Author: Ciscography

Creator, Writer, Blogger.

Rebirth of the English Landscape

Sir Roy Strong is so right about the English landscape. It is intrinsically wound up with English identity; no matter how urbanised we get, all of us who are English, or who may want to be, are attached to the open views of England, the hills, the mountains, the coasts and the fens.

I believe he is right. Scotland and Wales have their own measure of independence. We must discover our own identity and the process has begun, although England and Englishness never went away. She has been patient, waiting for us to open our eyes. The English rebirth has indeed begun in a profound, sustained, inward, but ultimately legitimate way. I hope to play my part in it.

And did those feet…?

Art for Art

Cut backs or not, we can all still appreciate art. You can look but you don’t have to buy. You can buy and it doesn’t have to cost the earth.

I will carry on with my landscapes, seascapes and look to increase my watercolours and pastels (even oil pastels, once my favoured medium).

Why do I do it? The chance to capture that indefinable something.

Cometh the Hour

During the Industrial Revolution, this country produced such notables as IK Brunel; men of genius.

During the Second World War, Churchill was given the job lead us through the dark times. This man had been in the wilderness for years before the outbreak of war – but he was clearly perfect for the role.

Within that conflict, Guy Gibson was flight commander of the Dambuster squadron. They called him rather short, arrogant, not very good with those beneath him… Yet, it was he who flew back several times over the Mohne Dam to draw the fire away from the other Lancasters. A man for the time.

And so to today. Well, where is he or she? Can you see them?

Watercolours on the Way

To augment the oils and acrylics, there will be some watercolours coming soon.
At one stage this was my favourite medium and it will be nice to get back in the swing, so to speak. I like their immediacy but usually, for me at least, there’s no going back once your committed.
A bit like life, really, watercolours.

Lincolnshire Landscapes… Seascapes

At one time, when I was much younger, I didn’t like the flat, south Lincolnshire landscape, even though I was born and raised in it. Yes, it can be drab, especially in the winter, but as visitors are quick to point out, the skies are indeed tremendous.

A Fenland landscape, like any land or seascape, needs a focal point and I have a particular liking for whitewashed farmhouses. Spring is a very good time, as there is a welcome splash of colour with the yellow and white daffodils and narcissi.

In fact, fenland landscapes and especially Lincolnshire landscapes, I regard as a combination of land and seascape. Someone once said that the south Lincolnshire churches sail passed like ships at sea. Quite so.