This post has a lot of photos showing as many stages of painting as I could. I’m taking the pictures using my cell phone, sorry they are not perfect! I’m using a photo I took a few years ago in Northumberland, on a walk with Gary at Beanly Moor. Some of the most beautiful old Beech trees are there, the tall stately ‘ladies of the wood’ these trees can be known as. Many times we find a long row of very mature trees and know that once they were part of a farmers hedge and left to grow because they were forgotten and went wild. I love that.
Above, first I did a light pencil drawing but didn’t add too many details. Then I started to add some color that I see on the tree, I’m using gouache paint.
Here I start to put the greens of the ground down and a bit of burnt sienna mixed with burnt umber on the tree. I used a big filbert to brush the tree and used strokes that followed the rounded contour of the trunk. This left ‘streaks’ in the paint that I liked and I used the same brush later to add more tree color. The strokes it made I left and they really look great even at the end with other textures layered on top.
Here I did quite a few things, I toned down the green in the background on the left by putting a more opaque light green on top. I scumbled in more of the foreground greens and values then I added the dark browns you see using the big filbert brush. These are important dark areas because I’ll be putting light grasses and bracken on top and this will make them look more three dimensional.
I also made some brush strokes on the tree for the lichens and moss that I rather liked the texture of. When you see lichens on trees like this, it almost looks like fur. So as I continue I try to keep that texture on the tree.
I used a very light wash of color brushed on the left side of the tree, I’m trying to get rid of areas that are not as light in value as the right side of the tree and the background. I used the big filbert brush again to stroke with the round trunk.
The background trees get brushed in. Whoever said trees have brown trunks? Most tree trunks I see are green and grey in color!
Here you can see I’ve added grey on the right side of the tree. Then because gouache paint can be lifted quite a bit if you wet it, I was able to carefully lift the dark color off where I plan to put light patches of paint. I could probably have painted right on top of the dark, but this way I figured it had less chance of mixing and getting muddy. It was a good way to ‘sketch’ out exactly where I wanted to put the light patches.
I’ve also added more opaque color to the tree on the left which is giving it so much more ‘solidness’. And I added leaves/branches to the background trees and don’t forget the wee cows!
This is showing how I had it set up on my table, plastic palette on the right, gouache paints above that in a resealable palette. Just above my painting you see a clear plastic tray with round depressions, that was some packing material from battery tealights, it makes a great mixing area for paints! The colors in there were for painting the light bracken and finding the right color and value drove me crazy!
A lot has happened here, the light patches going onto the trunk and some very light speckles, bracken fronds all over, more texture on the ground in the back.
Here I worked on that grey area on the right side of the trunk, more texture and some sharpening of the dark edge to show the tree goes in there, like an old wound maybe?
Now I know the color of this picture is hugely different from the pictures of the stages of painting, this is the scan of the painting. You can really see the vibrancy of the greens, whereas the other pictures are all taken with my cell phone under lamps and some with cool natural light.
Once I get set up with a printer again, I’ll definitely be making prints and note cards of this one; I love the colors and textures! I hope you liked seeing all the steps of painting as I worked, please leave me a comment if you like. Please share my website with your friends! You can also follow me on Instagram to see more updates on my projects, look for Mary_McAndrew_Artist.
Another adventure into the snowy, cold back garden! I sketched this scene on January 17, 2023 then worked on the painting in February. I seem to be drawn to this Hawthorn tree and wall, it’s the same one I sketched last year in March on a rainy cold morning. I just love old Hawthorn trees because they usually twist and twine together and bend and grow shaped by prevailing winds.
Another thing I love in winter is the dry grasses; the color of it and how it lays in clumps, it’s strands making such interesting forms. I like looking at them to see where voles and mice have made entrance holes to hideaways. The other thing I love about this wall is all the moss of course! It’s a fun challenge to paint and I will be doing a lot more paintings and studies of it.
I used my very small sketchbook and drew the sketch above using a permanent ink pen. I did this from life, standing right in front of the tree and wall as you see in the previous photo. I did have my big mittens on with the flip back top so I could use my fingers, but it’s still a challenge to draw!
The picture above shows what I did next. I took the small original drawing (bottom right) and scanned it. Then I printed it out on plain computer paper, and looking at the photo I took, I drew darker lines on the printed paper and used white out to block lines that I didn’t want, like where I drew lines through a branch etc. Then I scanned that large one I edited and printed it again but at the size I wanted, a bit smaller.
