The Urban Fox

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by pat in London, Scotland, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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When we were in London several years ago, My Beloved Brit and I were walking back from a pub on a dark narrow street, and were surprised to hear a noise in the nearby alley. Looking down the narrow passageway, we saw a red, fuzzy tailed creature escaping from a row of trash cans. The London urban fox.

The Red Fox. photo from creative commons.

Great Britain and foxes have always been closely associated. The red fox is right in there with a cup of tea, the red telephone box and plaid wool. But to see one on a London street was really quite surprising.

The mammal is native to England, and English literature has always made room for the creature– from Reynard the fox in The Canterbury Tales, to Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. The Scottish heroine Isabel Dalhousie of Alexander McCall Smith’s “The Sunday Philosophy Club” novels, welcomes the stealthy presence of a fox in her garden in the city of Edinburgh. Perhaps to her it is a symbol of the wild traditions of the country.

Although the sport of fox-hunting was outlawed in England and Wales in 2005, some of the wily creatures still seem to prefer the cities to the open fields of the countryside. I must admit, London seems a pleasant place to live. I guess the little fox agrees.

What is a Realm?

27 Saturday Apr 2013

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According to the Official Website of the British Monarchy (and who should know better) , “A Commonwealth Realm is a country which has the Queen as its Monarch. There are 15 Commonwealth Realms in addition to the UK: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Papua New Guinea, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St. Lucia and The Bahamas.

Blue: Current Commonwealth Realms, Red: no longer Commonwealth Realms. Wikimedia Commons

Sounds like a wonderful list of places to pop by and visit if you get tired of the British Isles.

The Royal Residences

23 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by pat in History, London, Scotland, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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Balmoral Castle, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Frogmore, Kensington Palace, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sandringham House, St. James's Palace, Windsor Castle

The term “Royal Residence” brings to mind an amazing world of fantasy. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is what an American girl grows up with as her vision of what a royal residence really looks like. But the facts are much different from this fairy tale and much more interesting in England. For many decades, even centuries, kings and queens of the United Kingdom have built or bought incredibly diverse palaces to serve as a family home or workplace–or just a little spot to rule from.

Guarding St. James’s Palace. Photo by me.

Royal Residences fall in to three general categories: Official Royal Residences which are held in trust for future generations, Private Estates which are owned by the Queen and can be private residences for the Queen and her family or may generate income, and Unoccupied Royal Residences which are all other buildings in Great Britain which once housed members of the Royal Family and therefore may be of historical interest.

Sandringham, the Queen’s estate in Norfolk, England. Photo by me.

We have seen many of these incredible palaces and estates on our travels throughout Great Britain, but it might be fun to revisit them here. Some are open to the public, some only allow their gardens to be viewed at certain times of the year, and many of the official residences are used for receptions, investitures, banquets and garden parties.

A lovely place to get some lunch just across the garden from Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

Then there are the private residences, used by the Royal Family for generations. These, too, are sometimes available to see, at least from the outside gardens.

Some visitors waiting outside Kensington Palace in London. Photo by me.

Some feathered visitors waiting outside Kensington Palace in London. Photo by me.

Thanks to the official website of the British Monarchy, I was able to recall all that I had seen, and discover a few I’ve missed. Next visit, maybe.

Buckingham Palace, The Royal Mews and The Queens Gallery

800px-Buckingham_Palace,_London_-_April_2009

Buckingham Palace, London. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 from Wikipedia Commons

Certainly BP is one of the most familiar Royal Residences from viewing years of public events on television. We actually went on a tour of the Palace on one of our first trips together to London. My Beloved Brit had never been inside, and found it fascinating and familiar from all the news footage of the famous residence. The Palace, all 775 rooms of it, has served as the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of Queen Elizabeth II. For information on planning a visit see The Royal Collection website. Just as an aside, there are 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, and 188 staff bedrooms. Oh my!

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle at sunset viewed from the Long Walk in Windsor, England. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 from Wikipedia Commons

Windsor Castle was one of the first of the Royal Residences that My Beloved Brit and I ever visited together. It is quite near Heathrow, and the city of Windsor is a good last stopping point before heading to the airport to come home. The Castle itself is very imposing (it is the largest occupied castle in the world!) and right in city center so great to walk to and view. Windsor has been a Royal home and fortress for over 900 years and still is an active residence today. The Queen usually uses Windsor as a private home, escaping from London on the weekends, but it is also used for more formal duties. Every Easter, the Queen takes up official residence for a month–Easter Court. Many parts of the Castle are open to the public. For more information, check here.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

From The Royal Collection site, visit Palace of Holyroodhouse. © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2013

I think this was one of my personal favorites. I love Edinburgh anyway, and Holyroodhouse has such a strong sense of history. There is so much to see, and much of it seems unchanged from the 1500s. The Queen’s official residence in Scotland, the Palace is closely associated with Mary Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. You can almost feel the court intrigue and drama. I half expected to see blood on the floor. For visitor information, see here.

