Author: Sally Wakelin

The Street of Bitterness

Painting

I am thrilled to report that my little painting of tired Cuban restaurant workers has passed the second selection for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. There is still another selection to go before it gets displayed (or not!) There were just under 12,000 submissions, the selectors are now looking at somewhere between 4,000 and 1,200 items.

The Street of Bitterness
The Street of Bitterness

Whitstable – with photographer friends

Landscape, Photography
Covert chip-eating on the beach, hiding beside a groyne - but who is he hiding from . . .
Covert chip-eating on the beach, hiding beside a groyne – but who is he hiding from . . .
Whitstable
Low tide, lots of interesting activity on the beach.
At last by late afternoon the solid grey sky began breaking up and shafts of silvery light played across the sea.
At last by late afternoon the solid grey sky began breaking up and shafts of silvery light played across the sea.
By 7pm the sky was warming up with touches of soft amber that would later become intensely red.
By 7pm the sky was warming up with touches of soft amber that would later become intensely red.
Just before the sun disappeared behind the distant strip of Essex, the view from Tankerton over the huts was pure colour, the grass turning russet.
Just before the sun disappeared behind the distant strip of Essex, the view from Tankerton over the huts was pure colour, the grass turning russet.
By 7:30 above the beach at Tankerton further to the East, the sky was really hotting up for a full-on sunset.
By 7:30 above the beach at Tankerton further to the East, the sky was really hotting up for a full-on sunset.
By 8pm I had retired to the bar for a drink, lending my camera to a friend to catch the last rays for me, brilliant job by James Snelling

France Sojourn : Medieaval Limestone Towns

Architecture, Photography, Travel
Cher river
Reflections on the Cher at St Aignon
Chateau de Loches - French pollarding
Chateau de Loches – French pollarding
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Catherdal de Bourges – French pleaching
Catherdal de Bourges
Catherdal de Bourges
Cathedral de Bourges
Cathedral de Bourges
Even on a cloudy day the stained glass windows lay rich patterns across the pale stone floor in Cathedral de Bourges.
Even on a cloudy day the stained glass windows lay rich patterns across the pale stone floor in Cathedral de Bourges.
Marquetry, Varnishing (French Polish) and Furniture Repairs. Monsieur J. Feuilet is sadly long gone.
Marquetry, Varnishing (French Polish) and Furniture Repairs. Monsieur J. Feuilet is sadly long gone.
Door knocker
Door knocker
Sunlight and shadow on an intricate tiled floor in the house of Jacques Couer in Bourré
Sunlight and shadow on an intricate tiled floor in the house of Jacques Couer in Bourges
The palace of Jacques Couer in Bourges, these two figures lean out to to look, not at each other but in opposite directions from the windows above the entrance to their palace.
The palace of Jacques Couer in Bourges, these two figures lean out to to look, not at each other but in opposite directions from the windows above the entrance to their palace.

IMG_0174

Chateau de Montrichard on the Loire
Chateau de Montrichard on the Loire

Cardigan Bay early one morning

Landscape, Photography

A bright day in Spring, the seagulls are fussing around the cliffs, there’s dew on the grass, wide arcs of gossamer clouds and the sun just tipping over the dark mass of the hill beyond.

cardigan coastCardigan bay

dewy grasses

It is a wild coast. In calm weather a few dolphins or seals might come. If you stand on the coastal path in just the right place, you can look to the North East and the vast fields of caravans are hidden by the ridges and hedges that run down to the cliffs.

Early in the morning you can be almost entirely alone, there are fewer dog walkers than on the beaches and the caravaners get up late. So there’s just the seagulls for company.