Madonna and Child, Lincoln Cathedral

My latest watercolour shows a detail of the statue of the Madonna and Child at Lincoln Cathedral. The statue can be found in the south-eastern porch of the cathedral. It is known as the Judgement Porch as there is (above the Madonna and Child) a carving of Christ in Judgement.



Unfortunately, this month there will be NO COMPETITION to win one of my watercolours. This is due to the fact that once again, I am on the Scrapheap of Life, i.e. Unemployed, so money is rather tight. I will start the competition again as soon as things pick up financially (he says hopefully).

Meanwhile, the results of the March competition will be announced in the next couple of days.

The Devil and the Bishop, Lincoln Cathedral

A detail of the carving on the south side of Lincoln Cathedral. The Devil and the Bishop

Watercolour on watercolour paper, 8 1/4" x 11 3/4"

The medieval craftsmen who created these carvings had a very wry sense of humour. I found these carvings running along the base of the wall. Interspersed with carvings of flowers and abstract designs were these delightful faces: a grinning devil next a rather worried looking bishop.

This is the final painting for my exhibition which begins next monday!!!

Chapter House, Lincoln Cathedral

Chapter House, Lincoln Cathedral

Watercolour on watercolour paper, 11 3/4" x 8 1/4"

The really wonderful feature, at least to me, of gothic architecture, is the flying butress. The magnificent stone arches that transfer the weight of the building away from the walls and down through the pillars. They allowed the medieval architects to incorporate huge windows to flood the cathedral with light. This painting shows a detail of the chapter house built at the east end of the cathedral. Oh and if you hadn't guessed it, this is another painting for my exhibition!

Side Door, Lincoln Cathedral

Another painting for my exhibition.

Side Door, Lincoln Cathedral

Watercolour on watercolour paper, 11 3/4" x 8 1/4"

This door is tucked away on the south side of the cathedral. I'm really pleased with this painting. I think I've made it interesting, but not overwhelmed it with detail. In fact a lot of the detail is merely suggested.

"I wos here", Lincoln Cathedral

Another painting for my exhibition.

"I wos here", Lincoln Cathedral

Watercolour on Watercolour paper, 8 1/4" x 11 3/4"

This painting shows a detail of the stonework and part of a door on the West Front of the cathedral. The West Front is the only remaining part of the original Norman cathedral (around 1072). These wonderful, enigmatic faces were so attractive that I just had to paint them.

When I enlarged the photo I had taken as the basis for the painting, I realised that someone had scrawled "I wos here" on the stonework (you see this more clearly if you enlarge the painting). This seemed to me a rather philosophical statement to make on a religious building. Also I felt that the words somehow echoed the "statement" those medieval craftsmen were making with their carvings. After all the carvings are in a way the signatures of the craftsmen who created them. "They were here" all those centuries ago