Exmoor National Park

Introducing an Exmoor Red Stag painting by Melody Hawtin

by

A Father’s Love a Red Stag painting

A Father’s Love is a painting of an Exmoor National Park Red Stag. These are the largest wild animals in Britain. These majestic animals roam freely in the hills just a short walk from where we live in Porlock.

The painting Melody is introducing is a Giclee print on canvas that she has enhanced with oil paint. The frame is a float frame in black with gold edge. The painting is available on our website, please follow this link to view.

We are just a week away from Easter Sunday and it seems an appropriate time for Melody to describe her painting and her thinking behind the painting.

Melody studied Art and Art History at Winchester School of Art. It is her love of Art History that permeates all of her paintings. On this occasion she is able to combine this with her love for her Christian faith in Jesus.

The talk is quite unscripted and unrehearsed and we are aware of a few mistakes. We felt in the interest of the spontaneity and flow that we would not redo the video. We hope you can agree that you are more likely to find a herd of deer than a flock and that the other mistakes just give us something to smile at.

You can find out more about Exmoor by following the link to the Exmoor National Park site. But, we both agree this is one of the least discovered gems in England. Exmoor has a beautiful coast and lovely landscape and is an ideal inspiration for an artist or photographer.

Melody hopes you enjoy her talk.

24ct Gold Leaf to Enhance your Original Painting

by

Applying 24ct Gold Leaf to an original painting or giclee print. In this video Melody is working on “Crossing The Channel With Angels”, this is a giclee print that she previously finished with oil paint and is now adding the gold leaf as per the original. These are brilliant techniques to take a giclee print to a new dimension. Follow this link to view the previous video where Melody painted over the giclee print with oil paint.

During the video Melody will be talking about her paintings and how she applies the gold leaf. Melody often uses gold leaf on her paintings and will describe how this is relevant to her work.

Applying the gold leaf

When is a Giclee print not a Giclee print

by

Today we join Melody as she hand paints a Giclee print on canvas

Welcome to Melody’s studio. Today Melody is hand finishing a Giclee print on canvas with oil paint. Please look out for our next vlog when Melody will be describing how she applies 24ct gold leaf to this painting. Today we join Melody, as a fly on the wall, we get to see how and where she works. Whether an original painting or, in this case a Giclee print on canvas, Melody works with her music in the background, and surrounded by her paints and many paintings. We hope you enjoy these videos and find them interesting and informative.

Join Melody in her studio

About Melody’s studio

Melody’s studio is in the centre of Porlock a working village in Exmoor National Park. We found the studio in an old Tannery, as you can see it has high ceilings and is much bigger than you can see here. Melody has many paintings on the walls, some in progress and some still wet, the smell of the oil adding to the atmosphere.

The studio is open most Saturday’s or by appointment. It is quite an experience visiting the studio.

The journey to Porlock brings you into Exmoor National Park, as you approach you can get a sense of what Melody paints and her inspiration. Exmoor is set on the coast overlooking the Bristol Channel towards Wales. Here the National Park merges with the sea, making this a unique setting for an artist.

We believe that this unique setting with it’s clear unpolluted air gives a special quality to the light. We know that artists in Cornwall, especially St Ives, talk about the light. Here on Exmoor we find a similar light, but perhaps a bit softer. Combined with the rich colours of the landscape, the gorse, heather and bracken, we find a richer spectrum of colours. Both Melody and husband David are inspired by these colours and are privileged to work here and to capture this in their work.

To see some of Melody’s work please view her paintings on this site, but Melody has more work in progress and much does not appear online.

To view more of Exmoor National Park please view the website.

Melody almost always paints with her Christian music in the background, this is the case with this video. We have not added a sound track and hope this is not a problem to the artists. Music: Mighty to Save by Hillsong; From the Inside Out by Hillsong; Here I am To Worship by Maranatha Praise Band, thank you for your inspiration.

