In many ways we have been very fortunate over the last few years. We have been busy while many others have not been so lucky. Getting some time to relax and collect thoughts for a while has been at a premium but there are places we go grab a little quiet time and recharge the batteries. These vary from the woodlands and paths of the east midlands to places such as Purelands.
Situated in the village of North Clifton in Nottinghamshire, this beautiful garden and centre is a haven of peace. Winding paths, trickling streams and reflective pools have been carefully sculpted from the landscape. Unlike many english gardens and landscapes, the japanese garden does not focus on vistas, axis and monuments, but instead the turns of the path bring you to living in the moment and discovering treasures around the next turn. The sweeping landscapes exist in miniature across a still pond or raked gravel bed and around the garden are places to sit and meditate or simply enjoy the surroundings.
it seems a very english thing to wait until the sun is shining before we rush out to take in the sights and drink tea beneath blue grey skies. But for me I enjoy visiting Purelands in the rain as well as the sun. To sit in the little houses and shelters within the gardens, listening to the rain on the roof and foliage brings moments of peace and freshness to a mind often cluttered with the issues of day to day life. The weekends of August and September bring a different energy to the gardens when the lanterns are lit and visitors are encouraged to enjoy their warm glow and soft shadows as the sun is setting.
As artists the garden has an irresistible call, dotted around this post are sketches and drawings Purelands, i hope we have gone some way to capture the skill & patience of Maitreya (creator and owner of Purelands). When it came to selecting images for the greetings cards we do, the ink wash image of Purelands was an obvious choice for us.
Below is a link to the website for Purelands, it is well worth an online visit, but far more rewarding to actually call in and relax there for a while.
If you happen to come across someone sitting sketching in a quiet corner, feel free to say hello.
(Blog post by Al)
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