Moments of delight...
both outdoors & in the studio!
"Every now and then I sit and watch the sun rise to remind myself how it's done—peacefully, steadily, warmly, and in beautiful colour."
Richelle E. Goodrich
Walking along, I was reminded of the Irish blessing:
“May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields…”
I lift my eyes from the icy lane. Across the fields, soft mist dissolves into the apricot sunrise. Above that, a tapestry of soft greys and pale lavender; the promise of clear blue. As I walk on, following the lane along it’s gentle curves, I look back; in a few short minutes the sun has risen, its hues deepened to rose gold…
Distant traffic noise rumbles through the still air. I tune it out, focussing on the birdsong. Blackbirds scurry across the lane, ducks and geese from the nearby farm quack and cackle, greeting the new day. A magpie, sitting atop a stand of field maples, raises the alarm. I catch sight of a hare. I didn’t capture him on film; rather I stood watching as he zig-zagged across the fields, disappearing into the mist. Some moments should just live on in the memory.
As I continue towards a small copse, I stop, unsure. Crystal-clear air has made my eyes water; I blink the tears away, and look again. Deer.
A glimpse of these elusive, skittish creatures is always a thrill. In a heartbeat, they have melted into the copse, and despite scanning constantly for them as I return, I am granted no further audience…
I walk to the small church in the next hamlet, rewarded with birdsong, and bursts of yellow daffodils, blackthorn blossom, frosted tussocks of bleached grass, stands of teasels, their crystal-tipped heads glinting in the sun, hedgerows that erupt with small birds as I walk by, pheasants taking flight, alarm calls echoing across the fields… the odd sunflower, standing forlornly, head bowed as if in homage to the sun…and in the lee of the copse, snowdrops, heads tightly closed against the chill; the purity of the bloom, a sign of hope…
“Waking up early, connecting with nature, and having my quiet time are priorities to me, and they are non-negotiable.”
Danette May
As it always does, the walking has cleared my mind, and I return home, calmer, more settled, but invigorated; time in nature, blue skies, sunrises, the promise of spring…providing a sense of anticipation…
Other moments to treasure this week:
Watching a kite, (as in a bird in case you were wondering…), soar lazily overhead whilst drinking my morning coffee.
A vase of tulips and a flickering candle on the coffee table.
Lengthening days…and sunshine!
Pancakes, maple syrup & blueberries…
Getting back into the studio…
And talking of getting back into the studio; successfully maintaining my ‘daily rituals’, demonstrates that when I set an intention and mark it in my journal, I can do it. Developing a regular studio practice is important, so this week, I set the goal of spending at least 30 mins/week day in the studio… So far, 100% success… I know it’s not a long time but it’s a start, and why set yourself up to fail by aiming for an unrealistic target to begin with?
Space is still at a premium, (until I find somewhere to store framed work), and not wanting to get too liberal with splashing ink around, I began doodling in a Seawhite of Brighton concertina sketchbook. And doodling is the right description because it felt as if I’d completely forgotten how to paint!!
This video was around three times as long, but I didn’t think you’d appreciate the long pauses whilst I remembered where I’d put the oil pastels, or struggling to get tops off bottles, or fighting with a very old PrittStick…
And I’ve no idea what was the matter with the first bottle of Daler Rowney FW Sepia acrylic ink, whether it had been open too long, or what, but even after a good shake, it was still watery and nothing like the colour I was expecting…
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I’ve cut all that out, although I have left the scratching and scraping and swooshing…
I was remembering my morning walk; hedgerows, brightening skies, burgeoning foliage, ploughed fields punctuated with bleached maize stalks…
“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.”
Blaise Pascal
Walking, journalling and conversations, have led me to make some decisions about where my focus is going to be for the foreseeable. Although some things have yet to be fully sorted, this is just a head’s up that there will be some changes coming in the next few months. I’ll keep you fully updated when everything is finalised…but don’t worry, I will still be painting and crafting emails….so you won’t miss a thing!!
Until next time, happy creating!
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Absolutely lovely!