Above it shows my light table, I put the scanned edited drawing on the light table and taped my watercolor paper on top. Then with the light on (of course) I traced with light lines using a pencil. Now it’s ready to use for painting! I like doing this because it’s always from my original sketch, not traced ever from a photo! A sketch/drawing will always have more character, not a perfect copy but maybe unnecessary details left out and others enhanced.
I decided to do this painting in gouache, as it’s my new medium and I love exploring it’s properties. I decided to use a thin base color of purply violet, I started light then darker layers to define the shaded areas.
This is a shot of my palette where I’m mixing my colors. I made it from the plastic cover of a notebook that I cut off and taped it onto mat or mount board. I have a travel palette that keeps the paint wet and soft just above this. I take a bit of wet gouache out and put it in little blobs on the mixing palette as I work, this keeps my travel palette cleaner. I especially do this with the white to keep it clean. As these little blobs dry out, I just rewet them as needed.
Above I mixed up some brownish purple color for the ground and wall dark areas in a little plastic dish. As I painted I used the waterbrush to blend out the edges to keep it soft, this is a technique I use in watercolors too.
Here you can see I started to put the background tree in and some of the distant wall. The thing is, I really was on the fence as to if I would put any background in at all! I can picture this tree and wall with just a white background, but it’s the landscape painter in me that wants to just put the whole scene in! Maybe someday I’ll repaint it with no background and see how it looks.
I added some sky and grass colors in the field behind.
Here I started to add the greens of the moss and bark on the Hawthorn.
Finally I start to add the greens of the moss on the rocks, trying to be careful and not painting areas of rocks with no moss.
And here I put more color onto the big Ash tree in the background, but try to keep it light. The lighting on my painting is terrible but I think I was painting at night time and this is using my cell phone.
Oh boy, look how crowded it looks on my table! This is working at a plastic 2’x4′ folding table in the living room, because that’s where the WOODSTOVE is!! haha. You can see my mixing palette and the paint container palette just above it, with my water just above that in a ceramic container. In the middle is the painting clipped onto my work board and above that is the printed out drawing I did. On the left is a photo reference for details and a bit for the color, and above that can you see the little study I did in my blog post “Stone Wall Studies in Gouache”. That is a great reference for color, moss and stones that I can refer to anytime.
I really liked how my painting was looking now, it’s really come to life for me, but a Hawthorn isn’t a Hawthorn without it’s berries! The tree had lots of dried out berries of deep red, just waiting for hungry Blackbirds or greedy Fieldfares! So I used an old trick by touching the end of my brush to paint on my mixing palette then made the round mark one at a time. I practiced on scrap paper first to see what color and thickness of paint I should use.
“Hawthorn and Mossy Wall”, gouache.
And here it is finished finally! I didn’t talk about putting the grass in front of the tree but that is an important part. As shown earlier, I put dark colors down first then this allowed me to use very light gouache on top to make grass strokes. It’s fun to arrange them so they look natural and they give a lot of movement to a drawing or painting. Then I added the dead leaves on the ground too.
I know I did this weeks ago when the snow was still flying, but today (April 2) I’m posting it after being outside in a sunny garden! We thought the sun would never shine again, it’s been so cloudy and grey! Soon we’ll be planting veg and flowers in the gardens and watching all the bees and insects come. I’d like to do some insect and wild flower studies and paintings, so we’ll see what comes this spring and summer!
(You can also follow me on Instagram as “mary_mcandrew_artist” and Facebook as “Mary McAndrew Painting and Illustration”, both of these I share more up to date progress of things I’m working on.)
Gary and I went out for a quick drive in mid February even though it was overcast and cold. We drove through Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders and up the lane that goes right out of the village (as the locals refer to Newcastleton) and up onto the moors.
This is the first view you get when you pull up, a nice bench for enjoying the beautiful scenery.
We pulled up to see the views and got out to take a look around. This is a sign about the Langholm Moor Project to help bring back the Hen Harriers. Hen Harriers are the same thing as the Marsh Hawks I used to see over my back fields in Clarence Center, NY!
There was an interesting structure made of rocks down a little grass path, so I went to check it out.
There was a very long sturdy bench built into the wall, which curved around in an arc. It was a great place to shelter out of the wind and I liked the way it blended into the surroundings naturally.
There was a plaque dedicated to Lord Eskdaill on his 21st birthday. I’ll have to look him up and learn about him; I found the spelling of his name interesting and I’m still learning about local history.