Frogmore House

Frogmore House. From The Royal Collection site, visit Frogmore House. © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2013

I have never seen Frogmore House, which is no longer a royal residence, but the house and gardens are sometimes used for official receptions or gatherings hosted by the Royal Family. Frogmore is located on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It is most closely associated with Queen Victoria, and was one of her favorite retreats. In the gardens is the Mausoleum where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are buried. Check here for visitor information.

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral in June. Photo by me.

We visited Balmoral in Early June last year, and were shocked to find warm balmy weather…in Scotland!…in June! But we were thrilled. The gardens were active and blooming early that year. You can walk around the gardens, the stable exhibitions and the ballroom at Balmoral, but not actually through the Castle. That was fine. The grounds are magnificent. Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, it is the private residence of the Queen who spends her summer family holiday there every August. Visit the Balmoral website.

Sandringham House

Sandringham House in June. The grounds are as lovely as the house. Photo by me.

This lovely sprawling house on a charming estate is in Norfolk in Eastern England, and we got to visit it last summer. It has been the private home of Sovereigns since 1862. The Queen and members of the Royal Family spend Christmas at Sandringham, and you can walk the grounds as they do each year, strolling from the grand main house to the small church where they attend Christmas services. We were able to tour the grounds and gardens, a large museum and exhibition in the stable block which had an extensive car collection, as well as walk through the main level of the house. We could even gaze at the table where the Queen works on her crossword puzzles. It was all very intimate and warm. For information on times when you can visit the residence, check here.

St. James’s Palace

St James’s Palace during Jubilee Week. Photo by me.

This historic palace is not open to the public, but when we stay in London at My Beloved Brit’s sailing club, we pass it every day on our way to the Mall and other parts of London. It is home to several members of the Royal Family and their household offices. One of London’s oldest palaces, it is just north of St. James’s Park. It was originally commissioned by Henry VIII and constructed between 1531 and 1536 in red-brick Tudor style around four courtyards.

Kensington Palace

The Gates at Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

The home of several members of the Royal Family, one of the most interesting and exciting facts of KP is that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will & Kate) who currently live there and are in the process of renovating the much larger apartment that used to be Princess Margaret’s. Hopefully all will be done in time for the arrival of baby Prince or Princess, but word has it the renovation may not be ready until the autumn. I love Kensington Palace and one section of it reopened to the public just a couple of years ago. It has incredibly well done exhibitions of Royal Apartments, Queen Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert, and special displays. It also has a marvelous tea shop attached to the gift shop, where you can find a quiet reprieve from a day of touring. For information on visiting, check here.

Clarence House

Standing Guard outside of Clarence House. Photo by me.

I actually saw the Queen Mother exiting through the London gates of Clarence House on my very first visit ever to London…even before I knew My Beloved Brit even existed. I think that hooked me on GB Royal Tradition. Everyone lining The Mall stopped and waved as she waved back through the car window. It was her home from 1953 until 2002. Clarence House is still on my list to visit, and I am hoping perhaps this summer I may be able to check it off. It stands right beside St. James’s Palace on The Mall and was built between 1825 and 1827. It is now the Official residence of The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and is open to the public during the summer months each year. Although it was closed last summer, because of the logistics of the Olympic Games in London, it will re-open summer 2013. For information, check here.

Unoccupied Royal Residences There are many buildings throughout Great Britain that have a Royal connection. Some, like Osborne House, the much-loved home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of Wight, The Brighton Pavillion, a former residence of George IV when he was Prince Regent, Hampton Court Palace (home of Henry VII), and The Tower of London where the Crown Jewels can be seen. For more information on these, and other unoccupied Royal residences, click here.

Osborne House. Photo from Wikipedia Commons WyrdLight.com

Osborne House from the lower garden, Isle of Wight. Photo from Wikipedia Commons WyrdLight.com

I won’t go in to any more detail here, but if you have time, explore The Royal Residences of Great Britain preferably in person, but, if nothing else, online. It gives such a wonderful picture of the United Kingdom’s Monarchy and the rich history of the country. Happy exploring.

