Stranded Mermaid

St Swithun's church in Nately Scures (a very small place just off the A30 near Basingstoke) is tiny and very old, having been built by the Normans. And it has a mermaid.

Now, if you know where Basingstoke is, you'll realise that this mermaid (who lives on the top of the left-hand door pillar shown in the drawing below) is - by UK standards - a long way from home. Noone really knows what she's doing in Nately Scures, but I think that she's really rather charming.

Odiham Castle

Odiham Castle (known locally as King John's Castle) is not actually in Odiham, although it isn't very far away, being nominally in North Wanborough. It isn't really in any village, though; it stands, peacefully, by itself next to the Basingstoke Canal, which - fittingly - does not actually go to Basingstoke.

I was fascinated by the poppies growing on the walls (above).

All sketches A6, executed in fountain pen. 
Top sketch also has Inktense pencil and then more fountain pen ink, both added after leaving the site.

Grand Day Out

Ludgershall Castle

The other side of Ludgershall Castle

Danebury Hill Fort

A lovely day - perhaps the best this week - for driving round in circles in Andover and taking the children to free outdoor attractions.

From up on the downs

A selection of quick sketches made yesterday on a short walk aong the Wayfarer's Walk over Cannon Heath Down and Watership Down.

Langrishing

Langrish (sepia ink)

My car broke down on the A272 yesterday. It developed a coolant leak...

Partial Eclipse of the mist

 Yesterday, Britain experienced a partial eclipse of the sun. Well, I say "experienced", but it was something of a damp squib, really, where I was.

I went up onto the hills, thinking that - should the mist clear - it might be a good vew point. It was... for sketching hills shrouded in mist...

I only knew when the partial eclipse was happening because I looked at my watch. There weren't any other signs that I was aware of)..

Over the Hills to the Pub (and back)

This is the first sketch in my new pocket-sized sketchbook (approximately A5). It was done without pausing - we were on our way to the pub for lunch, and we didn't want to be late!

 I did get to pause briefly for this one as we waited for our bicycling children to, er, push their bikes up the steep bit...

And there was leisure a-plenty at the pub.

But we had to walk home, and the sun was setting, so I was still drawing on the hoof...

These three people were not the best subject for a walk-and-draw, but they looked interesting silhouetted against the sky.

St. Peter's, Headley

 

St Peter's is a pretty little church, surrounded by dense woodland o two sides, that I drive past fairly often. I've stopped to sketch it once before - albeit with less than satisfactory results. But that was a few years ago, and I think I may have got better at quick sketching.

I had to be quite quick - it was cold out there!

As well as the three sketches of the church, I also turned to the woods and a fabulous yew within the churchyard with stonework leaing up against it, and ivy-covered crosses... perhaps some people like their churchyards neat and tidy, but I do rather like to see evidence of nature and the passage of time.

Although I'm not laying claim to any churchyards, of course.

All sketches done using the Japanese calligraphy pen, with graphite added to the churchyard.