#bandofsketchers prompt was bark. I’ve found my stylus so I’ve tried to draw the bark of a tree trunk. It means I have more control over the sketch and I can be more accurate with my drawing. Used sketchbook app.

New paintings and regular art updates.
#bandofsketchers prompt was bark. I’ve found my stylus so I’ve tried to draw the bark of a tree trunk. It means I have more control over the sketch and I can be more accurate with my drawing. Used sketchbook app.


What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?
If I had to give up something it might be one of my trees at the bottom of the garden. Why? Because the neighbours don’t like it, it is a huge laurel bush/tree. It shades our garden and their garden too. I won’t be cutting any others back though. I like our little nature reserve. Laurel bushes are evergreen so they give shade and shelter to birds and squirrels all year round. But they do block out the sun. The trouble is ours is about forty feet high and thirty or so wide. It’s also right next to our fence line and about six feet away from theirs.
I know there have been huge legal battles over hedges and trees, and I don’t want to fall out completely with my neighbour, but I also cannot afford to have it pollarded or pruned. We will have to see what happens in the future. I hope it doesn’t get to legal action!

We just gathered some cherries off the ground because the rain and wind has knocked a lot off the tree. This is about a third of them that were too bruised, damaged or pecked. The rest have just been washed thoroughly in salty water and I’ve put them in the fridge to eat tomorrow. I will thoroughly rinse them again first.
The plan is to get a broom or a stick to try and pull some more down and collect them in an upturned umbrella. I hope the weather doesn’t intervene in the meantime! Praying the wind doesn’t whip up and blow them off. There’s still plenty left for the birds…

Bench at Westport lake last year. It was taken on a drizzly day like today. It’s good to see the weeping willow tree a bit further round the lake sweeping like a curtain across the side of the waters edge. It brings back memories of another one I knew….
I used to hide under a weeping willow when I was a child. It stood on its own in a park and I would sit with my back against it and imagine I was in a green tent or hiding behind a green waterfall. I had many adventurous thoughts sitting there in peace and quiet.
Relaxing on a bench is good when you have a view like this at Westport. After you have walked half a mile it’s nice to stop for a chat. Or a sandwich and a cup of tea. Refreshed and calm you can carry on with your walk. By the way there is a bench appreciation society page on Facebook for those that are interested….

Tree drawing done using Artrage, the app I amusing has more options than the one on my old phone so I’m learning how to use the different tools. I’ve also found how to change the opacity. I liked using greyed colours instead of bright ones in this image.

I still like this photo that I made into a mirrored image, the tree is just putting out catkins as Spring comes closer. But my favourite bit is the roof on the right. It sort of looks like a fish or a strange bomb? or a plane?

Behind the glass
Beyond the tree
And house of brick
Lies the hill.
Behind that hill
And valley wide
Sits the horizon
Where the sun rides.
It sinks below
And it’s last rays
Illuminates
A golden glow
On the glass
In brilliant ways.

I walked under a tree today and noticed little katkins had opened up under it. The sky was blue but the clouds behind me were dark grey and angry looking. The rain had stopped about half an hour before and I liked the dark blue reflection on the road surface. This was in the centre of Stoke, where I was taking a flat walk because my feet are aching. It was good to get out of the house again, I’m hoping it helps me relax more. X

Growing out and up… A long limb of a tree scrambles to escape the shade of its companions. Thinks, I’m not going to be hidden by all your leaves. Give me light and I will grow into a tree in my own right. I don’t need holding up, I will sway in the wind with the best of them! What’s a bit of tension and torsion to a limb like me? I’m only slightly cracked, that split in my bark will soon heal over, I’m not weeping sap. Oi! Don’t you bring that chainsaw near me! I will survive!

Red sky this morning
Weather warning?
But the sky turned blue
A lovely hue
The sun shone
No one cried
The wind just dried
The washing
No rain came
Which was the same
As yesterday
Except that was grey
So red sky
Was a weather lie!