Friday, August 08, 2008

Column Week 27

This is my newspaper column, in print today in the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard:



The 'Close to Home' project I started back in May has taken a knock by all the rain we've been having this summer. I sketch the houses 'plein air' which means I complete them whole on location, so the wet spell made it impossible to get any further forward leaving my target of three houses a week more than a little dented.
Then the school holidays began and it seems unfair to traipse my youngest around to sit in front of peoples homes and sketch every day, so I have some catching up to do! That said, I have completed 16 of my hoped 36 sketches and I still have some time before my planned exhibitions nearer the end of the year. I'm hoping a late summer will enable to me to pick this project up after Harry's return to school.
Seeing a strange woman perched on a chair outside your home is not something you witness every day but local reaction has been fantastic and I've met some wonderful people through this project who have made me feel so welcome - Thank you!



11 comments:

MaryO said...

Anita, I don't know if the houses in your neighborhood all have this wonderful storybook quality, or if it's your paintings that give them that charm. Each one seems to look very warm and inviting...

Anita Davies said...

Hmm, I'm unsure too Mary. Perhaps it's my love of all things architectural that comes acros in my paintings?...I'd certainly like to think so. I have enjoyed painting the houses so much.
Thank you for your kind words. :)

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Anita - I love these and totally agree, they do have a storybook charm about them.......

Gillian Mowbray said...

Full marks to you for doing this - the paintings are gorgeous - my fav being the Edwardian style house at the top.
I couldn't even contemplate trying this - I'd be much too nervous to even use my camera!
A great way to network and advertise yourself though. Congrats. x

kazumiwannabe said...

These house drawings are great - I love the first one, such a beautiful house, with all that green around... The visual image of you as a "strange woman perched on a chair" in front of people's houses was fun too!

Fannie said...

Beautiful! Love the details. These drawings would make great real estate advertisements--I would buy . . . ;-D

Dianne said...

These houses are gorgeous, I too agree how charming they are. I would be hounored to have you sketch my house. I've been on holiday with my DS from England so just saw all your wonderful work, only you could make a fan look lovely. When is your show I'd like to plan my trip to england around that time to see all your fabulous work in person.....
Congratulations on the book its brilliant.....

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! We've an areas of our city that are full of similarly styled homes - for a second there, I thought you were here, painting ... ;o)

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Great column with wonderful house studies of charm. So liked the colour washes of subtle colours. When word gets around you'll be invited to do this project again and again all over the UK!!!

Capt Elaine Magliacane said...

Wonderful stuff Anita... might be nice to have some of the houses done when the fall leaves are giving a colorful display... we're having droughts over this side of the pond... so be glad for your rainy summer.

Rita said...

It is so wonderful that you have your own column. Beautiful, charming work, as always! :)