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Yesterday’s sunshine took me to Mottisfont House to enjoy some autumn colour in the gardens. The Tulip Trees looked particularly striking. In autumn, the distinctively lobed leaves of Liriodendrontulipifera turn this glorious golden yellow. I painted this specimen of Liriodendrontulipifera in watercolour, with the sun warm on my back and the shadows deep and still.
If you are thinking of growing Liriodendrontulipifera yourself, remember that it is a large and vigorous deciduous tree that needs plenty of space and a pH acid or neutral soil. The tree’s ‘tulip’ flowers are interesting, about 4cm long, tulip-shaped, overall a yellowish-green, with orange marks inside the flower. See the specimen I have painted in watercolour at Mottisfont House, near Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0PL.
Liriodendrontulipifera is a member of the Magnoliaceae family and originates from Eastern North America. Common names include Tulip Tree, Yellow Poplar and Canary Whitewood. I am fortunate to have an old and magnificent specimen in the garden where I live.
A leaf of Liriodendron tulipifera, in Autumn.
Leaves of Liriodendron tulipifera in an Autumn breeze.
Liriodendron tulipifera in Autumn colour. Leaf and bark .jpg
I spent today at one of my favourite events of the year, Hampshire Country Sports Day. Initially chilly, the day grew warm and pleasant, a perfect September Sunday.
I will be making some studio paintings from todays photographs and sketchs but I had fun catching the immediacy of some events in the ring on-the-spot. All original watercolour paintings will be available for sale, look on www.kirstinwhite.co.uk or message Kirstin White direct. A donation to the Countryside Alliance will be made on all sales relating to Hampshire Country Sports Day.
Hampshire Country Sports Day was held at the beautiful Titchbourne Park, Alresford, Hampshire for the last time this year. I know next years venue in East Meon; another ideal location. I’m already looking forward to Hampshire Country Sports Day 2019 at Bereleigh Estate, GU32 1PH.
Wildfowling Past and Present with Chris Green. …BANG! – Kirstin White Watercolours
Chris Green demonstration of Wildfowling Past and Present at Hampshire Country Sports Day 2018
A little reseach on the internet tells me that Chris was born in the Westcountry in 1961 and began to learn the ways of wildfowling from the age of 11, when his dad took him out one freezing morning in the dead of winter. This inevitably led Chris to fall in love with the magical world of estuaries, ducks and wild places.
Chris Green demonstration of Wildfowling Past and Present at Hampshire Country Sports Day 2018
Chris has appeared on several TV programmes including Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall’s “A Cook on the Wild Side”, and Rick Stein’s “Food Heroes”. Inspired by working with professional directors and cameramen he also embarked on a career making wildlife and hunting films. His films on pigeon shooting and wildfowling have been a massive success, establishing Chris as one of the country’s leading authorities on filming country sports.
Lana, GSP, rising above the Mullenscote Gun Dog Training demonstation!
As regards Mullenscote Dog Training, I read that, Howard Kirby has been training dogs for more than twenty years, as the proprietor he divides his time between Mullenscote Dog Training Centre and Lains Shooting School.
Howard leads the team at Mullenscote and specialises in training and assisting handlers to get the best from their dogs. Howard and his Mullenscote Dog Training Team can be seen right across the country giving demonstrations and running clinics and seminars. We all enjoyed this years demonstration at Hampshire Country Sports Day.
My dog, Aero, found her wheels at Hampshire Country Sports Day!My dog, Aero, pictured with a lovely Morgan Aero at Hampshire Country Sports Day!A cute Sealyham Terrier at Hampshire Country Sports Day 2018.
Jonathan Marshall flew his birds, Sonnet and Aria, at Hampshire Country Sports Day 2018
At Hamsphire Country Sports Day 2018, Jonathan Marshall flew his birds, Aris and Sonnet.
Live painting, in watercolour, at Bursledon Regatta 2018. The Swanwick Bursledon & Warsash Regatta with a theme this year of “Australia- Down Under”. Lots of fun with a large turn out, summer weather and antics on the water.
