I adore willow catkins, and on my dog walks it's great to see the bright lemon yellows stand out against the ubiquitous grey. I noticed a fiery variant on one tree: it reminded me of a firecrest, with the bright orange and yellow: The pewter grey is stunning - I've never seen catkins like it, … Continue reading More Catkins
Great Tit and Willow Catkins
It has been such beautiful weather here over the last week or so, and I have found it so helpful for my mood and general outlook. it has made the fields and footpaths around here very busy so I have to pick my moment to walk the dog; I have hens so am up with … Continue reading Great Tit and Willow Catkins
Blue Tits and Hazel Catkins
We have had snow here in Sussex, which is actually quite rare; I think 2009 was the last proper snowfall. There has been enough for it to settle, but not in any quantity and the temperature has now dropped crystallising what is already there which looks very pretty, if a little stark. I found a … Continue reading Blue Tits and Hazel Catkins
Oak and Ash
For these two I have tried to be a little more gestural in my technique. I am self-taught with gouache (all painting actually) but the sable brush I'm using is so delightfully precise and sensitive, I wanted to attempt a more subtle drawing. Oak twigs are a warm grey-brown, and the clusters of buds a … Continue reading Oak and Ash
Horse-chestnut
I collected some twigs to paint on my walk, and the first one I tackled was the horse-chestnut, or conker tree. These buds are gloriously fat and glossy, covered in a sticky sap which honey bees collect to make propolis, a sticky glue which lines the hive, making it draught- and water-proof as well as … Continue reading Horse-chestnut
Lime buds
I'm watching out for 'budburst', that magical time when as the name suggests, the leaves burst from the bud and spring (for me at least) officially starts. These past 11 months have involved a deep and through scrutiny of the plants and animals I have in my immediate surroundings, hence my journalling and drawing practise. … Continue reading Lime buds
Nature Notebook II
For this journal entry, I decided to draw a bullfinch and some more alder twigs. I copied a male bullfinch from an Instagram account @mmerryts and painted him in gouache. I have my aunt's original typewriter, which I used to create some text about the bird, copied from my Illustrated Book of Birds. I mixed … Continue reading Nature Notebook II
Catkins and Siskins
Today started off looking immensely promising with snow forecast, and a pink sky. Sadly, the forecast didn't follow through, and it soon began to rain. Earlier in the week I had noticed the hazel catkins on one particular tree had descended in the warmth of the sun; clearly the spot was perfect for an early … Continue reading Catkins and Siskins
New Woodcut
I had a go at a woodcut now that I have my beautiful new Pheil tools and a birch blank. I used a photo from Instagram as my main bird focus; a herring gull by Steve Evans: I added some companions to balance the composition, but realised as I was carving the block (which was … Continue reading New Woodcut
Nature Notebook
In the absence of being able to travel, or visit even other places in the county to take in some nature, I really want to squeeze what I can from my local patch. I enjoy journalling and lettering, so I have decided to adopt a bit of creativity with recording some of the wildlife I … Continue reading Nature Notebook
