July

Another time warp - July almost over. I know they say that as you get older - time goes more quickly but this is ridiculous! In my defense I have been pre-occupied with a project in July but that is really no excuse. We went to Hastings and walked through beautiful Hastings Country Park to Fairlight Glen where all the little grottos and waterfalls were Victorian attractions. On the way home we made it up Firle Beacon - Finn loved it!

Apart from that I have been walking and photographing as usual, picking raspberries, picnicking in the heather up at Bignor Park, tending my garden.

Picking samphire, swimming in the sea, walking around pagham harbour, watching the starlings and generally making the most of summer.

Finn update

What a wonderful dog Finn is becoming. He's really settled in to our life now and seems to be very happy in his new routine. He's very loving and obviously up for all the walking that is expected of him.

It was Gra's birthday last week so we spent the day out walking, beachcombing, collecting and photographing. Plus a bit of eating and drinking too - the perfect day. Below are pictures of paint on the bottom of boats.

East Head at Wittering was very stormy but beautiful. I did a #2minutebeachclean and in the picture of the sand you can see the tiny pieces of plastic littering the beach - all the black and white bits are plastic too. They can be found all along the sand dunes now and this shocks me every time I see it. I also collected some shells and seaweed to draw.

Shoreham

We visited Shoreham last week to see the houseboats, which are weird and wonderful and constructed from all sorts of paraphernalia - coaches - planes - even a robin reliant. I did not want to spoil it (if you are going to visit) by photographing them all, so this is just a taster. Park in beach green car park and they are right in front of you. I'm still doing my 2minutebeachclean as you can see.

April

Oh dear I missed April completely. Finn has been taking up my time and a myriad of family problems unfortunately, but that's life I suppose. Here's a photographic montage of the missed month - it's my favourite time of year - so beautiful to see the Spring colours with leaves and plants unfurling in the woods and the blue sea sparkling in the first warm sunshine. 
Finn is settling in well, he's a little wayward and has eaten all the wild garlic in the garden and scared off the birds which is a shame. It's a year since Bill died and Finn has made me feel better about everything, as well as being a great walking companion.

Still hanging on to Summer

Although there has been some rain, the lovely weather is still here amongst the odd shower. We've been on some beautiful walks along the coast, seen fields of sunflowers and wild flowers, spent time with a friend's new dog and visited the burial mounds at Kingley Vale on a beautiful evening - there was a scary atmosphere in the woods though!

July

Apologies as my blogging is a little very sporadic at the moment - we are in the middle of a glorious summer and the temptation to be outside is too great.

I visited Arundel Castle Gardens again and loved them as much the second time round. I would like to be entombed with my favourite dog at my feet when the time comes but think it is highly unlikely to happen.

Visited London to see the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on the hottest day of the year which was a bit silly, but the exhibition was well worth it. I also saw a lot of Patrick Blanc inspired gardens.

Went to  Standen House for the William Morris Exhibition. It was in a tiny room and so quite disappointing but the rest of the house is well worth a visit - especially to see the Rossetti paintings. Apart from this amazing spurt of cultural activity I've also been doing the usual things - walking, swimming, collecting, jam making and painting.

Passing weeks

More weeks pass. June has been lovely: reflections, evening walks by the coast, collections, Alf - he loves posing, blue skies, an evening out by bus and my first new potatoes of the year.

I've been swimming in the sea twice, it's lovely and warm, more walks, my olive tree about to blossom and I've actually started a painting - first one on canvas for years!

Flaming June? - Occasionally!

June so far: Alf merging with the carpet, he is such a sweet dog and has been a real comfort, new leaves unfurling on a plant I thought I had killed, beautiful scented honeysuckle, a coastal walk when the weather turned murky and the South Downs on a hot sunny evening.

Sign

The penultimate day of the August Break - day 30 - the word is sign. This picture is not really a sign but the poster caught my eye and promotes the work of the RNLI who do amazing work saving lives at sea.

relaxing

I've had some time off lately and have been making the most of the beautiful weather, relaxing and generally slowing down from the hectic pace of working life. Keeping away from my computer and enjoying the countryside, seaside and my garden.

Stop and stare 17

Murmuration -I love this word used for a collection of starlings. We finally went to Brighton at dusk to see them flying over West Pier. Unfortunately the light was not good enough to get a photograph of the thousands that eventually gathered, this was just the start. Everyone was stopping to stare as they danced round and round in the most beautiful formations, it was very moving. We stayed until it was so cold My Jack Russell was shivering and we had to go home. There were many other interesting sights too.

Ocean

The theme for Illustration Friday this week is Ocean, I'm on the last lap with this! A quick doodle, haven't done one for ages...

Water

My main inspiration in life is nature, I live near the sea so the theme for illustration friday this week of water is just right.  Water related patterns are used a lot in Japanese textiles, (another love of mine) so I drew some of them for this pattern which weirdly looks very 70s inspired.
© 2012 nicky linzey

sea defences

How beautiful are these? They didn't work though and are being replaced further up the coast by a lot of concrete for £1.8m. Mind you I would be glad it was happening if I lived yards from the water, the sea is changing the landscape and will soon be taking the houses with it.
PS You can click on pics to see them more clearly.

Freedom

This is my idea of freedom, away for a few days, walking with My Jack Russell , new footpaths, new sights, things to wonder at, inspiration. Plus a comfy bed and plenty of good food and drink of course. The white horse was formed in 1808 and is of George III on his horse. The cliff (top left) collapsed last month - scary. The stones with faces were already on the beach and made me smile. The pony followed me all the way down the hill getting faster and faster, it nearly turned into a chase! 

Brightness

My inspiration for drawing has deserted me lately so I'm making do with taking pictures of everything I see. It's strange how I go through phases, only noticing textures or patterns - at the moment it's colours - everything I look at seems so bright and colourful - unreal almost. You will need to click on the pic to get the full effect.

Swell

The 'swell' of the ocean for illustration friday this week. This is an old illustration and I'm late putting it up too - but I thought - 'better late than never'!
© 2011 nicky linzey

Prehistoric

One of my old illustrations just seemed to fit the bill!
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Hatch

I'd love to see these tiny turtles hatch and rush down to the sea. Too cold for them here I think!
© nicky linzey for illustration friday

Rough

It has been confirmed . . . I am going mad! I had it in my head that the theme at Illustration Friday this week was rough, so I did my illustration, put it up and then ... realised everyone else had illustrated 'crunchy' - the correct word. I'm just going for a lie down now . . .

The sea has been really rough lately and I love it like this

© 2009 Nicky Linzey for Illustration Friday