The last race at Bursledon Regatta 2018Prior to prize giving at Bursledon Regatta 2018Fireworks at Bursledon Regatta 2018
….and there were fireworks! :0
Also celebrating the eighteenth birthday of my nephew, Felix, today! Happy Birthday Felix! Hip hip!
* I enjoyed painting watercolours from the riverside footpath, between The Ship Inn at Swanwick and The Rising Sun in Warsash, today. Not far from Universal Marina, the views of the Hamble River here are spectacular.
The wreck, shown, is taken to be that of the Brixham trawler, William Allen.
Kirstin White – Hamble River in AugustWatercolour painting beside the river HambleEn plein air beside the Hamble near Universal MarinaCool water on a hot day
The arena at Curdridge Country Show 2018 was alive with activity today. I captured some of the dancers from Curdridge Primary School, and the well camouflaged owls that followed them! Todays lesson; while, after all, owls are not particularly wise, kids are!
A Burrowing Owl, looking cross!Ferrets asleep on a warm dayKing John’s Morris Men
The watercolour painting that I made at the show, depicts arena activities over a period of time. So much going on in the same space!
Sunny ‘on-the-spot’ watercolour painting beside the water in Swanwick today. The Jolly Sailor in the background. Families launching and recovering thier dinghys. Idillic!
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What could be more perfect than a British heatwave and a box of paints? Adding water of course! We had glorious sunshine for British Keelboat Academy Racing on the Hamble this weekend.
I spent Saturday watercolour painting and sketching onboard Bootlegger 2, a handsome motor boat with lots of space, which was just as well since Bootlegger 2 was both committee vessel and mothership for the event. Other than the picturesque J70’s, my painting subjects were crews waiting on the mothership, race officers, four delightful children and two seafaring dogs. All subjects were very patient with my fixed stares!
Resulting paintings, both those made on the day and those I will paint later in the studio, will be for sale at Hampshire Open Studios,
http://www.hampshireopenstudios.org.uk/artists/basingstoke/item/kirstin-white
Race officers arranging the flights. British Keelboat Academy Racing.
J70 and crew, British Keelboat Academy Racing.Jezebel J70 and crewJ70 and crew, British Keelboat Academy Racing.J70 and crew, British Keelboat Academy Racing.Little portraits of the children on board the commitee vessel.Some of the children on board. British Keelboat Academy Racing.J70’s heading home after the days racingJ70 British Keelboat Academy Racing.White sails. British Keelboat Academy Racing.Support vessel heading home to The Royal Southern Yacht Club.Clodagh the seafaring labradorBootlegger 2
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This afternoon, members of Unit 11 Studios and, I have been putting up paintings at Freemantle Music & Arts Festival. it going to look great!
A small exhibition of contemporary paintings, drawings , photography and textiles runs from 9th – 13th June 2018 as part of the 4th Freemantle Music & Arts Festival.
Location: Christ Church, Freemantle, Waterloo Road, Southampton SO15 3BS. Time: From 10am on 9th – 13th June 2018.
Freemantle Music & Arts Festival 2018
Freemantle Music & Arts Festival 2018
Kirstin White with Unit 11 at Freemantle Music & Arts Festival 2018
Exhibitors:
Emma Harris paintings
Halina Bainbridge textile art
Becky Marshall paintings / photography
Hazel Pitre textile art / link drawings
Kirstin White watercolours and drawings
Trevor Judd photographs
Annie Harris quilts
Jessica Ive paintings / textiles
Ed White paintings
Malcolm Crocker paintings
Roy Bradbeer woodwork
Six lessons in drawing from the nude model. Suitable for all levels. We will focus on a different aspect of drawing in each lesson. The next set of six lessons begin on Monday 11th June 2018.
Pricing includes sugar paper, charcoal and use of a drawing board and portable easel. Feel free to bring your own additional materials to supplement those provided.
Model fees will be divided equally among those attending, payment at first session (this will be under £50 for all six sessions). Tea will be on tap!
Should you prefer to do your own thing in the sessions, you are welcome to do so. Pose lengths are between one and twenty five minutes, a different model will be with us each week.
