Cotehele, Cornwall

Two sketches made a couple of days ago at the National Trust property of Cotehele in Cornwall. The first is The Edgcumbe tea room on Cotehele Quay and the second is a view of some garden trees, crocuses and snowdrops. 

Boar's Bridge, Cotehele, Cornwall

A torrent passes of seemingly boiling water:
tumbling, bubbling and pounding;
white-peaked unstoppable turbulence
below a hovering pale steam-like mist.
Yet to touch: a sharp, penetrating cold,
beneath a crisp icy blue sky.
Clamouring over pebble and stone,
down from the rain soaked hills
through the frost encrusted valley,
alongside hibernating woodland
and through rich pastured fields.
Bankside alders, oak, sycamore
hazel: with soft lamb tails of gold,
silhouetted against the bright sun
with sparkling fingers of condensation.
Their tall shadows carve paths
in eddies of delicate swirling vapour.
Bright laser-like lines of light
burn brilliant translucent greens
on bank-side frozen brambles.

Soon, the warming spring-like sun
and encroaching hillside shadows
dissipates the etherial light show
and the magic of the morning fades.

Italian Garden, Heligan

The Italian Garden at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. I was quite pleased with this sketch which took about an hour or so to do. I had a good comfy seat away from the bright sunlight which made using the iPad much easier and I could settle down to work at my leisure.

Mevagissey

Sketches from Mevagissey in Cornwall: people eating chips on the quayside; a fishing boat; and the view from our holiday cottage patio.

Gorran Haven

Sketches made in the picturesque seaside village of Gorran Haven in Cornwall. A gorgeous place with very steep roads and tiny paths between the houses.

Deep in the woods

Deep in the woods

Where pouring rain darkens the light

I walk along puddled track

Ancient trees provide welcome shelter.

Rain everywhere

Tress dripping.

Deep in the woods.

A face at a window.

I've never seen a cottage

Painted black

With face at a window.

A solid black cottage

Trimmed with bright orange window and door fames

There, in the rain

Deep in the wood.

With ground floor window open

She stares out at my rain soaked figure walking past.

I can hardly make her face out

Is there really someone there

In the shadows of the blackness inside

The black house?

"Morning" she calls out

I acknowledge with a similar reply

And walk on in the rain.

Deep in the woods

She sits at the window

Staring out at the rain soaked world.