    Reply

    • Hi. Secrets are so much fun. After a few days ‘in’ the English countryside, I am starting to understand why enchantment is part of its character. Jane

      Like

      jane tims

      July 26, 2013 at 3:23 pm

      Reply

  8. I wonder what the door was used for. An underground storage space for veggies? Gary has relatives in Cornwall. I’ll get him to ask. I suppose a tunnel under a hill can have many uses. Perhaps something magical?

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    Carol Steel

    July 26, 2013 at 8:45 am

    Reply

    • Hi. If you look very closely, there seems to be a structure under all the vines. There may be a building under all that green. Pia thinks it’s Hobbits! Jane

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      jane tims

      July 26, 2013 at 3:21 pm

      Reply

  9. Hobbits!

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    Pia

    July 26, 2013 at 7:20 am

    Reply

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