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A Unique Cornish Garden

If Henry’s campsite ( see previous post)  is a secret to be kept, then Bosahan can be added to that list too.

This most beautiful estate sits high above the Helford Estuary, opposite the famous gardens of Glendurgan and Trebah. The house is set in broad lawns with an italian style terrace and views over the river out to sea. Totally uncommercialised, there is no information, map or shop and it relies on peoples honesty to put their admission fee in the box.

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To the rightt of this magnificent house and lawns is a valley which goes down to the sea. A valley filled with myrtles, giant redwoods, tree ferns, and a beautiful twisted cork tree ( seen in the photo below).  There are numerous other important tree species including a huge gingko biloba.

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Some paths had been tended and restored, whilst other areas had the charm of early heligan, totally overgrown and undiscovered.  At the bottom of the garden, a sign led you through the gate and down a naturally wooded path with the odd tropical tree.  Was it cleared, planted and then the indigenous trees repopulated the valley?  With no leaflet and not a single person in sight, we will never know.

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The beach at the bottom was sheltered and littered with clam shells;  unspoilt and beautiful.

The only person we saw during our visit was the gardener who is single handedly looking after this huge estate garden. We brewed up a cup of tea and ate our pasties from the famous Ann’s pasty shop on the Lizard ( yes!!  they are very good!!).  The whole experience was totally magical due to the lack of human presence, with lovely birdsong and the rustle of the breeze in the canopy of the trees.  Some of them had been here for a very long time.

Off the beaten track, at the moment this remains unique, but for how long?

 
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Posted by on May 20, 2012 in Me

 

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A bigger picture, a bigger message.

I am painting my largest canvas to date!  120cm x 100cm.  Having put the initial washes on outdoors, I have been working in acrylics, building up colour to give the painting depth. I often get a virtual painting in my head, inspired by a photograph I have taken.  This virtual image is of  the sea on a windy day looking down a very steep sheer drop into the sea.  It suits the theme of Mordros , “the sound of sea” very well as the waves crash against the cliff and the wind almost draws you over the edge as it eddies around the cliff edge.  This bigger picture will give a bigger message as you are enveloped in the expansiveness and depth of the sea with the wind around you.

Below are three taster sections of the painting measuring approx 30cm x25cm

   


 

 

 

This throws up various challenges as I try and convey the wind and movement of the sea in a larger scale.  Being such a large canvas, I have had to move it from the easel where I can barely reach the top, to the floor and even outside. Anyone who thought painting was relaxing…. well it can be…. unless you are painting such a large piece!  From straddling the corners to moving away from it the whole length of the hall to get a perspective on it,  Having created the dark areas I am not concentrating on bringing the light back into it and using oils which have greater weight and light reflective qualities. But enough for today.  I am sitting on the sofa writing this with a glass of red wine and bed is beckoning me.

But… I can’t wait to get up tomorrow morning and get going again.!!  I am finding that I get my best ideas when I first wake up, so after a quick cup of tea I will get going straight away as I am finding  the early morning  the most productive. It has helped my painting practice that I am working towards an exhibition and this one should just be dry enough to be hung, but I am finding it increasingly obsessive, wanting to go back to it frequently to move it forward as I get inspiration for colour and how to convey movement. It’s like a lost friend who is in need of a direction.

 

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This blogging lark

Well….. I started this blogging lark just over a month ago, and I have to say, I am really enjoying it. My art is paramount in my life, but it is interesting how easily distracted I can be and find myself blogging about all sorts of random things. I want to make this primarily an art blog, so please stick with it. In the meantime, I hope you can find these distractions of some interest.  More soon……………

 
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Posted by on March 15, 2011 in Art diary, Me

 

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Welcome

Over the coming months, I hope to post my views on life as an artist. I live, work and breathe art by the sea.  The sea is my constant inspiration and I will put up works in progress and my thoughts and philosophy living in this stunning environment. So to transport yourself to this part of my world come back and see me soon.

 
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Posted by on February 5, 2011 in Me