Canyons and Red Sandstone ...

This years trip to the USA was really special.Our centre was the town of Flagstaff some 7000 feet up on a plateau which made for a great place to take in all the delights of the Arizona countryside. Anyone who thought Arizona was all desert should spend some time here and get a whole new perspective on the place.

After a very long flight and 3 airports later we arrived at our house in Flagstaff which was large and airy and only a stones throw from the airport which made a nice change ( usually have had to travel hours to our accommodation in the past ) After a good ole breakfast at The Place we got the local info and headed out to some of the locations for painting.

Sunset Crater and the magnificent outline of the Sanfranciso Peaks were our first port of call and then we drove on round the 'loop' to paint at the pueblo ruins at Wupatki. Our next trip down the Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona was an absolute marvel.Snaking our way down this canyon presented us with breathtaking views at every turn.After lunching at Sedona we made our way to the Cathedral peak group of bluffs which is a famous landmark in the area. After a recce of the area we set up our easels under the shade of some trees and did this sketch of the rocks.

Our BIG trip was to the South rim of the Grand Canyon which we joined on the eastern edge and then made our way west. Well what can I say !!!!! it was truely AWESOME !! There were a few clouds about which laid some lovely shadows over the canyon and made the whole experience very exhilarating.. I was here in 1980 but it was still a big thrill to take in this VAST landscape once again.

Our last outing took us to a small town out on Route 66 with its own 'Grand Canyon Railway'. The old loco parked up on a siding was too good to miss so I sketched it in the heat of the midday sun... and I got roasted !

The Rain in Spain ...!

One of the things that really struck me this visit to the Finca was the fact there were a host of grapes hanging from the vines in the patio area...so I just had to paint them ! In previous years the vines had always been cut back so this year it was good to see this area in a new light. The shade from the vines also made for some very welcoming shade against the sun and cast some lovely shadows.
The first week was wall to wall sunshine but the second week saw some rather wet and windy weather towards the end of the week which was rather a pity. Our trip to The Balcon at Nerja saw us sitting under a cafe awning watching an absolute downpour and the people in various rainwear trying to dodge the wet !

One of the highlights was to actually get to paint the 'Gaudi' House in Benajarafe. I named it thus as it reminded me of the architecture of Antonio Gaudi whose vivid coloured buildings grace many streets in Barcelona.

The Hills of Lazio/Tuscany !

Once again I was off to pastures new with Bella Sardinia, this time to the delights of Lazio /Tuscany up around Lake Bolsena. We stayed in a lovely old converted castle which was our base for the week. During the week we visited the small town of Sovana...in the rain would you believe !!!!!!!! Aparently the weather had just changed and we were due for a wet spell which was not what we were expecting !

As the week wore on however the weather picked up and we got some real Italian heat and also some cracking places to paint.Our trip to Lake Bolsena was lovely and we spent the full day painting over the lake to Capodemonte in the morning and then back to the town of Marta.

But the jewel in the crown was the 'dying city' of Civita which was literally perched on top of a huge dome of rock in the middle of this valley. Over the years buildings have fallen into the valley due to earthquakes and soil erosion and what is left is this stunning group of buildings hanging on to the hillside.I painted this sketch in the morning then made my way up the very steep bridge to the town itself, and boy was it HOT !!
So we got some good weather in the end !

Urchfont Swan Song ....

This was my last weeks painting with the folks at Urchfont Manor which was to close in a couple of weeks due to a council sell off !! But we went out with a bang !! Once again we were painting the 'Pubs of Wiltshire' and we managed to get some super ones in our sketchbooks. We were lucky with the weather as the forecast was quite gloomy but we managed to dodge the downpours.
Needless to say I had to sample some of the terriffic local ales that were on tap, many from micro breweries in the area.

We had one really awful day  weatherwise when we decided to give up on the pubs and headed out to Salisbury Cathedral for the day. What an incredible building it is too ! We managed to get to paint in a part of the cloisters that was cordened off to the public so we had a nice quiet place to paint away from the hustle and bustle...but it did get darned cold towards the end !!

Life on the Ocean wave....!

Once again I did a cruise with P & O this year, this time on the Oceana around the western Med. Thankfully this cruise was a whole lot better than last years as this time I was not ill and I also had my old mate and 'Watercarrier' Keith with me which made it a very pleasant experience.
The Painting workshops were well attended and people were very enthusiastic, some turning up half an hour early for the sessions. Also there were some very bright and vibrant paintings produced during the voyage which was really exciting seeing as many had never done watercolours before.

Once we docked at Barcelona we went ashore and walked around the city taking in the sights, especially the Gaudi architecture ( the top pic is the Casa Batllo ). Rome was fantastic and we walked miles around the city taking in most of the famous sights and seeking out some of the quieter backstreets on the way. The temperature was around 37 C and at times I thought I was going to melt.