Melody Art Gallery Summer Exhibition

by

Summer 2021 at Melody Art Gallery will feature paintings by Melody, photography by David. Also featuring guitar music by Simon who will be playing on Saturdays during the summer. Melody will be painting in her studio which will also be open, her studio is close by to the gallery.

The gallery is situated in Porlock, a lovely working village in the heart of Exmoor National Park. This is a beautifully inspirational place for an artist and a lovely holiday destination. Exmoor National Park has abundant wildlife, is one of the only parks that extends down to the sea and is at the start of the South West Coast Path.

The gallery will be open on Saturdays and at other times we are available to meet you or by appointment in our studio / gallery. We can be contacted via email. Melody paints a variety of subjects which you can view on our website. We have many original paintings some of which are on the website and are added as time permits. We also offer Giclée prints on paper or canvas of many of Melody’s paintings. All pictures can be shipped within mainland UK at not cost, other locations are charged at cost price.

We do look forward to welcoming you to Porlock and hope that the paintings and photographs give you a glimpse of this stunning location.

Porlock in Exmoor National Park, Popup Saturday by David

by

Porlock, like everywhere in England has suffered a year of lockdowns due to COVID.  The good news is that the villagers have got together to form a recovery group to help encourage people back into this beautiful part of Exmoor National Park. This is popup Saturday 1, subsequent popups will be held on the first Saturday of the month through to the autumn.  My part in this is to photograph and video the events and hopefully if you are reading this encourage you to come along.

The first video leads us nicely into the flavour of the events, a bit of fun while supporting the local shops and businesses who have struggled and survived lockdown. The stalls, although not local traders are bringing a bit of something different to Porlock without directly competing with the shops.

Sarah Shorten is the founder of “Stacked Wonky”, more in future videos but in brief a theatrical group working in the community with children and many of the musicians in this blog. Sarah has been leading the work on this initiative, one of several to promote the village. Here she gives a brief summary of what she has been doing.

Apple juice, a model of a shepherds hut or even a full size shepherds hut and how about a bit of Accordion music to go with it.

Duncan McCanlis, chairman of Porlock recovery group shares his view of what he would like to achieve on behalf of the village.

Danny runs Freecycle in Porlock and tells us of his heart for the environment and how he can help the village achieve a greener footprint.

Good Vibe Veg, get involved grow vegetables and share the workload with others.

A Journey up Porlock Hill Toll Road in my MGTF by David

by

A drive from Porlock up the scenic woodland toll road to the AA box at the top. This is a beautiful landmark route on Exmoor National Park, a must do while visiting. Built to provide work for soldiers returning from the Napoleonic war of 1840 and also to provide an easier route up Porlock Hill, the steepest A road in England. This is the journey up the hill, but don’t miss the journey down which is perhaps even better. The road is just over 4 miles long from Porlock and is used by walkers, runners, cyclists, it is closed occasionally as a rally stage and sometimes for vintage cars.

Melody on BBC Countryfile

by
Rainbow Valley - Holnicote on Exmoor

Melody was recently filmed as part of a BBC Countryfile profile of Holnicote Estate in Exmoor. The weather was appalling with horizontal rain, but Melody is never put off and managed to maintain a cheerful outlook as she shared her love of the Exmoor countryside.  Returning to her studio Melody painted the local scene that she had just sketched, the film follows the progress of the painting and shows something of Melody’s studio in Porlock on Exmoor. The programme will be shown on Sunday 8th March 2020 and is going out appropriately on International Women’s Day.

View Melody’s contribution on the BBC webiste

Camping at Wimbleball Lake On Exmoor – David

by

Camping in October

Well usually we have our caravan, what luxury, as comfortable as home maybe even better.  This year I had asked for a tent for my birthday, why, I almost shout at myself, well I have found that I want to get places to take photos but it is just too far to travel for a sunrise or sunset.

The caravan is great and would be my first choice, but you can’t tow a caravan into the middle of Exmoor, so a tent seemed to be the answer.

