Connected by Cornwall

Capturing the colours of Cornwall in a pocket sketchbook and finding inspiration

I am in love with Cornwall. I captured so many photos that selecting fewer images took longer than writing this post. If travel photos are your thing, you'll enjoy this, and if you're here for the art (thank you, I appreciate you!), I only have a few pieces today. While I paint less and absorb the rugged cliffs and the majestic road trip views. Let's just say, I'm soaking up all the inspiration for when I return home after the holidays ;)

Little details: Living abroad means being able to read signs in your language again, and let me tell you, seeing a 'BEACH' sign in English after a long time is beyond exciting!!

I made two little paintings since my last post, but here’s the fun thing. I was inspired by our 5-day visit in Cornwall - I painted while I was in Wales but took a full picture since I had forgotten to do that but now of I’m in Scotland! Scroll all the way down to the last image if you want to see the sketch.

Talk about a little sketch going a long way…

But first things first, I indulged in a classic English morning tea and savored a delicious carrot cake (so good!). Then, I set up my art session away from the wind at Rhosneigr Beach, Wales, drawing inspiration from the vibrant colours of Cornwall. As much I want to paint the wild sea, I can’t help but add in sprinkles of pinks and reds that I see from all the flowers on my many walks.

How a little sketch can bring it all together and travel so far

Cornwall is a popular destination and I understand why now because it’s become one of my biggest highlights of this trip so far.

It's one of those names and places that I've heard about for such a long time. The name has been so familiar since I was 16 years old because I knew so many mates who would go on surfing adventure trips from Sydney all the way to UK, and say all good things about it. Yet, I had never visited until now.

The people are so lovely and everyone seems to wave or greet you and are careful on the road. There’s that down to earth and easy feeling that reminds me of growing up in the northern beaches of Sydney. The surfing culture is very dear close to me, except you have to learn to adapt to the cold weather and rainy days that don’t go away. But I was stoke to go surfing in this part of the world for the first time. Only, I can’t get up on the waves as smoothly as I once did!!

It’s not always sunny in Cornwall. It’s fun to see the red & yellow flags again.

Early morning surf in Gwithian beach, and first time surfing in the UK.

Walking in the rain the a few days later from Harbour Cove to Padstow on a hunt for fresh scones!

Would you walk in the rain for over an hour just to discover a bakery where you can buy fresh scones and Cornish veggie pasties? I did. A friend from Cornwall said I couldn’t leave Cornwall without trying them.

The bad weather had other plans because the cafe hidden away from the tourist hustle decided to take a rain check, quite literally! Just my luck, though, because by the time I got there, I was completely wet and a little lost. I admit I was disappointed but still determined to walk back to the car and try going the other way — the busy buzzing town of Padstow. It was a pleasant walk, some extra 55 minutes on top of the earlier walk. Fortunately I was in no rush and eventually the sun appeared, and I found fresh scones and really tasty pasties. Was it worth it, absolutely!

When it comes to scones, are you Team Cream First or Jam First? Lately, I’m exploring jam first 😋

During my walks, it struck me that I had overlooked something: I had been overly ambitious and perhaps a tad greedy by packing more art supplies and sketchbooks than needed for this road trip! While they aren't in the way of my travel gear, having too many options can inadvertently lead to procrastinations and unproductive days.

So, while I may still use the other sketchbooks that I brought with me, my main focus will be to this petite pocket sketchbook that very easily slips into my bag and stays with me at all times from here on out.

I guess what I’m trying to say that, bring art supplies for your road trip that fit perfectly in your everyday bag.

Tintagel, a place to simply experience rather than take a snapshot

Circling back a few days ago before we arrived to Cornwall, I had lunch in Winchester with a dear friend from Switzerland. We first crossed paths in the Netherlands, and now based in the UK. Meeting her again carried a touch of bittersweet nostalgia. She introduce me to the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, a place that she described so vividly that it instantly became a must-visit in my mind.

Tintagel: the legend of King Arthur brought me here but it’s the glorious walk around the rugged coastal scenery late in the afternoon that made this visit so glorious. While everyone is there to visit the castle it was the serene beauty of the surrounding area that caught me off guard — so tranquil, filled with wonders and tales to tell, that one can only imagine the secrets it holds

Tintagel bridge to the stone house post office from the 14th-century.

Our final stop in Cornwall was Boscastle – a small, charming village with a stunning coastline that I wanted to stroll along once more.

Sweet Boscastle: Can you spot the second pony in the picture?

Peering through a closed shop window that morning, I spotted a sign that beautifully encapsulated the essence of Cornwall.

There is no place like, CORNWALL

With a fresh sketch in the mix, this pocket sketchbook should be a great companion for the last couple of weeks of this trip. Filling it all up might be a bit too much to ask, but will keep you posted how it goes.

Gotta love the confidence of the cute sheep, casually joining in the background.