The ship moored up in Monaco and we made our way up to the Princes Palace where I did the bottom sketch in the shade of a small garden overlooking the harbour.
I did the sketch of Ajaccio harbour from the ship and just managed to get it finished before the ship pulled out. How's that for timing.!

Our return to Southampton saw bright sunshine which was a nice change seeing how the weather was lousy when we left.

Out and About in Wiltshire...!

Another great week with the 'Travelling Sketchbook' seeking out some of the lovely places in the county of Wiltshire. The weather forecast for the coming week was not good but as luck would have it we only had to run for cover a few times and that was only light rain so we were let off really lightly.

 We started off at Devizes wharf and during the week we made our way round to visit Littlecote House, Stonehenge, the Woodfords and also Pewsey Wharf ( the pic above).Luckily ,this visit was to be bathed in sunshine, unlike last year when we were to spend the day in the pub !!!!!!!!!!( I know, what hardship !)

On the last day I did this sketch of Urchfont Manor to remind me of this lovely building and grounds before it is sold off by Wilts Council ! It will be a crying shame when this place goes as I have spent many very happy weeks teaching here . The staff have always been great and made me feel at home and we have had some great fun teaching people to paint in and around area.

 Well I have just one more week in Aug, Painting the pubs of Wilts and I guess that's it !

Help me RONDA....!!

Apologies to the Beach Boys but couldn't resist it !!!

Once again my trip to the Finca in Andalucia was a great experience. A welcome return to the lovely little white village of Marcharaviaya is always a joy with its quiet streets and grand church entrance, all very paintable . The one and only bar was just off round the corner and was just the ticket for that cold beer after the painting session.
A new venue was found just above the panorama bar where we usually go in the area. This restaurant overlooked the hillside village of Isnate with the distant mountains in the background. The bottom pic is the sketch I did there. We ate lunch in the restaurant and it went down a treat.

The highlight of the week was our trip to the wonderful city of Ronda, a place I have wanted to visit for years....and I wasn't disappointed !! We drove up in convoy through some magnificent scenery, very different from the coastal views I was used to. Our afternoon stay was at a small village just about 10 minutes out of Ronda itself and what a treat that was . A few of us were staying in the tiny cottage down a small lane and right by a stream which was quite idyllic. The afternoon painting session was done in and around the cottage and my top pic is the view looking back at the cottage  from the lane. The evening meal was in the hotel in the village right next to a series of waterfalls. Couldn't resist doing a demo of them in the morning !

Then it was off to Ronda. Parking is a problem so we parked in a quieter part of town and walked in.
What a place. It was baking hot and there was a lot to see so I got my skates on and took in all the magnificent views in and around the Puente Nuevo. Climbing halfway down the hillside to get the classic view was fine but making our way back up the steep path in the heat was quite exhausting ! All in all a truly terrific tour !

A Great pint of Spitfire ...!

My recent trip to Kent threatened  to be a rather dull and wet affair but the sun came out in fits and starts and was not half as bad as it was predicted.
Bob and I went to Faversham for the day to get in a bit of sketching. We set up in the road to paint this rather grand view of the Anchor Inn, a 300 year old pub at the bottom of the town just up from the quay. A very friendly lady who lived in a house on the right offered us a cuppa which went down rather nicely !
After the sketches were done we sampled the delights of the pub grub and a great pint of Spitfire !

Moody Moors

Once again I was delighted to be invited to North Yorkshire to tutor painting workshops. The top pic was a demo I did of a view looking down into Rosedale. The beauty of having some cloud around is that you get lovely shadow patterns over the landscape which can be very effective in a painting.
We started the weekend workshop off with watercolour then the second day I got everyone painting with the new Atelier Interactive Acrylics which produced some very exciting results. The bottom pic was painted with these.
The Great Day out saw us traversing the Moors for some 'moody' shots as the day started out rather cloudy. However, around lunchtime the clouds started clearing and the weather got better and better and by the end of the day it was hot and sunny.
Cant wait to get some of those images committed to 'canvas' !

Wall to Wall Sunshine ...!

The weather forecast for our week in Lynmouth looked rather a mixed bag of wet and dry...but not a bit of it ! It was sunshine all the way with clear blue skies which was a real treat .

We got to do a bit of sketching in the harbour on the first afternoon to get into the 'swing' of it.

Our Hotel was the small and friendly Rock House perched right on the mouth of the River Lyn at the entrance of the harbour. There is literally a different view from every window.

Our first day out we drove down into the valleys and stopped at the small hamlet of Malmsmead with it narrow bridge and ford which was so captivating that we stayed all day. At times the only sounds you could hear were the murmouring of the river and birdsong....Bliss !!

