Saturday 6 July 2013

SUMMER


The post brought some pictures of how the perfect English summer should be; a catalogue of British pictures from the Maas Gallery, which features one of my favourite watercolourists, Dorothy Webster Hawksley.
I have a small print of one of her paintings in a bedroom. I love her use of sharp, clear lemon yellow.
We had a private view invitation
with the most perfect representation of a summer evening, Dave Inshaw's painting, on loan from the Tate Gallery, where postcards of this image are the most popular purchase.

(1943 was a very good year!)
The day was just as beautiful as the paintings and when friends came round we sat outside under the shade of the walnut tree. John looked as though he had just walked out of an Impressionist painting!

In the afternoon we did nothing more than loll about in the garden enjoying the glorious weather.


I would have liked to clear up the very messy pond, but every time I put my net into the water I fished up tiny, wriggling newts. They obviously thrive on a bit of murk and debris, so I'm leaving well alone.

I LOVE SUMMER!

12 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this artist's work. I love the two examples you showed and googled her to find some of her other work. Really wonderful!

    Lovely photo of the water lily. I would normally say I love summer too but after several days of 33+ degrees with several more ahead, I'm liking spring and fall the best right now.

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    1. She has an enviable water-colour style, with good draftsmanship underpinning those flat washes of her very particular palette. The 'summer' painting is for sale at £48,000. They would have to knock the noughts before I could afford it!

      It's hot here today, rising towards 30 degrees, but I'm not complaining because there are precious few days when we can enjoy this level of heat.

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  2. Hot here. I used to love my pond, but for some reason it didn't love me, and had to be filled in. Yours looks beautiful.

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    1. Hot weather and a fabulous swimming pool - how lucky are you, Cro!
      My pond is small, murky but much appreciated by dragonflies, newts, a pair of wild ducks for a short time each spring, (thanks to them the muck and debris) and it gives me a running battle with blanket weed. But I'm a great guddler so I won't be filling it in.

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  3. Thank you for introducing me to Dorothy Hawksley! Ah yes. English summers. Your garden is beautiful.

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    1. Her work is obviously popular, Connie. You'll see from my reply to Steve that her artwork has a very hefty price tag.

      It's another glorious day today and I'm in my 'scare the horses' shorts ready to grub about in the garden.

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  4. Such a beautiful painting, and how lovely is your garden.

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    1. I am sure that she would have loved you as a subject to paint, Emalina!

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  5. Interesting paintings, love paintings that tell a story.

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    1. Aren't the colours delicious? They are rather a well attired group for a bit of skinny dipping!

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  6. Beautiful art....beautiful gardens, this does sound like a perfect summer day. Enjoy!

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  7. Thank you for this post. I never knew that Dorothy (my great aunt) was so talented. Her artistic streak must have been strong since I am a practising artist. Go Dorothy!

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