Visit to the Seekers Trust

It was good to have some time at the Seekers Trust in Addington recently. The little flats are set in gardens with a wood next door to explore and a large pond. The seekers website here.

I have been going for some years for solitary retreats and creative stays and appreciate the healing chapels and Angelic connections.

Ruth and I went this time, armed with loads of water soluble media and my cameras. I enjoyed drawing with the water soluble crayons, pens, and coloured Inktense crayons.

As well as the woods and rose garden I drew the cherry tree outside our flat and used the spiritual connections and library to draw alchemical notes and Buddhas.

We also went to Aylesford Priory, and I was drawn to all the ancient trees around the site including a huge plane tree and fir at the back of the Priory. Their old barn, now a cafe and shop, was being re thatched, interesting to watch the craftsmen at work.

We came away with some pottery from the Aylesford Pottery founded by David Leach in the 1950's

Twinkle Troughton, The Frogs Who Desired a King

Hankvert and Found in Margate's Old Town, opened last year to critical acclaim as a seafood cafe, showing art work upstairs and also in a tiny exhibition space in their basement. They regularly  show interesting contemporary art from local artists.
Their new show is by Twinkle Thoughton called "The Frogs Who Desired a King"  on till July 10th.

Twinkle's work is inspired by the Aesop's fable, The frogs who desired a king, and are painted with oils and acrylics on paper. Her website here  and blog about the Margate scene here

These paintings also make reference to war torn landscapes including Syria. The frogs are painted in rich colours that stand out against the landscapes with gnarled trees scratched with the technique called  Sgraffito.

I liked the contrasts in the pictures, the loose brushwork, detailed frogs and textured trees and also the reference to folk tales and symbolic themes, which give more depth and resonance to the work.

10% of the sales will go to the charity Hand in Hand for Syria and there will be a fundraising dinner there on June 30th.