The next day we headed up to the Valley of the Rocks where we picked a spot right on the cliff path with far reaching views right across to the far headland. It was quite warm in the sun but darned nippy in the shade !

On our last day we went up the Cliff Railway to Linton and spent a very pleasant few hours sketching and drinking coffee.

I have already booked dates at the Rock house for next year so if this a break that would suit you please check my website for details.

What a Great Island...!

This was my first visit to Mallorca and I was very pleasantly surprised ! I had this image in my head of lager louts and kiss me quick hats, but not a bit of it ! The island is extreemly pretty with views round every corner.
Our hotel was extreemly comfortable and friendly and the food was excellent with bags of choice. Our first day out painting on the Playa de Palma was very pleasant with the sea a deep turquoise. Next day we took a trip into Palma and painted the Cathedral and the docks.
The highlight of the week was our artists 'trip' to the east side of the island to paint in the lovely harbours of Cala Figuera and Porto Petro which were absolutely delightful. The weather closed in for a day but then brightened up again for our trip up into the mountains to the town of Valdemosa .
Our last excursion was on the mountain railway up to Soller. We spent the whole day up in this mountain resort with its lively squares and bustling trams which cut right through the streets .

So all in all I must say I was very impressed with all thing Mallorcan !

No Oeuf's, No Oeuf's

This year I went to tutour a week in Corsica with John and Maria of Bella Sardinia...and what a magical place.

We stayed in a small and friendly hotel right on the waterside with a small raised terrace overlooking the beach where we would have breakfast and evening drinks. The view from here was very paintable and that was exactly what we did on the first day.

Setting off up into the mountains we spent a day painting in the super littlevillage of Pigna with far reaching views over the coastline. Then we went to the seaside town of L'lle Rousse with its white columned marketplace and large tree lined square which was a joy to paint.

Back into the mountains, this time to the charming old hilltop village of San Antonino with its maze of interlocking pathways and alleys that lead you to some breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the mountains. We set up in the small shady square and I painted this view of the chapel and the steps. Lunch was in 'I Scalini' a tiny restuarant perched right on the top of the village with 360 degree views.

My other painting was done one night after dinner outside the hotel looking down the road to the archway that was all lit up. There was not much light to work by so it was almost 'paint by instinct' but the result turned out quite well I think !!

Florences' Big Adventure

Sadly, two weeks ago Flo, our little tortoiseshell ( pictured here with Woody ) was put to sleep but she was 19 years old ! And not before she went on her big adventure !
All the years we have had her she has never wandered away from home but a few months ago she went missing. In latter months she had become blind and almost deaf and she became painfully thin so we were thinking that the end was in sight, then she dissapeared. We searched for her high and low but no Flo.
On the fourth day of her dissapearance we decided to walk down into the village about a quarter mile away and caught sight of a 'FOUND CAT' poster stuck on a telegraph pole which looked just like our little cat...and it was !
Some really kind people at Trecilla Barn had seen her in a field behind their property and taken her in. Not knowing where she was from and seeing she was blind and rather thin they took her to their vet for a check over and put up the posters in the village.
We really had resigned ourselves to the fact that we wouldn't see her again and here she was.
When they found her she was soaking wet and had obviously fallen in the brook on the opposite side of the road. How she had ever negotiated the road, got across the brook and walked all the way down into the village I will never know...but she did and we had her for another month after that.
So for our little deaf and blind 19 year old cat who had never before left home it really was her last 'Big Adventure '

No troubles with Tunisia...!

What an eye opener this trip was. I think we were all in agreement that this was a really friendly place to be and there was no sign of trouble or any animosity towards us . Our hotel really did look after us and even though it was only about a third full the staff did not skimp on service or FOOD ! I have never seen such an array of different and exciting fare served up by a hotel before, it was amazing.

I wont say too much about the freshly made pancakes...suffice to say they went well with the breakfasts, lunches and dinners ( slight addiction here i fear !)

Seeing this was N Africa , when the wind blew it was a bit chilly and on one occasion we did some sketching in the vast hotel lobby which was a picture in itself.

Our trip to Tunis and the Souq was another eyeopener. Everyone seemed happy to see us and many came up to us to thank us for coming to their country.

All in all a very pleasant experience especially after all the turmoil that went on earlier in the year.

My New Book out in Sept

Exciting News !! My new book has just gone off to the publishers ready for a Sept print date ! The book is published by Halsgrove and is 144 full colour pages, hardbound and you will be able to order your signed copy direct from me when it is available.

Please check on my web page for info on ordering later on in the year. I will also be doing a 'tour' to art clubs and societies with a Book Signing and Demo so if your group would be interested please contact me for details.

