Snaps of Saltaire

Saltaire in the spring sunshine was an amazing place to be. The Saltaire Arts Trail draws in huge numbers but even with out that there's a lot to see.  The Salts Mill that stands as the centrepiece of Saltaire houses a David Hockney gallery, designer home ware shop, huge book shop and an inspiring art shop.  There's a canal with boat trips, beautiful parklands, vintage stores and independent shops.  Well worth a visit.

Yorkshire, April 2012

And so started my sketchbook!  In an ode to Hockney whose Yorkshire Sketchbook opens with a similarly water coloured 'Yorkshire April 2004' I set out to capture some of the landscapes that he and I both love.  I topped up my watercolour box and packed a pencil.   I had been so inspired by Hockney's use of watercolour and pen but found it a tribulation to use watercolour in my sketchbook.  The sun didn't shine much and I found myself standing around waiting for the paint to dry!  Once I reverted to a pencil and sketched in a way that was true to myself I was able to engage with the landscape.  I stood atop hills that had vantage points out to sea, down valleys and across the moors.  I loved the pattern, the ruggedness of the moors and the juxtaposition with the manmade fields split with dry stone walls and the safe domestic shapes of home and farm.

By Wednesday of our trip away I was so in love with Yorkshire. A fortuitous detour found us in front of a bungalow, around the corner from the sea and up for auction.  Oh how I ached for that to be my home, scrubbed and white washed , a simple base for an artist's life.

Fancy it?  It's up for auction next Wednesday.

Star City

     

          

    

     

Hooray for Nottingham!  We now have our very own contemporary art space and it's beautiful!  Any one who has arrived at Nottingham by train or bus will know that the city sweeps up the hill away from them with the buildings looking as though they are piled one upon the other like children's wooden blocks.  Amongst the red brick and stone buildings there now nestles a block of gold, shimmering like the elusive gold ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate factory!  Nottingham Contemporary nestles into the hill, and beautifully juxtaposes the Unitarian church (now a bar).  In honour of the city's textile heritage, the roof is embossed with lace motifs.  The gallery feels fresh and relevant and has lifted the city art scene from feeling somewhat provincial to feeling fresh and alluring. 

I saw the David Hockney exhibition and loved the stunningly crafted etchings.  I'm looking forward to the next exhibition, Star City, which starts on February 12th.  The Broadway cinema is matching the communist theme with its own film season and later in the month I'll be hosting my book group on Estonian Independence Day, so a thoroughly eastern block February!