Light and shadow

Here is a new drawing from my journal. This was done from the sketch I posted last week. I was keen to capture the contrast between the heavy shade of the yew tree and woods and the sunlight bursting through beyond.

We took out a 10 year old ash stump from the garden and I've been digging foundations for a cabin. I must have 'rescued' about 20 stag beetles - all fierce, feisty fellows. These are impressivle large beasts for a British garden and quite rare now - but locally common it seems. I had to draw one but he was crawling away rather fast. The drawing went next to a picture of bark falling from a rotting tree - rather appopriate.

Crocodile

Went for a run today and did some sketching...I think I'll try and work the scene from the woods at Polesden into a more 'finished' study in the journal. On the way back I glanced down and saw a log in the long grass that looked like a crocodile swimming through wate, so I sketched that very quickly too.

I made the Iris picture on the right yesterday. I wasn't happy with the ink picture I had made (left) so I cut it up and combined it with some of my original hard pastel sketch I made at the Commons. I prefer my new picture but I still haven't really captured the bright yellow flowers against the dark stagnant water and the fresh green leaves...something to work on.

A few pictures from my journal 3

This is a recent page I like. Every year at around this time we have explosions of bluebells in the woods. The colour is intense and unexpected, so every year it catches you a little by surprise. Over a couple of runs and a cycle ride I accumulated some photos, a charcoal drawing (photographed in situ) and a water colour. This is the assemblage in my journal. This one probably looks better in the flesh (or at least if I photographed it with more care!). Oh well....

A few pictures from my journal 2

Here is another thing I seem to do a lot in my journal. I made the sketch at Polesden, and took a picture of it. At home I printed out the photo and cut it up, then pasted it together with the original sketch. Then I messed around with watercolours and added a thought...noting my inspiration from a recent visit to New York.

A few pictures from my journal

Here is a first picture from my journal just to get me started. This is one technique I like playing with. The sketch was made at Norbury while I was on a favourite run. I was struck by the winter trees that rose up and surrounded the path. The colour palette was limited and rythmic. I took a picture of my sketch in the lansdcape. When I got home I photoshopped the lot together. I remember that when I set off running again I felt like I was running in my picture not in the real world.