Hollywood Sends Greetings

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by pat in Art, History, movies, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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King George V, Silver Jubilee

I found this wonderful item on The British Monarchy’s photostream on Flickr. British residents in Hollywood sent greetings to King George V on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee in 1935. Click the link to see a few famous signatures. Even more fascinating to me as a former full-time graphic designer, is that the copyright on the image is to Queen Elizabeth II 2013! Her Majesty has a Flickr account AND a copyright.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishmonarchy/8618331893/

King George V by Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (1843-1927), The Royal Collection © 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Art of Bath

04 Thursday Apr 2013

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

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Bath School of Art & Design, F.P. Hay, Fashioon Museum of Bath, Thomas W. Schaller

I spend so much of my time in the studio getting lost in my own work, that sometimes I just want to see what the rest of the world of art is doing. I subscribe to lots of art magazines, and try to visit museums whenever I can. This year, planning the workshop in Bath for September, I thought it might be interesting to see how other artists viewed this particular city.

The beautiful city of Bath. Photo by me.

When I was in the historic English city last autumn, I was entranced with the various galleries and studios. Bath is a city of artists. So I decided to visit the internet and see if I could find some other artistic interpretations of the city.

The New Bridge at Bathwick, Bath, England. 1830 engraving by FP Hay, hand watercoloured on print

One of the most interesting places I came across was the Bath School of Art and Design. Located at the top of Sion Hill ion the outskirts of town, the school provides workshops and studios for many students.

From Bath School of Art and Design website, “Inside the Studio”

In No. 4, The Circus, is the schools fashion center, which is very close to the incredible Fashion Museum. The school is an eclectic mix of new and old, “From age-old, artisan printing techniques to cutting edge 3D printing technology…” as their website states. Visiting artists have included Claus Oldenburg and Jim Dine. Fashion & Textiles, Ceramics, photography, graphic design…the list of BA and MA courses of study at the school is varied and interesting. I hope I have a chance to visit next time I return.

I also came across an artist, Thomas W. Schaller, who does hauntingly beautiful watercolors. This one of the Royal Crescent is just stunning. He has emphasized the dramatic dominance of this stately architecture above the park. It really is a gorgeous piece, and seems to capture both the rich architectural history of the city, as well as the ever changeable weather of England.

Royal Crescent-Bath, England, Thomas W. Schaller

Of course, architecture would have to be an important theme in Bath art. Another example is Therese Lessore, who painted “Bath” in 1938-1943. The painting is part of the National Museums Liverpool collection, and can be seen at Walker Art Gallery.

Bath, Therese Lessore, oil on canvas

Shane Feeney is an artist based in Bath. His style is colorful and dramatic, especially in his series on the Bath Abbey inspired by Monet’s Rouen Cathedral series..

Bath Abbey, Shane Feeney

The more I looked, the more I found interesting examples and interpretations of the city. It seems to inspire artists to work in many different styles. Just look at these two paintings. The Holburne and the bridge are literally a short walk from each other, and yet artistically they are worlds apart. It makes me want to return and see for myself.

The Holburne Museum, Bath, Peter Brown

Lesley Olver

T.C.K. The Culture Gap

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by pat in Bath, England, London, Travel, Uncategorized

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culture, T.C.K.

“Third Culture Kids” is a term used to describe kids who have spent their development years outside their parents’ culture…often they have lived in several countries as they have grown up, and never quite feel part of any one culture. When asked “Where are you from?”, they often hesitate while they contemplate the answer.

Liverpool Street Station, London. Photo by me

Home is where the heart is—and these children often grow up traveling and living in many different places. So their “roots” tend to be people, not places.

The train station in Bath, England. photo by me

I can understand this. I spent my formative years on Long Island and most of my “career” years as a graphic designer going between Washington DC and New York City in the United States. But as I matured, I traveled further and further away from my home shores.

The Chrysler Building, NYC. Is this home? Photo by me.

By the time I met My Beloved Brit, I felt comfortable with experiencing cultures in many foreign countries, so when we decided to move lock stock and barrel to the Caribbean (although still technically American–St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands) for 8 years, it was not nearly as scary as it might sound.

Home in the caribbean on distant shores. Photo by me

Home in the Caribbean, on the distant shores of St. John.