This is the view from the shelter, but I don’t think that little tree was supposed to be right there in the middle! It probably grew up by mistake. I was thinking that some wildflowers would look great growing around the grass circle.
This is the view I decided to use for my painting. I worked from this photo even though it’s much duller than the actual colors were. As I worked on it at home, I checked my colors by looking at the land and trees outside my windows.
First I did a light sketch in pencil on 140 lb watercolor paper.
I’m using the gouache lightly, just like watercolors, I’ll build up colors in layers. I’m sorry I didn’t take any other step by step photos as I worked! I think I worked on this one at night and just did it until it was done.
“View From Langholm Moor”, gouache Feb 17, 2023
Here it is finished! (click to see it enlarged) I had fun doing the grass in the foreground by first putting dark browns down then brushing lighter grasses on top. Then I went back and adjusted the colors of the fields in the background, trying to balance colors, lights and darks until it looked right.
I’m looking forward to getting up there again as the spring and summer brings new growth and colors to paint!
(Please click on photos to see enlarged, click again for larger view.)
Blocking in base colors.
For these two new little studies I’m working from photos I took this Autumn of a wall in our back garden. Instead of braving the elements right now, I’m painting in the sitting room with a wood fire going! I’m still a bit new to gouache but the more I use it the more I like it. Above you see I start by blocking in colors and shapes of areas with not much added detail.
Getting those darks laid in there.
If there is a dark area like under plants or in crevices, put them in early. This way you can paint lighter details on top and they will really show up. The rocks in the foreground had a violet coloring, that was fun to put in and see if it worked.
Adding the moss on top of the rocks.
After getting the rock colors right I dabbed on greens for moss, leaving the lightest values to use last. I used a very rough dry brush to dab paint on that wasn’t very wet. After it’s all dry I added the tiny wisps of dry grass over areas. I was also trying to use different brush strokes and dabs to create the fern fronds.
Working on my studies in my little cigar box pochade, with gouache paints and palette.
The picture above shows I’m using my very small cigar box plein air kit that I’ve created to use as a pochade box. I’ve tried to make it small and very lightweight so I can carry it in a backpack. It has a mount attached to the bottom that clips onto a tripod. But indoors I just set it on the table and use it to see how everything fits and if there was anything I could leave out.
What I want to point out is the bright blueish purple blotch and the blue one next to that at the right side of the paper. They were blotches from when I was just messing around with the gouache. I took a very wet brush and repeatedly wet, scumbled and lifted color with paper towel to remove the color as much as I could. It was stained into the paper so I decided to just work on top of it.
Painting on top of purple and blue stained paper.
When I looked at my reference photo, the stones had a cool cast to them so I thought I’d give it a go. I first lightly sketched the rocks in using a small brush to make the crevices between the rocks. You can clearly see the purple and blue colors in the paper! I started to dabble on the moss and the yellow color in some rocks.
Adding darks at base of wall, then leaves.
Then, at the base of the wall, I put dark burnt umber and sepia brown as a background. Then when you paint leaves and stems on top, they show up nicely. But this is the tricky part for me still, trying to have opacity and rich color but light enough to show up on the dark colors.
Here’s a better view of my little cigar box set up. The study is quite small but I’m very happy with how it came out. You can also see the two little studies I did last summer by our stone barn. (When you click the picture below you’ll see them much better.) I experimented by approaching them in different ways. The left one I put down black brown background and then painted the stones on top. The right one I first painted a dirty yellow ochre color (more of the stone color) then painted the crevices of the rocks. Then I added different colors of rocks on top. I definitely think some more studies of the barn walls would be a great idea!
I’m finding the gouache colors, chroma and values really lend themselves to woodland, mossy rocks, trees and muted color scenes. So many times I’ve seen gouache paintings that are all bright colors and scenes, but right now I’m attracted to their softer look. I have started using them with some of the children’s book style paintings I’m doing and that’s really different for me. This is still a new medium for me so there’s lots to try out and discover!
I’ve already completed two gouache paintings since doing these studies, and I’m very happy with how they came out! One is from a photo I took of an old Beech tree along a favorite walk we had in Northumberland. The other is a photo right from my back garden here in the Scottish Borders, an old Hawthorn tree and mossy wall in winter. Those will be shared in posts coming up.
Thank you for stopping by to read about my painting adventures and to those who have been following me, thanks for being patient as I know my posts are very sporadic! I AM working very hard and always have some projects on the go. I’m looking into buying a good printer so I can produce prints as I used to before I moved to the UK. Then I can offer my new works and old, and get my website organized for that. Always something to work on isn’t there?!
