Signs of Spring

There should be a sub heading for this post, 'How not to sketch out doors'.

I've been getting back into sketching every where I can to get loads of practice and build up my confidence. I also thought it would be fun to try and capture nature through the year on my 'patch'.

As it was such a beautiful afternoon I headed off with my sketching kit and camera; and my trusty flask of tea, as it's rather chilly! I had, however, forgotten one thing. I have a small, (rather uncomfortable) fold up, three legged sketching stool. Unfortunately, one of the leg caps has come off, and we have had an awful lot of rain. When I settled down to sketch a lovely old tree, I sat on my stool - but the world went up, and I went down! I sank right into the soft earth!

Luckily no one was there to see. I pulled the legs out and tried to re - position the stool, but the only 'safe' place was perched precariously on the side of the hill. So, after about 10 minutes, shifting about and making some rather odd marks, I decided to cut my losses, have a cup of tea and finish off at home. I think I may be investing in a new stool or a proper sketching chair.....

Anyway, here are a few photos, of what are, seemingly, rather ordinary things, but when you look more closely, how beautiful and fascinating they become....


The buds are breaking. They look wonderful outlined against the blue spring sky.

Just a patch of arum lily leaves ( one of my most favourite plants), but what a beautiful shape they are; the patterns of light playing across them really caught my attention. That wealth of green shades and tones surrounding them is amazing.

A few early celandines are peeping through last year's dried and crumpled leaves, like little stars in the evening sky.
This wood pigeon was happily eating his supper and let me get quite close.

At the edge of the wood, hundreds of daffodils are just beginning to open and will look spectacular in a week or so.


Tiny violets are scattered in drifts alongside the path.

Here is the tree I was attempting to sketch! It's a lovely old woodpecker haunt, and covered in bracket fungi. I'll try again when I have a new seat, but at least I have a good reference photo.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my signs of spring, but if you would like to see some really stunning pictures of nature, then do visit the blog of the amazingly talented Tammie Lee 'Spirithelpers'. Exquisite photography and poetry (and she paints too!)

Finally, some art. Not my usual style at all, but I had great fun with it. This is a watercolour I designed for a birthday card for my friend Helen, who is a wonderful quilter and dressmaker. It's an 'homage' to those stunning Vogue patterns/models of the 1950's.



Have a wonderful week.x