Now, although comfortable back in the US, we do experience wanderlust and never know where we might land in the future.

The Lake District, Grasmere, England. Photo by me.

Thank goodness for Facebook, Twitter and Skype. We have friends and family as far away as Australia, Portugal and The Philippines, and I can’t imagine what our phone bill would be without these forms of cheap global communication.

Pont Alexandre Bridge, Paris. Photo by me

The world is our home, and like the T.C.K. kids, our home is where our friends and families are, wherever that might be.

The Pub

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by pat in Cornwall, England, entertainment, Food, Music, Uncategorized

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a pint, beer gardens, chips British, fish and chips, pubs

On a windy, rainy, March day, there might be nothing better than a visit to an English pub. It can warm you up and cheer the day.

A pub in Charlestown, Cornwall. Photo by me

Most likely there is a fire in a corner of the room somewhere…at the very least, a heated discussion at the bar about the latest football match (our soccer).

A country pub in Castle Combe. Photo by me

A pub is one of my favorite places to eat. They usually have a huge menu with lots of choices, both healthy and otherwise, and if nothing else, I can get a warm jacket potato (baked potato) with baked beans and cole slaw. These pubs are cozy and usually “Cheap and Cheerful”, as the British say…a social gathering place as well as a place to eat or grab a drink.

The "High" Street in Burnham has several pubs up and down. Many have their favorite, or "local". Photo by me

The “High” Street in Burnham has several pubs up and down. Many Brits have their particular favorites, or “local”. Photo by me

And there is almost always someone you know if it’s your “local”. Rather like Cheers, UK style.

Southwold is a brewery town (Adnams Brewery-we did the tour), and has many, many pubs at the edge of the sea in eastern England. Photo by me.

I remember growing up in New York and there was an American version of the English pub in every town, or town center.

The pub at the Broadway Hotel in the Cotswolds…a modern twist on a classic Inn. Photo by me

The front room would have the bar and most likely a dart board. The back — the family dining room, often with great inexpensive Italian food.

A pub in Bath, with a great restaurant upstairs. Photo by me

A city pub in Bath,England with a great restaurant upstairs. Photo by me

It’s much the same in England, although the front room bar serves the pint of beer warm, the dining/family area most likely serves fish and chips and gammon (ham) and chips (fries), and there almost alway is a karaoke night.

A friendly pub lunch stop while touring Norfolk area of England between country estate house tours. Photo by me.

A friendly pub lunch stop we made while touring Norfolk area of England between country estate house tours. Photo by me.

If weather permits, there is also usually a beer garden with tables and space for the children to run around.

There is usually space outside to sit. We are always amazed to see people outside on a chilly grey day. Photo by me

There is usually space outside to sit. Hunstanton, Norfolk, England. Photo by me

We are always amazed to see people outside on a chilly grey day sitting in the garden.

A pub on the water in Fowey, Cornwall with great fish and chips. Photo by me

A pub on the water in Fowey, Cornwall with great fish and chips. And mushy peas! Photo by me

One pub I remember even had a room upstairs with a bouncy castle. This definitely is a family affair in England.

A pub in the Lake District on our way to Scotland. Photo by me

The interesting thing is that the social dynamics are very similar to what I remember from New York.

In Essex, our last stop to meet friends before heading to Heathrow. Photo by me

One night sitting in a pub waiting for dinner to come with My Beloved Brit and cousins in Cornwall on the Southwest coast, we watched as the ladies came in and stood at one end of the room, and the men came in and stood at the other.

The White Hart in Burnham. A popular place to meet. Photo by me

By the time we finished dinner, and a few pints later, the two sides had begun to talk to each other, and it might just prove to be an eventful night.

A London pub at Happy Hour. Photo by me

Of course we elders were gone way too early to really see all the excitement. When the music started, it was time to make our exit.

Why travel abroad?

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

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

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Joshua Tree, New York City, Paris

Many Americans do not have a passport, which is unimaginable to me. Statistics estimate only about 30% of Americans have passports.

Grand Central Terminal, New York City. Photo by me.

When My Beloved Brit first came to America to be with me, he was stunned by how large this country really is. One long drive from Washington, DC to Maine and he had a much better understanding of why so many Americans never leave home.

My Beloved Brit in Maine. Photo by me.

You want palm trees, we’ve got Hawaii, or Florida–from St. Augustine to Key West.

A cruise ship departs from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Photo by me.

