Sketching in a barn at Hoglands

Yesterday I spent a delightful few hours at Hoglands - the former home of Henry Moore, probably the most celebrated UK sculptor of the twentieth century. I was at preview of a new exhibition there and also taking a look at what the Perry Green part of the Henry Moore Foundation has to offer people wanting to visit.

Aisled Barn at Hoglands
10" x 8", pen and ink, pencil and coloured pencils
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

I'll be reviewing the new exhibition Henry Moore Deluxe: Books, Prints & Portfolios early next week on Making A Mark. It's all about his graphical works and I have photos! The printmakers are going to love it.

I'm also going to be doing a post about the sculpture and the sculpture garden on my Art of the Landscape Blog.

Overall, I was very impressed with what I found and the grounds would make an excellent place to take an art group for sketching. In fact the only things that are missing a Studio/Education room for art classes and sketching stools for visitors - but you can't have everything and hopefully they will come in time.

What's at Hoglands?

There's 70 acres of the house Henry Moore used to live in plus a very large sculpture garden, all his studios - for maquettes, drawing, printing and carving - an exhibition gallery and the large and ancient Aisled Barn which was moved here - and which you can see in my after lunch sketch.

Hoglands at Perry Green - former home of Henry Moore

You can:

• get a taste of Perry Green on the virtual Perry Green map on the website
• find out more about what it does here.

The Centre is now open until 31st August. You need to book before visiting. It's also open on Easter Monday for the first time this year - between 11am and 4pm when there's an invitation to come and make some sheep artwork!

EASTER ACTIVITIES Sheepish Shapes and Quiz Trail, Easter Monday 5 April:
Book for Easter Monday to take part in our fun activities. Enter our Sheepish Shapes drop-in craft activity, or do the Quiz Trail round the grounds and studios.

On Friday, Saturday and Sundays you can tour Hoglands, the gardens, studios, galleries and grounds unaccompanied (which is to say that there are guides around and about - but you can decide how to proceed and how long to spend in each place.)

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there are guided tours.

Where is Hoglands?

Hoglands is located in Perry Green in Hertfordshire (Hoglands on Google Maps), in flat fields south west of Bishops Stortford - so an easy peasy drive for me - or so I thought.....

Do not, whatever you do, drive there using the A414 near Harlow as they're doing major road works and the pace is slow, slow and yet more slow! I drove back to London via the Bishop's Stortford junction with the M11 - much easier!

The Visitors Centre is opposite Hoglands and has a small car park, a very small refreshments facility and a shop. Don't think National Trust facilities - everything is on a much smaller scale.

Apparently, there is also more parking available at the local pub The Hoops Inn which is currently being renovated. I couldn't find this and Google Maps says it's located in the middle of a field so maybe they'll attend to this once the renovations is finished?

Links:

• Henry Moore - Resources for Art Lovers
• Henry Moore Foundation - Perry Green
• Google Maps - Hoglands and the Henry Moore Foundation
• Visiting Henry Moore - Perry Green