Great week in SARDINIA

After a three hour delay at the airport I at last arrived at Alghero airport and was greeted by Maria who whisked me off to the lovely little Hotel Funtanerana fourty minutes drive away.

After meeting everyone we got to grips with some painting and sketching interspersed with the odd 'Ichnusa', the local beer. My first sketch , which i have included here, is of the fountain that gave the Hotel it's name. The weather was getting rather WARM to say the least.

Our first trip was to the small riverside town of Bosa about an hour's drive from the hotel. I couldn't get over how UNDER populated Sardinia was as we hardly saw any development on our trip...what a refreshing change ! We spent a very enjoyable day in Bosa with packed lunches by the river.

Another day out took us to Maria's parents vineyard 'Badu Oschiri' where we were greeted with Sardinian hospitality , food and of course WINE !! The temp was well into the 30's so it was rather warm and the paint was drying as fast as you put it on the paper.

Our trip to the old town of Alghero was very interesting with it's wealth of old buildings , then it was off to the beach for lunch and a dip in the sea. Sadly some bad weather had washed a lot of the sand away and there were too many rocks about. The landlord of the taverna plied us with the local Grappa which nearly blew our heads off.

This was the first holiday I had done with Maria and John who were great hosts and made sure everyone's needs were well catered for. I am looking foward to tutouring for them again next year so watch this space !

check out all my holidays on barryherniman.com

Taking a trip...

This Spring's trip to the Finca proved to be extra exciting ! After a few days to get to grips with a few techniques we set off to the coast for a few days, travelling westwards towards Gibralta and beyond.

Lunchtime and we stopped off for a drink and a bite to eat at the Hurricane Hotel and boy was it well named. There was a really fierce wind blowing but that didn't stop me dashing off a quick sketch of the beach area even though I had to tie my sketchbook down to stop it flying away !

We had now left the warm waters of the Med and were now on the Atlantic Coast.

Travelling further up the west coast of Spain towards Cadiz we stopped off at the small resort of Zahara de los Atunes where we stayed the night.

Doing a sketch atop a large sand dune I was almost sandblasted by the time I had finished.

Next morning we set off inland to Medina Sidonia, a small viilage named after the Admiral of the Armada. After a very pleasant mornings painting we headed back to the Finca through some really stunning scenery. Must get to paint some of these scenes one day !!

All Columned Out ...!

This year our first overseas Painting Holiday was to Greece. We stayed on the coast on the mainland due east from Athens on Vravrona Bay. Our hotel was in a very quiet position overlooking the water and a pretty headland which we painted a few times perched on the bar balcony ( with the odd Methos or two for good measure !)

Our first trip out took us south to the temple of Posidon on Cape Sunio which gave us our first taste of a real Greek temple. The main attraction was a day out to Athens and the Parthenon which I have always wanted to see. After climbing the many steep and slippery marble steps we passed through the entry arch of the Propylaea and got our first glimpse of the Parthenon. What a structure, quite exhilarating. After picking a spot right next to the guard rail I sketched this pic looking up at the temple. For the purists among you I have only included 7 columns in the front

portico instead of 8 as I was running out of steam but I'm sure my secret is safe with you!

Managed to get another 2 pics done before it was time for lunch and by that time we were all ' Columned out' as Ann said . After lunch there was a mass migration to the Ice Cream parlour for some great flavours and some even went on to the bakery for a Baclava ( I mention no names !)

Next day we visited the small temple of Artemis which we could almost see from the hotel. When we got there it was closed to the public which was a real nuisance but did manage to get this other sketch done from the boundary fence so all was not lost .

The weather on the whole was very warm and sunny but there was the odd cold wind which brought out the jumpers and fleeces !

Up North...to SUN !

Going up to North Yorkshire to the Leven Arts Society is always a treat and this year it was even better...we had sunshine, and loads of it ! After the surprise results from last years session I decided to do the workshops using Mixed Media, Pastel and Watercolour.

The results were truely amazing ! I have never seen so much colour and excitement in everyones paintings before. The watercolour washes that went on to the paper were
really bold and free which is a 'Brucie Bonus' believe me ! Then in with the pastel to bring out the highlights and the paintings glowed.

After the workshops came the Great Day Out, and this year it was to Swaledale. I have not been to this part of the country since Sally and I took her parents on holiday there in the height of the foot and mouth epidemic...which was a while ago ! And was not dissapointed. What a beautiful Dale it is with its miles of stone walls , barns and villages and ever present river gliding slowly along.

The day started off a little overcast but by lunchtime the sun was out and lit up the scenery for us. So all in all another VERY enjoyable time 'Up North'...thanks again Folks !