Unnamed Sentinel
I do hope nobody here was affected by the wicked Storm Doris.
Avoiding the clutches of the weather, I took the excuse for a rather more leisurely drawing than I’ve been doing of late, spending several hours here. It’s something of a wind back to a very early post of mine, actually, looking at Norton Marsh Drainage Mill now over eighteen months ago, so there’s little in the way of ground-breaking experimentation. Happily, though, in the echoes I can see signs of increased confidence, not least in the fact that I chose to sketch a mill face on this time! I should hope so too, really…
I was taken by the frosty reference photograph, which goes back to the 1920s. I know nothing of the mill’s profile – it’s just branded ‘The Windmill’ or ‘old mill’ – other than its whereabouts: the village of Potter Heigham. It was curiously attractive and inspirational for that, Doris or no Doris, so I’m sure I’d have got round to this eventually.
Noting the off-centre position of the mill in my drawing, moreover that there’s really not all that much excitement behind, I did wonder about an alternative portrait, allowing the mill to have undisputed glory. While it does afford that, I think the vast and remote landscape does just as much, if not more, for the mill’s presence.
The enjoyment gained from this suggests it was an itch, and one that essentially scratched itself. The pursuit for a happy medium (fun) will continue, you be sure of it!
Lovely! Once again, that sepia thing really works for this subject matter. And yes, both the close-up and the zoomed out version are great. I like being able to see all the detail in the 2nd one, but you’re right, the landscape adds to the windmill’s presence. I kinda want to jump in there and go for a nice walk 🙂 (provided there are no huge storms about to hit, anyway!)
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Thanks very much! Ooh, I always get that feeling when browsing these old landscape photatos – I’d love to teleport into them. But indeedy, you do not want to be out on the broads when a storm hits. I remember being out there as a kid when a lightning storm rolled in. Out in the open like that… eep. Not the ideal place to be!
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Inorite? Somebody needs to invent a time machine already!
Holy hell, that’d be scary. I like storms, but only when i’m at a safe vantage point!
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Yup. Lab coats on!
Yes, that’s wise. There was a time when I quite fancied the idea of storm chasing in America or someplace – it would be spectacular. But, thinking the storm on Thursday was probably the tip of the iceberg in terms of magnitude, I should probably stay well away, in a good seat!
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Ooh, i’ve had similar daydreams. There is something morbidly alluring about tornados and things…..i understand why stormchasers do what they do. But i reckon i’d wuss out if i got as close to one as they do! I’m happy for them to just take amazing photos and video footage for me to watch!
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Haha, yeah, that’d very likely be me too!
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Very soft and subtle, provides the tranquil look I always imagine for living by or in a windmill 😀
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Great to hear, Rebecca, thanks! Definitely a tranquil proposition – sigh. I suppose if I can’t have it, I can always draw it!
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Yay 😀
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Fantastic!
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Thanks, Catherine!
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I think that the off-centeredness adds a certain tension and excitement to the painting. The duller (I don’t think it’s dull though) background provides relief to the tension established. It’s terrific!
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Thanks so much, Teresa! I think it was worthwhile trying the crop, but after doing so, I’d agree with those observations.
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Nice! Yes, the second version does it for me too.
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Good to hear! Thanks ever so much, Deborah.
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