Sunday 2 October 2011

57...October swimming and a sundowner at Pourville

What an amazing week we've had! A full blown scorching heatwave to see us into autumn and confusing all the senses.

Looking towards Dieppe
We have been leaving the studio late afternoon and escaping to the beach for a swim. There has been very little breeze and the sea and horizon meld into each other in a fusion of pink and blue. The coast here is very different from just across the channel in Brighton. The cliffs are green and wooded with pretty houses teetering on the edge and the little towns are not over developed. The beaches have concrete runways going into the sea which are used by tractors to pull the fishing boats out of the sea, the catch is then sold on the front.

Golden ferry on way to pick up Henry
As we sat drinking a Kir on the promenade friday evening, we caught sight of the ferry leaving Dieppe on its way back to Newhaven. The sun was so low and as it hit the side making it glow, it appeared to be floating in the sky. Henry came back on this ferry later on in the evening and cycled up through a starry night to arrive here early on saturday morning.

Sundown at Pourville
As the sun sunk down behing the cliff, it turned the sea a series of amazing blues, cereulean, colbalt, aquamarine, petrol. Impossible to capture with a camera. It looked like a painting which you would have believed to be an exageration. The whole of the promenade was stilled....all looking to the west, it was an amazing moment. We popped down again to show it to Henry on saturday and waited to see if it would happen again. It did, and this time we were able to watch it happening as the sky turned from golden to pink. It must be a phenomenon of the time of year, the position of the sun etc.....but who cares...it was just gorgeous.

Chateau d'eau
On the way to the beach we passed this water tower. They are often painted witth fairy tale scenes, but this one being not far from Fecamp, was painted with a lighthouse and a sail boat almost crashing against the rocks. Often they are painted with Rapunzel.....which I suppose you would.

Mist above the river
On the way home we saw the mist lifting above the river. It has an ethereal, almost medieval look about it... as if Arthur might go riding by.

 

Back in the studio the kiln has been firing every other day, with a mixture of students work, a commision to be finished and some clouds which are destined for a primary school. Lots of glazing to be done next week........

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