Big cities? Of course. On both coasts, and top and bottom.

Times Square, New York City. Photo by me

The metro in LA, California. Photo by me

Mountains? Try out west or the gentler slopes of Vermont.

Driving cross-country, we understood what they meant by “big sky country”. Photo by me

MBB at Yosemite, and yes, he is hating the cold. Photo by me.

Dessert…yup.

Joshua Tree...the dessert in the snow. Photo by me.

Joshua Tree near Palm Springs…the dessert in the snow. Photo by me.

Crossing western Texas. Photo by me.

Oceans…two of them.

The Atlantic on the east coast. Photo by me.

And lots of bays.

My Beloved Brit looking towards San Francisco on the west coast. Photo by me

Green lanes, quaint villages and lush gardens…New England was named that because it must have reminded the settlers of home.

A quiet stroll in Bath, England. You could easily find a similar scene in New England in America.

We do love exploring these great United States, but there is something totally astounding about going to a new land where the currency, the language (and being married to MBB, I am convinced American and British are two different forms of English), the food, and the customs are, well, foreign.

A cafe in Paris with this architecture is unique to the city.

A cafe in Paris under these ancient columns is so “Parisian”.

I love escaping from my own comfortable cocoon and going to a world where nothing is quite so familiar.

Versailles in early spring. Photo by me.

And of course, that is what I do with my art.

Me at Capa Rocha. Portugal

And one of the many “Wave” paintings that came from this journey. painting by me.

But you must already know that if you read this blog.

(For information on the creativity workshop “The Creative Journey: finding inspiration in travel for the visual artist”, click on “workshop” at the top of this page.)

Kensington Gardens and an afternoon stroll

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by pat in Art, England, Gardens, London, paintings, sketching

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Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace, parks

There is nothing quite like a stroll in a park with a couple of good friends, especially on a magically sunny day in London’s Kensington Gardens.

In to Kensington Gardens on a lovely fall day. Photo by me

When I was there last autumn, I couldn’t resist a cup of tea in the nearby Kensington Palace tea shop, and then out in to the park.

The entrance to Kensington Palace where there is a special little tea shop. Photo by me

There were people strolling and biking, but these three women caught my attention. They could just as easily be me and my friends in Central Park. There is something so universal about the scene.

Just outside the palace gates, friends move down the path. Photo by me

So when I started to paint the scene, I wanted the trees to become almost a halo around the three figures, setting them apart from the world around them. And I cropped it so that the women were the center of our attention.

The three figures become front and center with cropping.

As I layered the golden branches, the recollection of mood took over, and the painting definitely took on an aura that was true.

Tones are worked on.

And detail was added that I knew would actually be part of a underpainting. This is the tricky part.

Bolder strokes are added that I want to show through the haze.

It is always quite scary to then brush over the image to create a mood, and decide how much to cover in the haze and where to remove the overlay of color. This is why I love oils. They are forgiving in the layering process. If it doesn’t work out, you can always add more layers.

A soft layer of gold is added overall except over the figures.

Finally, detail is added, some of the haze is gently removed, and I have accomplished the mood I originally hoped for.

The final canvas.

The friends are lost in their own world but encased in the glow of the autumn leaves. The perfect day with friends.

Twee

24 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by pat in Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Downton Abbey, language, movies, twee

Twee. Such a sweet word. And that is just what it means. According to Webster…

Chiefly British: affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint. Example: The movie was a bit twee for my taste.

A London shop window during jubilee. Twee? I think so. Photo by me.

The first known use was in 1905, and the origin is thought to be the baby-talk alteration of sweet.

Now, some of my British friends have referred to Downton Abbey as twee. And I was taken aback when looking at descriptions of one of my favorite British sit-coms, As Time Goes By to see that it was suggested it might be a bit “twee”.

A cottage in Castle Combe that is lovingly, purposefully “twee”. Photo by me

Of course, we American are just suckers for twee. That is what many of us expect to see when we travel to England, or go to a British film. Think of the movie The Holiday, or Sense and Sensibility.

It makes me think I might like a world that is just a bit twee, although, like too much chocolate, you can sometimes have too much of a good thing.

accentBritain

~ a romance with art and all things British

The Urban Fox

What is a Realm?

The Royal Residences

Hollywood Sends Greetings

The Art of Bath

T.C.K. The Culture Gap

The Pub

Why travel abroad?

Kensington Gardens and an afternoon stroll

Twee