After visiting IWM north, waiting for our daughter to have another interview (still not successful) at Salford Art Gallery and Museum, a pub lunch at the Old Pint Pot…we then went for a walk in Peel Park again and I sketched this. I sketched there in August 2024 (see sketch No.22-2803)….this time I chose a slightly different spot to sit and didn’t use any ink like I usually do.
Thu-29-May-2025
On this day we made a visit to the Imperial War Museum North – which is housed in a “deconstructionist” building (designed by Daniel Libeskind and supposedly “representing a globe shattered by conflict”…though I had to read the blurb on the wall inside to know that). The museum works hard to to engage the interest of visitors – with an complicated layout, huge videos played at regular intervals on the walls and lots of background information about the exhibits. According to the plaque this gun “fired the British army’s first artillery round of the first world war on the western front near Mons, Belgium”.
Thu-29-May-2025
This sketch was done after we had had breakfast in York and then drove to Chorley for my daughter to have an interview and trial shift at a café (unfortunately she didn’t get the job). I napped in the car when we arrived as we had got up at 2:30 am to drive to York Racecourse where our hot air balloon took off. I then sketched this church while we waited. This tower was built in the 15th Century – but there is a documentary record of a church existing here since 1362! There is so much history in the UK.
Wed-28-May-2025
We finally made our hot air balloon ride – after one year and two tries on Mon 26th and Tue 27th (each previous attempt was cancelled due to the weather). It was a fantastic experience with @YorkshireBalloonFlights who were kind, friendly, humorous and professional. The weather was dry (though it tried to rain when we were on the way), but cloudy – and even Ollie (the pilot and owner) didn’t expect it to happen. The flight was not scary at all – smooth with a very gentle touchdown and fantastic views across York. We helped set up and pack up the balloon which was much more massive than we expected! Ollie recommended The Pig and Pastry for breakfast afterwards…I had a traditional UK fry up (veggie version).
Wed-28-May-2025
I had missed doing a sketch, the day before this, because of the long drive up from Brighton, but made up for it by doing two sketches on our first day in Manchester…this is the second one. We started our day with a visit to #FredAldous (my current favourite art supplies shop, where I bought new palette) and ended with a nice cup of tea in this cafe (@mala_mcr), which is described as an all-wooden, pop-up style, outside-inside bar, with a surrealist design ethic.
Mon-26-May-2025
Here is my first sketch done in Manchester at the self-catering place where we stayed – a 35 min walk from our daughters flat. The place was fine – bit sparse on the furniture front and with very carefully labelled crockery and cutlery (giving me the impression that people nick it!). I sketched this while my wife did some work.
Mon-26-May-2025
On this day we made a visit to the Hove Museum of Creativity – where we saw an excellent photo exhibition called “Beside The Sea: Photographs by JJ Waller and Martin ParrParr”, plus a small collection of random crafts and art. In the cafe we had a nice cup of tea and then walked to the seafront where I sketched the famous beach huts (some date back to the 1930’s). However, I felt this sketch was far too gloomy looking and somehow too conventional, so I promised myself, after this, to look harder and sketch bolder.
Fri-23-May-2025
On this day we made a trip to Bodiam Castle. I am sure I visited there as a child – we lived relatively nearby after all – but I have no recollection of going there. Bodiam is like a fairytale version of a castle – a perfect square with circular towers in each corner. The National Trust volunteers pointed out to us where the walls are covered in ancient graffiti with one carving saying “JCB 1691”!
Thu-22-May-2025
After our walk into Brighton I still had enough energy to sketch this at my daughters house when we got home and despite doing 18,000 steps!
Wed-21-May-2025