Walmer Castle, Deal

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in England, Gardens, History, Travel, Uncategorized

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While the boys in Ramsgate were out to sea racing their hearts out this past summer, a friend and I drove down the coast just south of Deal in Kent. I thought it was the perfect place to recall on these last days of winter.

Dramatic skies, but perfect touring weather. Photo by me.

It was a short drive from Ramsgate, and after a short stroll on the pebble beach…

The beach across the road from Walmer Castle. Photo by me.

… we found the castle. It was a bit of a strange tour.

The actual castle was built during the reign of Henry the VIII. But the interiors had all been renovated to suit a more modern Duke of Wellington who entertained Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when he held the post of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for 23 years.

The centuries old castle. Photo by me.

We found it rather dark and gloomy and quickly retreated to the more inviting gardens.

Walmer Gardens. Photo by me.

The artichokes attracted a constant flotilla of bees. Photo by me.

The kitchen garden as we see it now, dates back to 1725, although it is likely that fruit and vegetables have been grown there for at least three hundred years when it was a garrison.

The kitchen garden was a favorite. Photo by me

Onions all lined up in a row. Photo by me.

It was the perfect day to explore a garden.

Runner beans in the garden. Photo by me.

Winter Scenes

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in Art, paintings, sketching, Travel, Uncategorized

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Central Park, MOMA, New York City, Snow

I am back from New York City, and busy in the studio trying to complete three canvases I have been working on since before Christmas. Tonight there is a possibility of freezing rain. Winter.

I am never happier than in my studio when the work is going well, no matter what the weather outside.

But as content as I am, I miss the snow and museums of last week’s visit to New York.

Even as I work at my easel, my thoughts continually return to those amazing winter scenes of Central Park. Perhaps because I grew up in New York, no matter how cold or uninviting it may seem to most tourists, I still gain new energy from it whatever the weather.

The last Friday of my visit I got up and out early so I could get to the Museum of Modern Art right as it opened. Usually that is not the smartest strategy, but I figured with the frigid temps (high of 22 degrees that day), the usual opening line would be diminished.

I was right. I walked right up to the ticket desk and passed information to check my coat. There was an amazing multi-screen installation in the upper lobby which I went in and out of all day.

I was ready for MOMA.

Always one of my favorite museums, I have read recently that MOMA is getting ready to do a major renovation. I’m not sure how I feel about that. So much of the museum seems still familiar to me from my youth, even though I know they have changed things before now.

Still, walking through the galleries, I feel like I have come home.

I’ll never tire of the museum, no matter what they do to expand or rearrange it.

And even though some of the more contemporary exhibitions can be daunting, I still find favorites mixed in.

I am not as much into experimental or performance art. I still prefer paint on canvas or paper, or sculpture that seems to recall rather than confound.

But the whole package is sublime, and the images kept me warm all day whether inside…

…or back out into the winter fantasy of Central Park.

Sometimes a winter day is the perfect day to be in the city.

All photos by me of Central Park and MOMA.

Winter Escape

06 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, Travel, Uncategorized

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Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

I have been putting a lot of hours in at the studio over the past several months and loving every minute of it. What better way to spend this long, cold winter.

Fifth Avenue, next to Central Park, in New York City.

But at times the artist needs to go out in to the real world to find new inspiration and increase their artistic vocabulary. A good friend of mine, and wonderful painter, was having a show in New York City this week, and I decided it was the push I needed to go up north and revisit the area that had inspired me so much in the past. And a little snow never hurt anyone.

Entering Central Park early in the morning.

After one plane delay, and many icy encounters, I reached New York City. And it was magical in the snow. I started my visit by entering Central Park’s south edge early the next morning…