You can see current photos I share while I’m working on paintings, on my Facebook page “Mary McAndrew Painting and Illustration” and on Instagram as “mary_mcandrew_artist”. Follow me there to see the up to date goings on and some photos of the views I see around me here in the Borders.
Many times I really want to share photos from our walks here in Northumberland England or from the Scottish Borders, where we’ve been driving to a lot this summer and autumn. The problem is my posts have been infrequent due to time and when they get long it feels like it will just be too much. Also, I used to have more time while out to sit and do a watercolor study and then share that as a post. It seems we just have time to pop out for a walk and there’s no time for poor deprived me to do any artwork!
So I thought I’ll just do a separate post and just pop a bunch of nice photos on to share with you some of the beauty of this area, which truly inspires me as an artist and human being. I hope you enjoy them and maybe this could be something I do more often, what do you think?
SCOTTISH BORDERS – Langholm area
A beautiful view up the lane near Langholm.
So first I’ll share some photos from our drive up to the area around Langholm, Eskdalemuir in the Scottish Borders.
This was our view as we had lunch in the car.
We pulled up, well backed up into a gateway area and this was our view across the valley from us. It was pretty cold and misty outside but Gary made hot coffee on our little gas camp stove behind the car, it was so welcome!
This is a little closer view, just look at that hill on the left!
When I look at these hills, though they’re really pretty high, I feel I just want to start walking and get to the top! But that hill on the left is quite steep looking!
From inside the pine forest, how beautiful!
The above picture I shot when we had a pitstop for a ‘wee’, somewhere in the vast hills. It was so quiet and I love, especially at this time of year, there’s not many people around.
This was shot from the car window, that’s the town of Bentpath at the base of the hill.
We went through an area we explored a bit last year, the valley and hills of Eskdalemuir, NW of Langholm. The tiny town you see above is Bentpath. I love how it’s situated with the gorgeous hills behind it, such a tiny place along the river.
Coming over the moors, wide open and free.
I like that view of coming over the open moorland, no barriers. Sometimes you see sheep wandering around across roads like this up here.
Sunset on our way home, I just love the colors and those clouds!
And to finish a nice day, a beautiful sunset to send us home to Northumberland.
NORTHUMBERLAND
COQUETDALE – Rothbury + Thropton area
Two beautiful tups or rams, how bonny are they?
On this day we went for a walk between Rothbury and Thropton, we park on a back lane and walk up through fields and end up on a very ancient lane called Physic Lane. Many times they have rams in some of the fields we pass, so I was happy to see these two fellas above. I don’t know anything about why they are colored like that, it’s not natural color, so I’ll have to find that out.
One of my favorite kind of stiles to go over. built right into the wall.
Above, you see a very old type of style, it’s stone and built as part of the wall. I love it because it’s so permanent, though you do have to take care when you use it because they’re narrow and there’s usually nothing to hold onto. And yes, the stones go down the other side too!
A view down Physic Lane, just a grassy path now.
I love photos of gates in the countryside and would like to do more paintings of them. This gate is typical in style, a very practical farm gate to keep livestock in (or out). This is one part of the old Physic Lane, some parts you can see the old cobbles under the grass. Physic Lane dates back to the Medieval time, as there were two known hospitals in the area. It’s believed the monks who ran it would gather herbs along this lane and I know for a fact there is a great number of Elderberry trees along part of it, and this is a great healing plant with it’s berries and flowers being used. I know it’s a dull day for a photo but I love how the Bracken is changing color along the lane too, I just love it’s Autumn colors.
Though it’s a misty overcast day, it’s still a beautiful view of Coquetdale valley, one of my favorite places!
I just love Coquetdale, so named for the River Coquet that runs from up in the Scottish Borders down through this valley. It snakes it’s way along, added to by little streams that run down from the moors, clean and cold. Then it winds it’s way along and reaches the coast at Warkworth Castle. But on this walk we don’t see much of it, so maybe I’ll share photos of it in a future post. What you can see are the Simonside Hills across the valley, a very popular set of hills to hike up.
One part of the walk has huge boulders scattered on the hillside.
One part of the walk has huge boulders scattered on the hillside. I just love big boulders that form crags on many of the hills around our area. They are full of interesting layers from when they were formed and huge cracks where they split apart from years of freeze and thaw and general wear. They’re kind of like architectural elements sitting in the countryside!
