Visit to Charlestown, Cornwall

Charlestown Harbour

The little pixies revealed themselves!

Pixies encouraging us further

The tunnels were deep in water in some areas.

There is an interesting antique shop as well as a couple of art galleries.

We loved this sweet little cottage with its wonderful garden.

St' Neot Holy Well

Just by chance we came across a wooden sign in the middle of the village directing us to a holy well set in a large open flat area with hills and trees behind.

The ground is very wet and boggy leading up to the well

 I didn't think we could actually open the door.

It was magical to see behind the door.

I really like the old metal door furniture and the character in the wood. The light caught on the end of the bolt appears to be almost returning to molten metal. We each left a wish and a coin.

Can you spot the very small ceramic angel at the bottom of the pool?

I have used this rock formation in one of my recent pencil drawings.

Just behind the well the ground rises steeply.

 

In the main park of St'Neot village we came across the figure and plaque which was a nice surprise.

Downderry Seascape Painting

Downderry, Cornwall at low tide 2013 oil on canvas. Trying to minimize the detail in foreground so that light effect is pronounced.

St' Keyne Well, near Liskeard

by J.T. Blight 1835-1911

 A traveller encounters a countryman who came to draw water from the well, and is told of the properties of the water due to St' Keyne.

 "If the husband of this gifted well should drink before his wife a happy man henceforth is he for he shall be master for life" 

The obvious question was asked by the traveller and he received the reply.

"I hastened as soon as the wedding was done and left my wife in the porch but she had been wiser than I for she took a bottle to church."

 A very mysterious light resembling a hand pointing appeared in the well as I looked inside

 Someone perhaps not long ago had left a very small gift hanging above the well

 All that remains of the beautiful old cottage which stood opposite the well

Comparing old postcard with present day

Landscape Paintings of Bodmin Moor

 Distant view of Stowes Hill and Sharp Tor on the far right on the horizon painted in 2009 with oil on panel board.

 Painted partly on Caradon Hill and completed in my small potting shed in 2007.

Drifting fog over Stowes Hill in 2009.

 View toward Tregarick Tor, Bodmin Moor, painted with oil on panel board.

 Path to Stowes Hill, 2009 oil on canvas

 Evaporation after the showers over Caradon Hill painted in the rain in 2003.

Quarry at Stowes Hill painted on panel board in 2003

 View toward Tregarrick Tor painted 2003

Snow on Caradon Hill 2007, oil on canvas

 Snow on Caradon Hill 2007 painted on panel board with oils.

 Stowes Hill viewed from south west and painted on location in 2004, oil on panel board.

 Stowes Hill, Bodmin Moor with Cheesewring formation of rock on far left ridge painted over three days on location with oil on panel board.

View from Caradon Hill toward Gonamena in the valley painted on location on a very cold day in 2004.

 A very windy morning in 2003 with Stowes Hill to the left and Sharp Tor to the right and old mine building in the middle ground, painted with difficulty using oil on panel board.

Last of the snow below Tregarrick Tor in 2004, painted on location using oil on panel board.

Walk to Sharp Tor

This is my first blog post recording places I visit; and for these photographs to act as a catalyst for paintings. I feel very lucky that I live in Liskeard, Cornwall, surrounded by such stunning landscape.

 View toward Sharp Tor

 I recommend this wonderful walk

Behind Sharp Tor with distant view toward North East Cornwall

Wonderful expanse of open moorland continues beyond Sharp Tor

Caradon Hill to the left on the horizon and Stowes Hill lit up in sunlight

 The base of Stowes Hill with quarry the other side

This was a painting I made following an earlier visit, but the view is from higher up Stowes Hill toward Sharp Tor in 2010.