Colours and textures on the Moss

Another pop into Wedholme this afternoon and after the mornings visit to the Libby Edmondson exhibition (previous blog), I was looking at colour - and texture. What to do is the question - threads have been sorted and a few more purchased ...so to start planning a textile piece! 

The iconic outline of Skiddaw.

Libby Edmondson Retrospective: Rheged

A chance to enjy this exibition, this morning, with our local art group. Showcasing 270 paintings, this is what  I would call a 'proper exhibition'; something sadly lacking much of the time in Cumbria. It runs until November 26th. So if you are local pop in! 

A few photographs - and I am still mulling over how these imageds inform my own practice. Some personal thoughts on an excellent exhibition.

Liking the composition here, compared to one of the same view without the posts. 

A view I know well.

Powerful and bold - interesting in the lack of shadows especially for the left hand tree and the lack of detail in the wall...but it works ...and maybe if I want to go larger, a triptych is the answer - I can carry individual panels upstairs when I need to clear the kitchen table to eat - rather than struggle upstairs with a large piece! 

Red underpainting gives warmth and contrast...

..and if I could have taken one picture home, it would be this one of Pavey Ark ..again a view I know well. 

The eye is drawn to the back crags..

I'm not sure if this is the original or the print - the original was  the best - but what I noted was how a flat colour sky made you focus on the far fells and the melting snow lines lead you in to the picture. 

Maybe a way forward for me - going back to those acrylics and oil pastels for working outside... to get a sense of movement. 

I need to revisit Castlerigg to see how, or if, perspective has been tweaked to get the two iconic focusses - the stones and Blencathra - love it! 

Half a Coledale Horseshoe

With a good 'Felltops' forecast we set off to do the Coledale round. A Lakeland classic....but the weather forecast was telling fibs  - as other walkers acknowledged. Swirling cloud lowered and turned to rain - cold rain and very little visibility. Wet and slippery in parts, so rather than do the whole horseshoe we did the southern half of: Barrow Door through to High Moss and onto Sail, then Crag Hill (Eel Crag) and down to Coledale Hause before descending into the valley. We decided against Causey Pike as coming off it down onto Sleet How is steep and slippery at the best of times. Back home and it had been dry and sunny all day! 

So a few pictures - not many. 

Looking up to Sail......

and down to Force Crag Mine. 

Classic views from somewhere between Sail and Eel Crag...and below! 

Another classic view! 

Descending into the dry and visible at Coledale Hause.

Looking across to Oughterside and Barrow the sun came out - before more dampness drifted in! 

Wedholme Flow lichens

A different walk today, with my father, looking for lichens. Lots to find and while I don't know their names, I can appreciate their complexity and beauty....

Walking out to the reserve the area on the left, with its sandstone posts, hosts a range of crustose lichens ...

On leaving the main track we soon found ourselves among a range of spectacular Cladonia species ...

Happiness is ...

Fox Moth caterpillar.

Long-tailed tit.

Common Hawker.

Just a lovely day - thanks Dad! 

The Fairfield horseshoe

Yesterday: A good forecast before Storm Babet is supposed to arrive so time to make the most of the weather! ..I read the bit that said 'Staying dry and bright during daylight hours' but kind of ignored the ' Strengthening easterly winds, summit gales and severe wind chill later in the day' ...it was invigorating! Great views as always but we didn't stop long for photos as it was a tad breezy! If I were doing the Wainwrights again - that would be another eight to add to the total so far. 

Beginning to gain hight - the steep paved pull up Nab Scar.

Overlooking Rydal and Windermere.

Towards Fairfield...

Towards Great Rigg and Fairfield.

A lower cloud level in Langdale.

Looking down Scandale Beck.

Looking back up at Faifield and Dove Crag.

Following the wall back down to Ambleside (looking back). 

Back to Wedholme Flow

The autumn colours are really beginning to intensify on the mosses...this time we walked round the longer (blue) route....Wedholme is rapidly becoming a favourite local walk, with Rocky particularly loving the soft peaty ground...

While some colours are intensifying, others are being washed out making it hard to spot the dragonflies and darters once they have landed.

Looking across to Criffel.

..and in the opposite direction to Skiddaw.

All was calm...

Very tranquil.

Skiddaw skyline.