My favorite mushroooms are these, Fly Agaric.
Fly Agaric mushrooms are my favorite kind, I can’t resist the bright red orange of their caps and the little white ‘bits’ that appear there too. I just loved how these appeared to line a path, like maybe they were magically put there by a fairy to decorate the way?
NORTHUMBERLAND – Above Eglingham
I’m a sucker for pictures of tracks through grassy fields!
Then on another day we went for a short walk that we did years ago, above Eglingham, but this time we went further up the fields. It’s very open there with far reaching views of moors, grasses, heather and distant hills.
We found a huge boulder sticking out on the hillside.
We found a huge boulder sticking out on the hillside, so naturally we were attracted to it. I guess others have been too because some nitwit carved a big heart into it and then names and a date. We don’t find this attractive at all or nostalgic, we just find it annoying and a disturbance to what we consider perfect as is, nature left alone. OK rant over!
We enjoyed sitting on said rock for quite awhile, just enjoying the view, talking about things going on in our life and because it was very windy and cold, keeping out scarves wrapped around our faces.
There were wonderful little mushrooms growing around the boulder.
There were nice little mushrooms growing all around the boulder, on all the different levels of rock, where ever there was soil and grass growing. What I liked about this boulder was there were so many flat parts to sit on, all on different levels. I’m certain this rock has been popular for sitting over many, many years!
Here’s a view from the boulder where we sat.
I included a photo to show you the marvelous view we had from the boulder top, it just keeps going on and on. I love the color in autumn of the bracken and heather, just wonderful browns with a hint of burgundy.
This is another photo of the view from the boulder.
And here’s a photo just showing the view in landscape format. I want to go back up there and see it in different seasons. Also as we sat and studied the land and hills before us, we try to see where tracks, gates and paths might be so we could explore further on another day. When I see land spreading out like this I get the feeling of just wanting to walk and walk to get to further hills. Getting back might be a problem when I’m all tuckered out!
Just to show you how chilly it was, there’s me bundled up!
Just to show you how chilly it was, there’s me bundled up! It was soo cold and windy, but sometimes that really gives you energy, as long as you don’t sit still too long. I had to crop Gary out as he does not like his photo shared! I like snapping some selfies from our walks, it really is nice to look back on later and gives that more personal feeling and memory of our day out.
I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of some of the wonderful views we’ve seen lately. I do have more to share so you may see some other posts like this, just to share some photos. Do you think this would be good?
This past summer my husband and I tried to pop out to the Lake District when we could. Unfortunately time slipped by and we only got out there a few times for the day, except of course when my son visited and I got to stay in Keswick two days with him! (but that’s another story). On this occasion we explored Kendal, then some small tarns but the best part was walking up Gummer’s How and having a picnic. (please click on photos to see larger views)
The Chocolate House, Kendal.
First we stopped in Kendal and had a quick run around, but lingered a little longer in the Chocolate House. It’s a very small shop filled with all kinds of chocolates and candies. To be honest I didn’t buy any this time, I just didn’t feel in the mood….I must have been NOT feeling myself! Well it’s a reason to go back again.
An amazing old door on a small church we visited.
This is an amazing old heavy wooden door on a small church we visited.
A very scary ford to cross.
This is a ford we came to, I’ve never seen one this wide! There was no sign saying not to cross it but I told Gary I’d get out of the car if he tried! It looked far too deep.
I’m so glad we decided not to cross this ford!
We drove around the long way and this is the ford from the other side. It was awful, the ground was all broken up from previous flooding, and it must have been 2 1/2 feet deep! There should have been a sign to warn people!
Gummer’s How, waiting for us to come up!
This is Gummer’s How and you can just see Lake Windermere at its base. Time to get our boots on and get walking.
There were some really pretty areas on our walk up.
We passed small grassy glades and this one had a small stream that sounded so refreshing.
This is the path that curves around towards the top
As we get near the top the path goes close to the edge and you get a great view of Windermere. I had to stop and take it in, though Gary said to keep on, he knew the view got better!
Now don’t get jealous of this next photo! It looks like a scene from the “Miss Potter” movie and I love that!
Settling down to do a watercolor of the view at Lake Windermere.
Of course my big plan was to do a watercolor study up top and I’m happy to say I did. Many times we walk and when we’re at the top of our hill I don’t feel like painting or there’s just no time.
The day couldn’t get more perfect!
After our picnic of Ploughman’s sandwiches (cheese and pickle), various biscuits (cookies) and a can of apple cider we shared, I settled down on some soft mossy heather to draw.
