Lockdown sketch book : week 1

So the idea of doing the daily dog walk and keeping it the same, apart from walking the dog and getting exercise is to do a photocollage and then use that as inspiration for some artwork, everyday, that is done in a concertina sketchbook. Unlike a normal sketchbook that means I can't tear anything out! No pressure then! So here are the first week's entries....just imagine it all connected...

Seeds : Lockdown 8

This mornings walk around the block focussed on seeds and seed pods/holders - the old rotting willowherb stems were the best - lovely forms and textures. It was really noticeable how when the sun came out briefly t he yellowhammers perched themselves on the top of the hedgerows and began to sing. I'm even noticing where particular bird's territories are and beginning to become more familiar with bird songs. It was great to see the first water avens coming out too!

Rosebay willowherb...and below

Yellowhammer

Water avens .....and below ..

Roadside flowers : Lockdown 7

Day 7 of the same dog walk and there still aren't a lot of flowers but here is today's selection form north Cumbria.

Town Hall Clock (Moschatel); gorse; speedwell; wood anemone; primrose; dog's mercury; opposite leaved golden saxifrage; dandelion; snowdrops; butterbur; an umbellifer; celandines and a daisy.

Blackthorn blossom - beautiful!

Light through dog's mercury leaves.

Pussy willow flowers...

Yellow hammer - ending on cheeeese!

Bark textures : Lockdown 6

The sixth day of the same dog walk from the house and today's focus was bark textures. It's when you are taking the photographs that you realise it is the colour, lichens or ivy that actually interest you, but with an unknown number of days stretching ahead in lockdown - best keep those themes for later!

It all started with this piece of detached piece of bark ...so then we carried on!

 

Honey fungus...

and more patterns...

Views : Lockdown 5

Continuing my daily walk and photo collage and art work ...here's day 5 ...views. I'll post a blog of week 1 art work based on the walks on day 7 or 8.

We are so lucky to walk out straight onto rural roads.

 I don' really like wishy-washy watercolours and certainly am not a water colourist ....so today I went for a different approach! Then you look at it and think, basically I've just done one of my lino cuts in paint!

Peony seed heads

We found these in the garden the other day - such sculptural beauty... I need to take some more photographs tomorrow as I not only like the form but the shadows they cast. ...and the obligatory sketch. They'd be fantastic to make in clay! Maybe when this is all over...

 

Butterbur ....Lockdown day 4

Well this morning's dog walk was dry, but slightly less warm - lovely to be out - while we are still allowed to be. The butterbur is just coming up and being as it is in a ditch I thought it would be best to photograph it on a dry day!

Butterbur.

Blackthorn buds bursting ...

An obliging chaffinch.

Gelli printing hares!

With lockdown now a reality, the other morning was spent printing hares....

Making stencils - both positive and negative.

The first pulls....and then you keep adding layers....

Fence posts..... Lockdown 3

Carrying on with my themed photo walks, whilst allowed, walking from the house ...today was fence posts. There were other nice things too!

Hedge sparrow singing.

Wren - I was pleased to focus on him - finding him on camera was tricky at a distance.

Dew drops.

My first peacock of the year.