Monday 21 January 2013

Celebrating the Snow - and Houghall, Durham!

Houghall - Durham Artist Ingrid Sylvestre


Our lovely landscape here in the North East UK is currently clothed with snow - how it transforms everything!

I realized that I hardly ever paint snow - and not having the time at present to go out there with easel and brushes, I dug out these two paintings I did while living at Houghall College of Horticulture & Agriculture in Durham City.

They are both quite small and painted in watercolour, white gouache and black ink on tinted Ingres paper.

While lecturing in Art & Design at Houghall I rented a wonderful house in the extensive and magnificent grounds. The first painting is of the view from the patio, looking beyond my beloved plants in tubs to the garden. The hedge always fascinated me, such a fantastic shape!
Houghall - Durham Artists Ingrid Sylvestre

The second painting is the view from one of the upstairs rooms, looking across the house garden to further lands belonging to the college. In the distance are the mysterious woods.

Whether in winter, spring, summer or autumn, this landscape and environment is a place of great beauty and wonder.
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Durham Artist Ingrid Sylvestre Durham Art for sale North East Artist
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Ingrid Sylvestre - Durham Art

Tuesday 8 January 2013

A Prize Pack from No Doubt!




A big 'Thank you' to my fave band No Doubt for sending a special signed copy of their latest album 'Push and Shove' in a prize pack with other fab goodies! They asked me to post a photo holding the CD, so here it is ... you can also see the 'Push and Shove' canvas bag, which contained badges, stickers and a great poster too.


It was such an unexpected delight to win the prize, via Twitter. No Doubt are an amazing band, and Gwen Stefani's vocals and performance are unique and brilliant. My favourite track on 'Push and Shove' is  'Looking Hot', which you can hear here via YouTube:


Another favourite is 'Settle Down':


I really love every track on the album - and I had another treat in store when one of my Xmas presents turned out to be a No Doubt CD 'The Singles 1992 - 2003'!!!! Lots of happy listening ...