This apple cider was nice with our picnic.
It helps to carry a plastic bag to sit on, the ground is usually very damp so I always have one tucked in my field kit.
My small sketchbook and travel palette balanced on my knees.
The difficult part is translating that huge expanse of landscape to your small pad, I focused in on several of the distant mountains and first sketched with pencil.
This shows how far I got while working in the field.
The above picture shows how far I got in the field. One of the best things about painting or drawing outside, is all the things you see as you sit there! We heard loud airplane engines and then two really big military airplanes flew right up the lake; it was below us and that perspective made it even more exciting! They must have been returning from an airshow?
Finished watercolor of “Lake Windermere from Gummer’s How”
Here’s the finished watercolor (above). The most challenging thing (as always) was the changing shadow patterns on the hills. You can sit and gaze all day at the moving shadows from the clouds, picking out brilliant greens in one area then fading to appear in another spot. It helped me greatly to look at photos I shot when I finished up details at home. I had to pick a bit from many to fit what my painting was showing.
Click on this Wikipedia link to read more about Gummer’s How. I love the quote by Wainwright at the end, I guess I don’t have to hang up my boots just yet!
The end of a very nice day, this was the sunset as we drove through the Pennines back to Northumberland. I hope you enjoyed the extra photos today, though I know August is long since gone, I’ll always remember our hike and painting on Gummer’s How.
Here’s a post I wrote from July, never too late to enjoy a bit of sun I guess!?
July 16, 2015
Did I tell you how much I LOVE living here in Northumberland? I did? Well I won’t get tired of saying it or doing my sketches out in the field.
Taking a rest, enjoying the day, in my barn boots of course!
I went up in the field near Edlingham Castle, I had it all to myself, no sheep or cows about. It was just that kind of day that I sat on the ground to think, listen to the birds and enjoy just living. Then I just lay back and put my straw hat over my eyes and let time slip by, and it was ok.
Trying to take a selfie with a 35mm isn’t easy!
Laying down amongst the clovers, it made me feel like a kid again. Isn’t that funny? I should go lay in the grass more often! Maybe we could start a national “Lay in the Grass Day”! haha.
Below is a picture of what it looked like, my view from the grasses, the clouds were so beautiful.
My view from the grass, my mouse eye view.
And below, this is what I saw near me, a Ringlet butterfly, a very common sight in the fields here in summer. I’m really enjoying learning the new butterflies and bugs here in the UK.
A Ringlet butterfly on a clover head.
Well I didn’t just lay around all day, after a little while I went down the field, found a spot to stand and did a small painting. Below is a picture of Edlingham Castle, this was what I drew. You can see by the photo, the lighting never stays the same when you’re painting outside. My painting ended with nice blue skies and sunshine!
Edlingham Castle view from field.
Below is the ink drawing I did first. Sometimes I do an ink drawing then paint with my watercolors, especially if I don’t think I’ll have time to paint it. The other way is to do a light pencil sketch and then paint, drawing with ink a little for details on the pencil before or after painting.
Ink drawing of Edlingham castle, over the gate.
Below is my finished watercolor painting, only 4.5″ x 6″. You can see how bright the colors are, the day really was so bright, unlike the photo! The ink drawing makes it look more like an illustration than a painting to me. Kind of like all details are picked out at once, but that’s ok.
Edlingham Castle, Northumberland. Watercolor and Ink 4.5″ x 6″
I hope you enjoyed a little look back into summer! If you don’t want to miss any of my posts, just put your email in the box at the top right column. It’ll send you an email notice and you just respond then you’ll get my posts right in your inbox. Remember though, it’s best to click to come here and read the post, it lays out better on the page (and you can leave comments here).
I wrote this post way back in July, when it was sunny and warm, now here we are at the end of October! I still have new drawings and paintings to share, it’s just been more hectic than I expected! I’m still settling into this new life, trying to learn how to drive standard (badly!), finding a new accountant, and not being able to find some of my supplies because many things are still packed and stacked in plastic bins! But what has been most excellent is our walks near our home and a few trips to the Lake District. The greatest joy Gary and I share is our love of walking in the countryside. I’m overwhelmed with subject matter, it’s just finding time to sit and work.
So, on to my July post! Please click on the pictures to see them enlarged and clearer, enjoy!
(July 2015) I’m very lucky to have an ancient castle near where I live. I can go visit the site and walk around it, or view it from the fields.
