New paintings and regular art updates.
Collage of three versions of my drawing of midday. By flipping the central image it created interesting effects where the edges join. One side seems to travel along a dark tunnel, the other into some sort of tree temple? I used photodirector for the textures and incollage for joining the images together.
Midday was the #bandofsketchers prompt for Thursday. We were at Rode Hall bluebell walk a couple of weeks ago. The overhead sun shining directly down onto the ground threw quite dark shadows. It wasn’t perfectly sunny though so the contrast wasn’t too strong. Felt pen drawing.
We finally got the weather for our walk around the grounds of Rode Hall. It was lovely, calming and peaceful. I know it’s strange, but I wondered where the musical backing track was….. But there was beautiful birdsong.
This was the last day of the actual bluebell walks, but they are obviously still there for a little while. There is a Rode Hall website and I’m sure there will be details available for visits there.
We went to see the bluebell walk at Rode hall today but stopped to talk to a lady that was very upset and distressed about something.
As we were chatting to her we all got caught in a thunderstorm with hail and heavy rain. We got soaked and decided to abandon the walk. Thankfully I had a discussion with someone from the hall and we can go back on Sunday. Above are pre bluebell walk photos with lowering dark clouds.
The hall is off the A34 between Scholar Green and Rode Heath:
Rode Hall, Church Ln, Scholar Green, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 3QP
A few photos from our garden today. It’s suddenly filled with life and colour. Big bumble bees fly around the cherry and pear blossoms. Hopefully we will get a good crop again. Old red geraniums have colonised the garden. We bought three plants from the Dorothy Clive garden a few years ago. White wild garlic flowers are opening and spreading under the trees, and Spanish bluebells from my grandma’s garden are loving the early spring shade. Birds sing, blackbirds are starting to nest and the Robin flits around looking for food. I’m happy to be out in the dappled shade next to a busy road. The shelter of the trees calms me.
Soon to be over. That must of blue flowers will be gone. I’ve suddenly fallen in love with the romance of flowers! I don’t think I noticed them much last year and now it’s a revelation to see them in bloom. We have some bluebells but they are pink and white too. I think ours are the Spanish variety with blue Bell flowers all around the stem which is more upright and the leaves are wider and strappier. They are worth commenting on because of their gorgeous colour.
Two versions of a work in progress. The top one is the original and the bottom is a digitally manipulated version. I think I will change the colours and add dark areas between the tree trunks. I might add some texture to the trees too. Size is 6 inches by 4. Acrylic on canvas.
They pop up everywhere! These (there were two of them) were on either side of the gazebo at Betley Court. They had heraldic sheilds with initials carved into them. Such handsome little dragons. I wish I had sern them before I handed in my MA report, I would have added pictures of them to it. Anyway, three weeks to results day. I’m waiting and hoping I do OK.
A sea of bluebells
Rippling in the wind
Surrounding an old Court
Like a moat.
Heads nodding on one side
Slim leaves
Shiny and dark green.
The Spring tide comes in
Then fades again.
Year on year
The tides of time
Turn.
We visited Betley Court and walked around the bluebell woods. It’s a private property so it only opens twelve times a year so we were really lucky to get in today. We will go back! It’s on the road from Keele in Newcastle under Lyme towards Nantwich I think. Its in Staffordshire I think (but its really near Cheshire). Its a lovely place. I really love this Spring abundance.
Mallaband-Brown