DRAWING ON ALBANIA

 Albania Sketchbook: Rugged mountains extensive vast plains welcoming coasts, fertile river valleys. A fascinating country and cultural influence on the rest of Europe!  

Download a PDF of a sketchbook of our eight day journey from this link here here: https://timbaynesart.co.uk/product/drawing-albania/

During our time in Albania our constant companions were the Drino river, the country's longest and the Vjosë, one of the last intact large river systems in Europe.

From Byliss down to the Vjosë, River

The first in a series of Albanian paintings. Gouache on Paper. 30 x 40 cm.

See the painting being created here Link https://youtu.be/ro9KeXZxtZE

Celebrating the country's rugged mountains, vast plains and fertile river valleys. Rivers begin in the east of Albania and loop towards the west into the Adriatic. During eight days in Albania our constant companions were the Drin river the country's longest and the Vjosë, one of the last intact large rivers in Europe.

Second Painting:   Gouache on Paper 30 x41 cm. 

We had stopped on the way to Butrint,  just outside the kiss-me-quick town seaside town Sarandë  and gazed across to Corfu. A chalk white track cut through trees and sage bush and deep orange soil. See the painting being created here https://youtu.be/AH2bG_95770

Add to this the country's quite remarkable history...The rule of Greece and Rome, then a Byzantine playground and they stepped aside for the Ottoman turks: Fast Fwd to a post WW2 Communist rule (42 years). Independence at last from 1992.

A fascinating country and cultural influence on the rest of Europe!

Free to download from timbaynesart

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WILTSHIRE WONDERS 52 FORTS

 

Five miles along the busy A419 is much-loved destination: Castle Hill. It quietly waits the end of a straggly road (Burytown Lane) on the edge of Broad Blunsdon village. Siân and I discovered it soon after our arrival in Wilts. It has been a leitmotif, the inspiration for a number of my paintings and drawings. 

 

This  Iron Age hillfort is something of a conundrum. It is on private land, though apparently frequented by local dog walkers. Although privately owned it is under the dominion of English Heritage.  Look  north to relish some magnificent views across the Thames valley into Gloucestershire.

 

There is a story about this place being built by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell’s men were also supposed to have had a shot at the Highworth church from here, with the cannonball that made the hole in the tower*. A crack shot sir!  (from 4 miles away). 

 

How many Hillforts are there in Wiltshire I wondered?  Wiltshire farmer Mr. Timothy Daw. He has visited and written about all fifty two. Each is celebrated on  his web site https://www.sarsen.org/2022/10/the-52-hillforts-of-wiltshire.html.

 

Tim also has another blog, about Stonehenge Replicas, yes, you guessed it called Clonehenge. 

Barrow Boy* 

In 2013 Tim was given planning permission for a project for a 50 metre-long barrow where families would be able to lease a space inside to deposit six to eight urns containing the ashes of the dead. This is within sight of the ancient Silbury Hill and, on the skyline ridge, the West Kennet Long Barrow built slightly earlier 3650 BC.

 

Oh! The wonders of Wiltshire!

Tim also writes about the joys of life on Substack https://timbaynespainterandwriter.substack.com

 

 

ABU DHABI DAYS

Show opens.

My walk on music Moves Like Jagger.

Then its up on stage, opening remarks and then over to the first speaker, links to the next, and so it goes.

And so it goes on. I do the wrap at 17:00, all on time.

After the show: Back to the Project Office, then through Reception, ice ordered for room.

Arrive before ice to have the vodka cooling whilst a swim.

Back down from pool to room.

Hot bath. Iced vodka.

All on time.

One of Bron's December iTunes mixes - glad I packed the speakers.

The surprise of a great book.

Other peoples' journals never, ever, cease to facinate! The journal which is constant companion of David G Allan is a case in point.

David is the Editorial Director of BBC.com's super new travel site . In the course of collaborating with him, about using of some of my drawings the new blog section on BBC.com/travel which went live this week, I discovered David's remarkable journal. I persuaded him to send me a few samples to share here.

The first illustration is Sleeping Beauty's Castle for a piece David did for the New York Times and second, an exciting experiement to capture trees of the forest by creating an illustrated daily calendar. Enchanting!

The colour world of hand-cooked crisps

The in-store merchansising/display teams for Real Crisps have been doing great work around London with these wonderfully colour displays at many food shops in the West End of London!

The full story on the appetising art is here

In awe of Auerbach

Super clever daughter Bron, currently at Leicester doing art foundation goes to life classes a couple of times a week.

The other day she sent me this wonderful study (full length nude) which immediately reminded me of Frank Auerbach's expressionist - impasto style. Wonderful and full of energy (both pieces)

Featured on the left is an Auerbach portrait.

Auerbach, born in 1931, was at St Martins, then the Royal College.

He was the darling of my tutors at the Slade.

More on Auerbach here

Cold Snap

The other day, out with my framer and great friend Chris, cycling. We were through the woods of Burnham Beeches. With a little snow on the ground in and most leaves off the trees we could almost see into the heart of the wood, we could see for miles through the reflected light. Chilly cold fresh, nose-red bright.

Oh you trees! Oh you winter trees!

Ibiza - Friends re-united

It had to be done. 48 hours in Ibiza with Miss Em. Sun, sea, witnessing arguments on the beach, when I was in the middle of drawing, between a couple from Northern Island; cool meals in cool resturants, 33 degrees C, the Em-ster protecting from girls coming at me out of doorways at midnight and choosing me the coolest bracelets - essential for those subsequent senior business meetings. She's been out there for 13 weeks - done much, learnt much and walks more confidently. Yeah. Yay. Off to Gatwick to collect 01:00 Wednesday. What evs.

Retailology

Skipping throught the holiday snaps I found several that evidently fascinated me for their glimpse into retailing in northern Cyprus. Featured the local fast food establishment, a wonderful book shop, splendid signage and Barbie-esque hardward. Love it!

Creativity Guidelines

Apart from expert tuition, inspiring my output, pushing me to push the boundaries, Christine Lock aka La Presse de Lock also follows strict guidelines in providing the right creative environment in her studio - specifically

1. A constant stream of fresh coffee and on occasion with home made biscuits

2. Outdoor working areas (with view of the Thames) when the sun shines - shown here the view from the studio balcony

3. Excellent luncheons, two courses, - featured a main course: delicious red pesto tarte avec Chèvre.

We did it again 2

Vancouver, Seattle, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Madrid, Paris, Marrakesh, Rome, Istanbul, Cairo, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong, Seoul. All captured in monoprint.

The sessions at the Lock Press across the last eight months have culminated in an exciting body of work for the exhibition JOURNEYS which opens on October 21 at the Circus Gallery in London.

Job Title Envy

What's on your business card?

Master Protector - Shades of Halo 2 and Master Chief. I love it

Seen opposite me on the Underground Train this morning.