Brown ink drawing of Edlingham Castle done in the field in April 2015.
I did this drawing in brown ink (Faber Castell Pitt pen) while standing in the field where only local villagers usually go, way back in April. It’s great to switch your mediums once in awhile when out painting. I think it’s great ‘brain training’ as you have to approach it in different ways, seeing shapes, values, lines, textures and measurements; and thinking what you will use to capture that.
As I am settling into my new studio space here in England, I am still re-organizing my ‘stuff’ and wanting to play with materials I’ve had packed for ages. One of those is charcoal, I haven’t really used it in a long time so lately I’ve been rediscovering it. Below I’ll show you how I did another small drawing of the castle en Plein Air or sitting in a field with my art kit.
Sometimes I set my stuff out on the ground, this is charcoal drawing supplies.
This shows my small backpack, a big lawn + leaf type garbage bag, Altoids tin with loose charcoal sticks and one plastic box with charcoal pencils, tortillions, brushes, sandpaper and eraser. I almost always stand when I work but today I had a small folding camp stool to sit on. The garbage bag is great for when you want to throw your backpack or kit on the ground and it’s all damp OR use it for sitting on.
Here’s part of my field kit for charcoals, good ‘ol Altoids tin.
And the ever popular ‘Altoids tin’, once used by me for watercolors but now I put my charcoal sticks in here. The rubber bands on the lid are holding a piece of paper towel and some cotton balls in place.
Here it is open and ready to use; I put the messy hard and soft sticks in here.
The base holds an assortment of soft vine and compressed charcoal sticks also a piece of chamois for blending and shading.
You can use the ‘messy’ charcoal powder in the tin to draw with a brush.
When I sharpen points on sandpaper I let the powder fall into this tin and then it’s great to pick up with brushes for shading. A great way to start your sketch with soft blocked in areas of value, using soft or stiff brushes.
Work in progress, my support is just the cardboard back of a sketchpad.
Above here it is almost finished, just a few touch ups and strengthening of darks and details to do.
Charcoal drawing of Edlingham Castle, July 2, 2015.
And it’s finished! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my kit and how I worked. I’ll try to post more of those sketches I’ve done! Leave me comments below, I love to hear from you all.
As I was looking through my small sketches and watercolors from this spring and early summer, I found I have many that are of distant views of the hills. Scenes that are all around me here in Northumberland England, just drive anywhere and you will always see some far off huge hills in the distance that all the locals can tell you the name of. Yes, all have names, very old names! It’s fun to learn the silhouettes and names of them.
Our favorite thing to do is walk up any of the high hills and see into the distance; can you believe we can see all the way to Scotland!? You don’t have to climb a high hill to appreciate the views though, even walking on the upper lane out of our village gives you views across Whittingham Vale or up to Corby Crags.
View of the Cheviots and Glanton area in the Whittingham Vale.
The tiny watercolor sketch above is from one of my morning walks along the upper lane of our village. The blue hill in the distance on the left is actually two hills in the Cheviots, one being “The Cheviot” itself. The hill in the center I’m pretty sure is Low Pyke in Glanton, the next village that you can see across the valley. It makes you realize that all the way back to bronze age man, people must have named the hills and used them for direction.
Study of Corby Crags in watercolor, March 10, 2015.
This little study above is of Corby Crags, as seen from my side yard in spring. It’s just a quick watercolor sketch to practice clouds and colors, but I remember standing there doing it on a sunny day in March, when winter was breaking.
“Burning Heather on Brizlee”, watercolor field study, April 6, 2015
This one was done while walking along our upper back lane, I saw smoke from a fire in the distance and stopped to record it. I leaned on a big field gate as I looked past the buildings in the foreground to the long hill in the distance. My husband told me they were burning heather on the moors up on Brizlee, this is to promote new growth of heather shoots for the grouse and partridges (all for the hunting season). This hill I realized later when I looked on a map is all the way in Alnwick, the next village about 6 miles away!
“View of Demesne Farm and Thrunton Woods”, watercolor, May 26, 2015.
One of my favorite things here is to watch the clouds cast shadows and patches of sun creep across the face of the land. Where the sun goes the greens and golds of the land come alive, it’s so dramatic! The little 5 1/2″ x 7″ watercolor above I did while sitting on the side bank of the road out of our village looking towards Thrunton Woods and Demesne Farm. It’s one of my morning walks that is relatively short but always windy when you get to the top. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this view!
“View From Edlingham Lane” watercolor, July 21, 2015.
