Back to Life.

 

My first life drawing class since c.1973. I’ve drawn friends and girlfriends in the years since, but never taken part in a formal group session. So, I approached this “return to class” with some trepidation. For two reasons: Firstly, I’m not enthusiastic about making art in the company of others unless it is as part of a collaboration. Secondly, would I be any good? Would I measure up to the “competition”? In the event I am well please with the outcome, and thoroughly enjoyed the intense three-hour experience, and the challenge it presented.

 

 All text, pros, poetry, photos & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.

The Duke’s Graves.

The Pierrepont and Manvers graves, Perlethorpe Church, Thoresby Estate.

As a 1950’s child I was christened and Confirmed at the appropriate ages. Hence my links with the above location. An integral part of a Church of England village education was the Sunday school classes. To be honest, the only attraction of Sunday school for me was simply collecting the exquisitely illustrated attendance stamps, no doubt an early pictorial influence.

My intention above was to avoid all sense of Gothic gloom or melodrama. This is a very peaceful, quiet place. The sunlight really does stream across from the South like that. The ducal gravestones adhere to a well-planned formation which must have been conceived centuries ago. A real sense of pride in their accomplishments lingers here, even though the subjects are long since gone. The most recent stone is that of Lady Manvers (third from right), her husband having been buried on that spot in 1955, she in 1984.

More information about Thoresby Park and Perlethorpe Village can be found on THIS LINK.
More information about Lady Manvers on THIS LINK and THIS LINK.

All text, pros, poetry & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.