Haystacks round walk - field sketches.

What a cracking day and a gorgeous walk with lots of splendid views. These are two field sketches done en route, the first  a double page spread of Great Gable and round to the west and the second looking back down Buttermere from below the summit of Haystacks . Both done with watercolour.

Our tree sparrow family returns.

For those of you who regularly visit my blog you may recall we had a lot of tree sparrows visiting our bird feeders over the winter. Well this week they have returned to our garden with their young....the fledglings are flying - well bumbling would be more accurate, around the garden squeaking and squawking! So lovely to see - just like little pompoms, although Steve calls the hairy golfballs! Photography was challenging because I was behind the raspberries which kept on swaying violently in the wind, regularly obscuring the subject!

 

Lady's-slipper orchid sketches - Gaitbarrows.

Two very different approaches to the same subject - both done on site with the Tom's (the top image) being hand coloured at home.

Off to new homes ...

Well this weekend was Eskdale Arts show at St Bega's school. The event was well publicised and well organised - thanks to all concerned. Personally I was really pleased to sell five paintings and two prints. I always wonder where they go to and hope that they bring back happy memories or wishes ...

Islay ; Haris; Pembrokeshire; the Solway and from Bowfell. 

Latterbarrow colours!

A glorious afternoon at this gem of a reserve. The rockrose and columbine were at their best ...and the greater butterfly orchids spectacular.

Greater butterfly and common spotted orchids.

The field sketch.

Silver Y moth. 

Foulshaw Moss

A quick stop off ...lovely views of the osprey on her nest through the Trust's telescope and nice to see lizards basking in the sunshine on the board walk together with damselflies and chasers buzzing around.

Towards Whitbarrow ....

Common lizard.

Four-spot chaser.

Large red and either common or azure damselflies.

Gaitbarrows NNR - Lady's slipper orchid 2017

A splendid display this year....

Common blues...

Lily of the valley; pavements and hart's tongue fern.

...and a field sketch. 

Maryport harbour: common and small blues.

A lovely afternoon at Maryport - while the thunder rumbled on in Central Lakes, although as we left there were some rather large splats of rain.... Quite a few small blues - many of which dived in between grasses which made for challenging photography!

Common blues 

Small blue...

Bird's-foot trefoil and kidney vetch ...a cat's ear type species and yellow rattle. 

Painted lady, small heath and stone chat ..

Alliums....

Having bought allium sculptures it was pure coincidence I planted allium bulbs in front of them!

Eskdale Art ...and sketching Great Gable.

Well tonight, as you do, after work, I drove down to St Bega's School to deliver various paintings, prints and cards for their Art Show. It was a perfect evening and although time was tight I managed to take a few photos and do two field sketches. I can't believe it was too hot to sit in the direct sun- a stone wall provided the shade and it was lovely to sit on dry ground!

...and a lovely buttercup field  - again looking towards Great Gable.

Eskdale Arts show 2017

It's surprising how long it takes to prep things to take to an exhibition - especially when you realise you have to do some last minute printing!

Ribwort plantain

The roadside verge at our road end is providing a spectacular display of ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata). I love its structural nature and can feel a linocut coming on....possibly a reduction lino ....

 

My helper!

Allonby a ...lino cut using the Xpress Xcut.

Here's my hand-coloured lino cut of Allonby. Taken from a stitched photograph and then printed using the Xcut Xpress...which makes it so much easier.

I couldn't resist a dandelion....

I just love the sculptural form of dandelions.

...and  some other species in the 'set-aside area' in the field.

Dog days of May

Just a walk out from the house - everything is very pretty..and the world has a kind of 'frothy' appearance.

Water Avens 

Hawthorn 

Daisies - two pictures. 

Fields of Barley

What a glorious evening - a lovely light!