This 4 1/2″x 6″ study was done on the same lane but just a week ago. I was near the top of the lane where you really get hit with all the wind sweeping across this valley. It was a misty day and my hands got cold and stiff, yeah even in July! As I painted this it started to rain (see the approaching clouds?) so I quickly put my kit away…then it stopped….so unpack the kit again! The weather here is just like that, dress in layers because when the sun comes out you’ll get so hot and start peeling off jackets, but as soon as the clouds come it’s cold and there could be a surprise sprinkle in that cloud. I usually bring more than the average walker because I end up sitting or standing still a lot and it gets cold when you don’t move around.
Next post I’ll share more photos of my surroundings, but still so many sketches to share too! Besides sketching I’ve been busy testing watercolor paper so I can dig in and concentrate on my illustrations, I also got a new watercolor field box that I’ve been using and love. I’ve been recording (with photos and sketches) the local flora and fauna (would you expect anything less from me?) So far I have positively identified 51 birds, 46 different wildflowers, 10 butterflies, 3 moths and any number of unidentified insects, moths, plants etc. It’s exciting to be in a new country with all these new things! I’ll share more of this coming up, stay tuned!
Ok, so I know it’s summertime so why am I talking about spring? Well I still have sketches and paintings to share that are from late winter and spring before I share my recent work. You’ll notice my winter and spring sketches were all quite small and not as much watercolor going on. As the weather warms up, and thus my fingers, I start to do more. Lately I’ve been doing some charcoal drawings too, but lets not get ahead of ourselves…spring first!
Watercolor of Edlingham Burn, February 10th in Edlingham village, Northumberland.
Above, here’s a small watercolor I did while sitting by the burn or stream that runs through Edlingham. The painting is just small, about 5×6″ or so, but good practice to paint the green trees and blue and brown water. Well actually the water is quite clean and clear, it just reflects all that’s above it! I really enjoyed the sun that day though it was still cold, so I finished the painting at home.
Fuzzy Buds drawing in ink February 17, 2015
I just love when native bushes bloom with soft fuzzy buds in springtime. They have little shiny, leathery looking caps that their fuzzy little heads push up as they swell to bloom. I brought some twigs in to draw; if you put them in water they look great and last awhile as you draw them.
My set up for drawing.
I set up the jar of buds by the patio windows, getting some natural light to work by. I like sitting here with my porridge in the morning to read and watch the birds outside.
Painted with watercolor from live branches I brought inside. February 17, 2015
I really enjoy trying to paint the soft look of the buds and also showing that they are white. You can’t (well I can’t) help but stroke them and think of how it feels like the ear of my bunny I had years ago!
One of many snowdrops, done in ink and watercolor. February 11, 2015
Spring here in England, wouldn’t be spring without the Snowdrops! They were everywhere and lasted so long, a real promise of more spring flowers to come. I had planned to paint a Snowdrop open, but ran out of time. I took a lot of pictures though so maybe in the future?
Unfinished sketch of a bit of Edlingham Valley.
Here’s another from February; do you notice how small this is? It’s from one of my tiny 4.25″ x 5″ sketchbooks I like to use in the winter. (see pic below). It’s great for tucking in your pocket when you just might want to draw something interesting, and I draw while standing up so it’s easy to hold too.
Finished watercolor 4.25″ x 5″, view in Edlingham, Northumberland.
Later I finished the color on the trees and grasses. As the page says, it was cold that day!
This is one of the small sketchbooks I designed, it’s great for winter sketches because it’s small.
There’s the sketchbook I made, designed complete with a pen holder made out of duct tape!
The Vole Hole, watercolor, 4.25″ x 5″.
Another tiny one, done on the backside of the sketch of Edlingham Valley view. Who can resist a tiny hole belonging to a vole or mouse? I know my husband’s cat can’t but neither can I for different reasons. I just have this little childlike vision of cute mice straight from Beatrix Potter coming out of the holes. I like to practice drawing these kinds of homes for future stories I may illustrate.
4.25″ x 5″ ink drawing of our ancient Sycamore.
I did this sketch with the intention to study the wonderful colors that are on this tree. It’s an ancient Sycamore covered with lichens of many colors, mosses of green and the tree bark’s own reddish hue, just waiting (still) to be studied by my watercolors.
Well I think that’s all for this post, I still have lots of small spring sketches and watercolors to share soon though. Next time I’ll post some more photos too. I’ll be posting soon, stay tuned!
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