Tag Archives: coast

harbour abstracts…

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Distressed door, Mousehole.

Distressed door, Mousehole. Digital photo.

A day too wet for sketching on a recent holiday in Cornwall, had me hunting for ‘found abstracts’ with my camera around Mousehole harbour.

I love the way decades, possibly centuries, of Atlantic storms have weathered the painted doors and windows; have rusted locks, handles, harbour mechanisms etc. of this small traditional fishing village on the Cornish coastline.

So here is a selection of the images … hopefully they will inspire my future paintings with their colour combinations, line and texture.

'Money here', Mousehole. Digital photo.

‘Money here’, Mousehole. Digital photo.

Window, Mousehole harbour.

Window, Mousehole harbour.

Boat interior, Mousehole harbour.

Boat interior, Mousehole harbour.

DS & JS, Mousehole harbour

DS & JS, Mousehole harbour. Digital photo.

Rungs, Mousehole harbour.

Rungs, Mousehole harbour. Digital photo.

RJ, Mousehole harbour.

RJ, Mousehole harbour. Digital photo.

Detail, Mousehole harbour.

Detail, Mousehole harbour. Digital photo.

sunshine & scallops in Suffolk …

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Maggi Hambling's Scallop, Aldeburgh. (photo © Mari French)

Maggi Hambling’s Scallop, Aldeburgh. (photo © Mari French)

A drive of 86 sunny miles to Aldeburgh in Suffolk earlier this week, I’d been invited to take a selection of my artwork to Thompson’s Art Gallery on High Street.

They are a well-established gallery, with several large light-filled rooms on two floors and a reputation for showing quality contemporary art; they also have a gallery in London.

It was worth making the journey – Graham, the manager, and Devi, chose six of my abstracted mixed-media landscapes to hang there.

Thompson's Gallery, Aldeburgh (© Thompson's).

Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh (Photo © Thompson’s Gallery).

Later I had time to wander round the town and seafront. There is quite an art presence in Aldeburgh with several galleries and Maggi Hambling’s famous ‘Scallop’ sculpture right on the shingle beach. The words cut into the metal are taken from Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes opera.

On the seafront the interesting structure of the old South Lookout tower is now an art project/exhibition space run by Caroline Wiseman. What an amazing place for an artist! I loved the effect the shadow of its spiral staircase was making on the walls.

Aldeburgh is definitely well worth a trip for artists and art lovers.

South Beach Lookout, Aldeburgh © Mari French 2013

South Beach Lookout, Aldeburgh © Mari French 2013

sitting comfortably …

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Just a few sketches from this week’s visit to my favourite stomping ground … Thornham salt marsh on the Norfolk coast. In celebration of the Queen’s jubilee a new bench has been conveniently sited facing out to sea along the creek. HM had her photo taken on her new bench recently with some of the villagers (Sandringham is nearby).

Thornham salt marsh. Mari French

Thornham salt marsh

It’s a popular spot for locals to rest, but despite the bright sunlight there was a cold northeasterly (there has been most of the year so far), and I had the bench to myself for an hour and could spread out. What a luxury not to be perched on a cold rock or on my waterproof mat on a tussock of grass trying not to lose my brushes or pencils in the grass. I’ll be getting soft 🙂

Emerging sun, Thornham Creek. Mari French

Emerging sun, Thornham Creek.

There was a very low tide… I’ve never seen the mud in the creeks so dry and pale. The blonde smudge of sand reflecting the sun across the near horizon seemed larger and closer than I’ve seen it before, with the channel marker posts standing out clearly. 

Changing light, Thornham. Mari French

Changing light, Thornham.