Whilst we wait for the summer to cool down the studio still beckons on cooler days. When the weather allows, trips to castles make good studies for drawings. Simple forms with dominant focus set well in grounds with moats, lakes and gardens.

I hadn’t been to Leeds since I was a small, so things had rather moved on! Except of course the castle, which has been there for centuries. The heatwave hadn’t fully begun so it was a race to get there for drawing the forms and the skies. The gatehouse bridge was the best place with the gothic designs. Drawing in full sun was a rush not to get uncomfortable and there was no question of painting, only drawing. I love drawing, it is always my preferred medium, dry, portable and quick, it is instant, as is pastel. Paint requires a different approach and demands risk taking, that takes years to refine. So charcoal was in full flight. The inside of the castle was a refuge with a beautiful library and feminine rooms. With an annual ticket it is good value. The whole of the grounds were scattered with geese and ducks which were very endearing.

Onto the Scotney Castle Garden, the heatwave has made its mark everywhere, so I had to choose the day with care. Scotney is very pretty, the old castle is modest, stocky in shape but very beautiful set in a large moat pond with waterlilies. Alongside is the ruin still attached. It makes for good drawing but one has to be careful with composition. It isn’t the first time artists have tried to make inspiring works.

John Piper and John Ward both produced work which now hangs inside the main house. I spent the morning avoiding the sun or struggling to work in it as the best views were in awkward hot places. Definitely an autumn visit will be needed to explore further so this post will be expanded later. It will certainly make good work, but it challenges bisection for composition so deeper study in September will be essential. It is most inspirational if you’re planning a waterlily pond! And, if you haven’t got one, then even the smallest washing up bowl pond is worth having to help the wildlife. Inside was beautifully cool, full of cosy traditional rooms with a lovely array of libraries to choose from.

Bodiam was quite good but not quite enough going on around the moat, although the larger block of stone certainly made quite a good watercolour. It may be worth another visit.