Recently I decided to do a series of very quick sketches inspired by my local walks with the dogs. Next I thought about translating a serene feeling I always have when walking at that location, the trees dangling branches in the stream and the winter light. The result was my oil painting above, painted in 3 hours. I hope you enjoy looking at it and the sketches.
Enjoy your day.
It has been a wet, autumnal day. I set off this morning with my dogs through a local woodland. It was dark and dripping raindrops which splattered on the leaf mold and moss filled floor. I could see beauty in tiny pools of water collected in large leaves which reflected the tree canopy and the charcoal sky: the woodland creaked and spoke to me of the year so far. The ancient trees, bark toughened, branches gnarled, split and hanging low over the path. The people I met were enjoying their rainy walks too, we were all out there enjoying the elements, exploring our day.
Later this afternoon, I left my husband decorating and headed down the garden to my Studio. I knew I would paint one of the old trees I’d seen and love in all weathers. I’m not sure if it’s finished yet. Tomorrow I will see my watercolour in the morning light! The watercolour sketch on the right I did a while ago. Another oak tree I see regularly and enjoy its presence.
I have been walking alot through woodlands lately, enjoying the amazing light filtering through the trees and the warm copper hues of the fallen leaves. A couple of times I have spotted deer running startled by the dogs. I love them, they are magical creatures and have inspired me to draw and paint this scene of the stag in a magical woodland. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend. 🙂
In the Fairy Wood a cool wind sings
Songs of summer past: Larks and cherry blossoms
Rambling roses for fairy posies.
Speckled yellow, ruby and rust leaves swirl,
Crunching under toes.
Dappled light, warm and bright Iilluminates
faces of forest mythological creatures,
A shadow show emerging; tree nymphs, Boris the troll
And frolocking fairies.
Brooding skies like galloping waves,
Tallow mallow ggiant’s fists!
Twisters suck up golden mists.
I dream about being in a bluebell woodland,
Morning’s dampness on my hands.
I find a torn seam in elemental’s veil;
Ask to enter the precious trail.
Bare toes tickling on grassy moss,
Nose wrinkling as plumes of bluebells waft;
Lost in a deep purple blue lake,
Looking at the shapes the old oak makes,
Their wizened branches seeking light,
Orange tip butterflies flee with all their might!
Woodland’s serenade fades gently like a breeze;
I take a sip of Titania’s tea,
Finding myself mixing a pool of morning dew
With soothing dainty hues from the bluebell wood
on my watercolour palette ready for a new painting to emerge.
Hawthorn petals
like a lace wedding veil,
torn in a March gale;
sailing on scented winds
like fairy wings-
bringing spring’s tingling feeling
of happy, lingering, sunny days.
This poem is dedicated to yesterday’s International Poetry Day and a celebration of spring.
I’m really enjoying our walks in the countryside around Cople. Each day I wonder how many more buds are out, what suprises are there under the hedgerows: daisies, celedine, anemonies and tiny violets. Skylarks serenade us along the paths at the edges of fields and red kites circle above. Our prize is watching the brown hares running along the furrows and sunning themselves. Such beauty is to be savoured every moment!
Tracing grooves in ancient oak bark
With tingling fingers, soothed;
Sheltered in the wings of strong silent boughs.
Wooed by whispering tales from distant shores.
Amber acorns break onto fresh fallen crushed leaves
Seeding under misted mosses and musty funghi
Where stories weave.
Through wild woods,
Parting shimmering drapes,
Greeted by a fanning of tiny hands
Seated next to dryads wrapped in cosy ruby capes.
Swirling dervlas swish folksy skirts,
Weaving dreamily through silver birches.
Crystals wink as the fairy choir sings in the wings,
Waiting for woodland girl to emerge, her gown tinged with whispers
of pearly tears.
Trailing across silvery skies, a carriage pulled by white doves glides…
The audience sighs!
Queen of the forest has arrived!
My collagraph plate was inspired by one of the dead, old oak trees that I see on my walks through the Bedfordshire countryside: always silhouetted against the sky is one or more crows and ravens, congregating on the branches watching over the fields.
I used teased out string glued onto the mountboard to create tree bark and bird feathers. I created the branches out of textured wallpaper and made marks in it with a knife.
After the plate was varnished and dried with a hairdryer, it was time to ink up the plate using brushes. I wanted to create an atmospheric moonlit effect so I combined blues and used plenty of extender.
I hope you like the result. 🙂
The printed plate was hand pulled through an etching press. I used damp watercolour paper. Every collagraph print is different. I achieved a ghost print which was much lighter too.
Spring splashes
Between weary evergreens
And lean stretching trees.
A golden brook of
Daffodils lyrically babbles
And violets hide in every nook,
Adorning the woodland floor.
Spring’s door has gently opened,
Surprising us and giving
Hope.
Yesterday, even though the sunshine didn’t manage to peep through the clouds, spring’s door had opened with its perfumed breath. Joyously, we walked through an old Victorian park in Bedford, chatting and taking in the splashes of emerging colourful buds and flowers. It was a beautiful day. Thank you nature and thank you friends for putting up with me diving about taking photos. 🙂
Lavender Moon: Artist, Poet and Lover of Nature 
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