So late October and I decide that if I am going to try it out this year then now is the time.  On a lovely day I set out to Wimbleball Lake.  It takes a while to translate the minimal instructions but eventually the tent is up and looking good.

Let me suggest to anyone thinking of using  a tent for the first time in years, they re not naturally warm, I woke a few times in the night realising how cold it was.  Surviving until the morning and emerging from my tent I realised how cold it had been as the ground was white with frost and the tent was covered in ice.

At least it got me up early and I watched the sun rising over the misty lake, it was spectacular and it is in those moments that the effort is worthwhile, of all the things I see or watch on television this was a moment that I could easily have missed and yet here I was watching my own personal show.  

Later on I walked around the lake and that is when I found the canoe sitting under a tree surrounded by autumn leaves.   I was an interesting walk, the lake which was formed as a reservoir during the 1970s was very empty with one section being almost completely empty.  I didn’t manage a full circuit, it is probably about 10 miles, partly because I stopped and took photos on the way and just enjoyed the day.  I did make it to the dam, to be honest it wasn’t the most scenic dam I have seen, but the lake was lovely and except for a few walkers and a group of fishermen I had it nearly to myself.

I must remember this day when I next plan a stay in my tent, it was certainly worth a bit of discomfort and I got two photos that I have now printed and framed.  Some days out, even if well planed, end up with none, so this was good.

As this is a few days before Christmas, may I wish anyone who reads this a happy Christmas and new year.

Remembrance Day 2018 in Porlock – David

by

Remembrance Sunday, 11th November at 18.30, Porlock led by our Town Crier Grant Dennis joined with 1000 other communities to commemorate this notable day.  Follow Town Crier link to see the full programme planned for that evening.  A lot had gone on in the day and Melody was back out ringing the church bells, along with many other churches and cathedrals around the country.

To continue the remembrance I have included some more of the songs recorded by the war blinded veterans of St Dunstan’s, now Blind Veterans UK.  These were recorded for Melody in 1985 when she worked with these veterans of The First World War and Second World War.

If you would like to donate to St Dunstan’s please follow this link to – Blind Veterans UK where you will find a DONATE  button at the top of the page.

Porlock Pantomime and Drama Society present: SHOWTIME – David

by

Starting Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th October in Porlock Village Hall at 7:30pm.

Last night I got a sneak preview, I was taking photos at the first dress rehearsal, it is the first time I have done anything like this and it comes with a few challenges.

Firstly the show was very good, so much so that I am going on Friday with Melody and some friends, I am looking forward to being off duty and able to relax and enjoy the performances.

This is what Porlock Visitor Centre has published about the show.

Porlock Pantomime & Drama Society present: SHOWTIME, an evening of well known songs from a range of genres including Musical Theatre, Movie Sound Tracks, Country, 60s Pop, Mowtown and much loved ABBA.
Bistro style seating. Tickets available from: Porlock Home & Hardware; Toucan Wholefoods, Minehead or www.wegottickets.com/porlockdrama

Time: 7.30pm; Bar available from 7pm
Venue: Porlock Village Hall
Price: £8

I think it should be Motown, but perhaps this is a cut above the rest.

My first thoughts for taking photos was that the spotlights would be great, and I would not need a flash.  In fact, I haven’t got a flash that would have lit the stage sufficiently, but the spotlights caused their own problems and my first shots were failures, thank goodness for digital, in the old days I wouldn’t have known until they came back from processing or in the dark room.

A lot of the cast were dressed in black with black stage and silver backdrop, the only white was the faces, the metering didn’t stand a chance, so the first shots were bright white blobs on black suits.  A bit of compensation and constantly being aware of the different costumes and that low angles really didn’t work and finally a bit of post processing that I hope has dealt with those issues.  Anyway, if you come along you will find that the wonderful thing about eyes is that designed long before the digital age they perform so much better.

I’m looking forward to the performance, do come along.