Monday 18 March 2024

Langdon Beck Black Grouse

Today, a flying visit to Teesdale to meet up with friends, for a wak from Low Force to High Force. An early start was rewarded with a really lovely view of a Short-eared Owl sat on a fence post at the top end of the Dale, before we descended to Langdon Beck. We had a very pleasant walk along the river and lunch at the Langdon Beck Hotel - ham and cheese toasties are recommended! Then after we had said our farewells a chance to photograph the Black Grouse in the field adjacent to the hotel - lovely to see. Lots of displaying Lapwings and plenty of Kestrels too - a superb light - only made possible by the indigo sky and sun and the probably arrival of rain. Good to be back! 

Short-eared Owl.

Low Force.

High Force.

The main task for the day - keeping this one from launching himself into the fast flowing river! 

Black Grouse - and below....





Leaving the Dale. 




Sunday 17 March 2024

Mawbray low tide

A lucky break in the weather for a good walk down the beach ....nice to get out to the mussel beds and Sabellaria reef. Thanks to Tom for the photos - I had Rowan!  

Mussel beds and Cumbrian fells.

Sabellaria reef.

Sabellaria...Honey-comb worm.

Good skies...


Rocky, me and Rowan.


Wednesday 13 March 2024

Sewn Paper Collages

 Having created a range of papers - time to play cutting them up and stitching ...

To be honest, having chosen a peat bog for my theme, I have struggled as there are no obvious geometric shapes or vertical lines ....but the discipline of doing this is good and has definitely forced me into abstraction! 

I like this one the most ...using the forms of bent over grasses and water layers of peat and vegetation.

This one was using all the techniques - the foregroung couched htreads representing Molinia.

The water/pool reflects the mountain ...and the rushes are reflected...

 #fibreartstaketwo #debbielyddon #sensingplace


Tuesday 12 March 2024

Flour and water paste papers...

As part of the course I am doing, I have been experimenting with flour and water paste to create textured papers. I created the usual patterns - mark making in the paste with a comb etc, but really liked the ones where I used heather to create less controlled and more place-related patterns. These papers will be combined with others into collages to create a sense of place -hopefully! 

Marks made with heather...


..and marks made with a strip of card ...

I like the changes in tone and the movement in these - time to do more!

 #fibreartstaketwo #debbielyddon #sensingplace

Friday 8 March 2024

Collagraph book

Following enjoying making caterpillar books, I made a collagraph book. I didn't expect it to be any good, and as I was making it healf-heartedly when busy/distracted, I didn't take a photo of the plate or whole print. Nor did I concentrate enough to use the correct paper! The book though has its merits. I like the way it isolates unexpected compositions that you can't plan for. Working in one colour highlighted tonal differences and textures. So it will be a technique that I shall revisit - when I have dedicated time! 








Thursday 7 March 2024

Derwentwater

 An early arrival in Keswick, before sitting at Crafts of the North...in glorious weather (humf...), allowed me a quick wander down by the Lake and around the Isthmus. 

It's always nice ot find a different view ..

The Istmus.

Skiddaw with a little remaining snow. 

Textures ....and below.




Looking back to Skiddaw...


Wednesday 6 March 2024

Caterpillar books

 As I have mentioned, I'm doing an online course ...one of the preliminary activities is making a caterpillar book from a free flowing, intuitive 'painting'. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this, so here are a few pictures - the books are inspired by the words I wrote when creating a quick sketchbook on Wedholme Flow...one of the books has the words written in it - the other doesn't. 










 #fibreartstaketwo #debbielyddon #sensingplace