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This watercolour preparation study of Thomas Hardy’s Cottage is 18cm x 23cm signed, and mounted on acid-free card. The newsletter will be sent out on the 28th February 2020. I look forward to your sign up in the box on this page. The draw will be on the 6th of March. There will be draw and newsletter about once a month so there are plenty more in the future.

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A bit about Thomas Hardy’s Cottage

Last year we visited the Thomas Hardy’s Cottage in Dorset. It is in a secluded spot on the edge of Thorncombe Wood Nature Reserve, in fact you must walk through the nature reserve to get to the cottage.

Once you get there it is good to see that much effort has been made to keep it as original as possible. It is almost as though the long dead Thomas has just popped out for his daily walk through the woods. It is simply furnished with whitewashed walls with a few volunteers on hand to point out the odd historical detail.

Upstairs you will find Hardy’s bedroom. By the window you will find a desk. It was here Hardy wrote a number of his early novels including Under the Greenwood Tree and Far From the Madding Crowd.

Once we had walked about the house and grounds, I worked up a watercolour of the side of the building. It’s a beautiful structure and I can imagine that that it was certainly an inspiration in his work.

I confess I have never read any of Hardy’s books though I unquestionably recognise his mythical Wessex as I live there myself.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Hardy’s cottage it’s a very enjoyable afternoon even if you’ve never read a word.

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