Chesil Beach from Portland

As a family we used to love the trips we made to Portland. In my childhood in the 50s there were a few traction engines gradually rusting by the side of the road but here in the 30s they are still working away with huge blocks of stone. The strong horses are quite diminished by this great machine dominating the picture. Chesil Beach looks friendly at this distance, though I remember the menacing noise of the pebbles pulled by the undertow as each wave fell back

8 March 1934
Castle Close, Weymouth

I have been out all  day studying hard. It has been a curious day, and it has taught me a valuable lesson. The sun was shining, but the sky was not blue. There were cumulus clouds, but everything a delicate grey, and at the same time all was so clear, and anything dark looked very black and so  gave a sparkle to things.

I went to Portland and watched them sending stone down on a queer trolly track, and shaggy horses waiting at the bottom to take it to the quarry side. It was …

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8 March 1934
Castle Close, Weymouth

I have been out all  day studying hard. It has been a curious day, and it has taught me a valuable lesson. The sun was shining, but the sky was not blue. There were cumulus clouds, but everything a delicate grey, and at the same time all was so clear, and anything dark looked very black and so  gave a sparkle to things.

I went to Portland and watched them sending stone down on a queer trolly track, and shaggy horses waiting at the bottom to take it to the quarry side. It was all very interesting, and I have tried to make a kind of composite drawing of it all - I think I shall be able to make an interesting painting of it. I want to get away from the topographical standpoint and let the design be the main thing.