Thatched Cottages

30 Thursday May 2013

Posted by pat in England, History, paintings, Uncategorized

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building, craftsmen, English cottages, thatched roofs

A picture of a traditionally built English cottage from an American point of view may include a thatched roof. What could be more like a fairy tale than that.

A thatched Cottage walking in to Castle Combe in the Cotswolds. Photo by me

Generally, you see a lot more of the slate shingles on older cottages today in England, but a thatched roof is a real treat.

Thatched Cottages, Wyre Piddle. Photo by Terry Robinson, Creative Commons

Thatching is the traditional craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw. The bundles of straw are thickly layered to shed water away from the inner roof. Thatch was used by the majority of homeowners in the countryside and in many towns and villages until the late 1800s.

And then came slate.

A more prominent shingle roof in Castle Combe. Photo by me.

The real commercial production of Welsh slate began in 1820, and along with the innovative building of canals and railways to transport it, it gave builders an alternative material for many English roofs.

Anne Hathaway’s cottage being re-thatched. Photo by Michael Zawadzki from geography.org

Gradually the use of thatch declined, and with it the craftsmen who were professional thatchers. There are approximately 1,000 full-time thatchers at work in the UK now, and it has been growing in popularity again with the interest in historic preservation and using sustainable materials.

Thatched cottages were popular throughout Europe, although England still has the most. “Thatched Cottage at Cordeville” Vincent Van Gogh

A good thatched roof can last over 50 years, and a new layer of straw can be applied over the weathered surface. This is called a “spar coating”. Over 250 roofs in southern England have base coats of thatch that were applied over 500 years ago! Since the 1980s there has been a movement to grow the older varieties of wheat which are tall-stemmed and better for thatching. This has helped renew the feasibility of thatching.

Thatched Cottages in Godshill. Wikipedia.

It’s nice to see a traditional craft becoming popular again. I do just love to see a thatched roof in the English countryside.

Thatched Cottage near Wortham, Suffolk. Photo by Keith Evans, Wikimedia.

Kensington Gardens

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by pat in Art, England, Gardens, London, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace

One of my favorite parks in London is Kensington Gardens.

Entering Kensington Gardens from the Notting Hill side. Photo by me.

Entering Kensington Gardens from the Notting Hill side in autumn. Photo by me.

I discovered it last year, and since then I can’t stay away.

Kensington Gardens’ Round Pond. The perfect spot on a summer’s day. Photo by me.

One of London’s Royal Parks, it flows out from behind Kensington Palace…

Kensington Palace. Photo by me

…to join with Hyde Park on its eastern border.

On the western side of London, Kensington Gardens is next to one of the most desirable areas in London– Kensington–known for some of the best shopping in the city.

Kensington High Street, just a few blocks from Kensington Gardens. Photo by me

It is also very near the popular Notting Hill neighborhood and the famous Portobello market.

Sunday afternoon on Portobello Road at the market. Photo by me.

A crowded Sunday afternoon shopping on Portobello Road at the market. Photo by me.

To the south of the park is the famous concert hall, The Royal Albert Hall, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concert since 1941. It is right across from the Albert Memorial Gate entrance to the park and the Albert Memorial on Kensington Road.

Royal Albert Hall viewed from Kensington Gardens. Photo by David Iliff, Creative Commons

The Albert Memorial. Photo Wikimedia Commons by D. Iliff

And of course right inside the gardens on the west side of the park is Kensington Palace, the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will & Kate) and Prince Harry.

Kensington Palace from the Sunken Garden in June. Photo by me.

The Sunken Garden outside the palace, on the edge of Kensington Gardens. Photo by me.

Kate has been known to walk Lupo in the park with her security guard at her side.

Kate was seen recently walking Lupo around the Italian Gardens in the park.Creative Commons photo

But so far I have not been fortunate enough to run in to them.

The gates between Kensington Palace and the park. Photo by me.

There are lots of dog walkers in the park, and to be a “commercial dog walkers” you do need a license to “operate” in the royal parks. But these British dogs seem very well-behaved, following all the rules…most of the time.

A dog walker takes a break in KG. Photo by me.

You are very aware of the royal residents who used the park as their backyard. This small cafe is next to The Princess Diana Memorial Playground.

One of several small shelters to stop and sit and enjoy the park. Photo by me.

Word has it that the Princess stopped for coffee at the small shop that now bears her name which is right outside the gates that lead to the palace.

The Diana Cafe where I stopped for lunch on my walk around the park back to my hotel. Photo by me.

But it is the beauty of the park itself that keeps me coming back. It is well used by the locals and visitors. You can feel the friendliness as soon as you enter.

A friend captures the foliage and her friend in a photo, while a group of children practice their “football” (soccer in the US) in the background. Photo by me.

No matter what the season, it just seems like a lovely space to meet a friend and spend an hour or two walking.

A painting of Kensington Gardens by me.

Museum Day

08 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

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Guggenheim Museum of Art, MOMA, Museum of Modern Art, oil paintings

One of my favorite ways to spend a leisurely morning is in an art museum. I miss living near a major metropolitan museum now, so whenever I get near a big city I take the time for a visit. And because it is rarer these days that I get the opportunity, I appreciate it even more.

The Guggenheim Museum, NYC. Photo by me

As much as I love the art, it is also the art lovers that I enjoy. As you may know from following this blog I have been painting gallery scenes again.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. Photo by me

The Museum of Modern Art is one of my favorite places to visit in New York City. I grew up near here on Long Island, and even when I was young I escaped as often as possible to “The City”, and to MOMA.

The Lobby from above, MOMA in NYC. Photo by me

It only makes sense that these gallery scenes would show up in my “Cities” series. to see them all, you can visit my art website at www.patwhitehead.com.

Another painting in my “Cities” series that focuses on MOMA museum visitors.

My latest finished painting is a continuation of this theme…Gallery View II.

In the studio. Photo by me

It started as usual with a visit to MOMA

A summer visit to NYC and MOMA. Photo by me

..and a sketch on canvas after the visit.

Gallery View II begins

And just kept building from there.

You can’t imagine how long it took to get the shadowing just where I wanted it on the museum floor. You never know when you start just which area will prove the challenge and what parts will just flow.

One thing I have learned time and time again, though, is to let the “finished” painting sit for a week or so, and then go back in for those final touches.

I love this painting. It was like spending the day at MOMA all over again. I could be any one of these viewers.

The finished painting

accentBritain

~ a romance with art and all things British

Monthly Archives: May 2013

Thatched Cottages

Kensington Gardens

Museum Day