Wednesday 11 September 2013

European Odyssey

I am well and truly back from four weeks through Scandinavia in Northern Europe, visiting Bruge (Belgium), Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki (Finland), Berlin (Germany), Stockholm (Sweden), St. Petersburg (Russia), and Copenhagen (Denmark). These were eight countries I had not previously visited. To finish off an amazing holiday I stayed with a friend for four days in Gillingham, Dorset UK, and relaxed in London for a week, spending a day in Bristol with "new" friends we had met on our travels.
 
The trip was at a very relaxed pace and I made some time for sketching. Some are finished, some almost finished and some still on the drawing board.
 
Kensington Palace, London
 
Horse Guard Headquarters, Whitehall London

 

I loved the mediaeval towns we visited, and Tallinn and Bruge were particular favourites. As you may have noticed, I love architecture, and how it relates to the history of a place. It can also reflect the climatic, cultural and geographical characteristics of place.
 
 
Above is a work in progress and was done in the town square in Bruges, Belgium, right under the tower that was featured in the movie "In Bruges".
 
So to leave you with one last sketch of a window box in Talin, Estonia with beautiful stained glass windows.
 
 
Once back in Sydney, life took over again and it has been pretty busy. Am now on top of my work, finished another magazine article for Back to Basics Magazine and an article for the quarterly issue of the Botanical Art Society of Australia Newsletter. I will do a separate post on this article as it concerns 'Flora danica'  porcelain which was in the Christianborg Palace in Copenhagen.
 
Northern Europe has the most amazing palaces and churches. Such opulence, extravagance and magnificence.
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