Sunday 18 January 2015

Winter walks.

It has become chilly here with white toppings on the hill tops. I have had some nice winter walks, wrapped up well against the bitterly cold wind.



I have been drawing a collection of objects I found on a walk.

 

I picked each object up and wrapped them all in tissues I had in my pockets, then popped them in my jacket and hoped they survived intact. I knew I would enjoy recording the different textures, shapes and colours.

 
I love finding the old pieces of china peeping out of the ground, a blue patterned one and the white crackled edge of a plate. The pale blue empty snail shells seem to be everywhere in the winter hedgerows, all the brown outer skin peeled back and revealing the beautiful pale stripes. I picked up three sycamore seeds with the intricate lines and tears that happen as they age, another favourite drawing subject for me.
 
As I started to draw these objects my mind thinks that I have saved them, rescued them from becoming specks to be blown by the wind or from being swept along with the water running down the sides of the road and into a drain. Who cares much for an empty snail shell so easily crushed under foot without a second thought.
I was looking through an older sketchbook and I saw a page, a similar collection of my finds and I was transported back to a place, a day and a memory of a walk.
 
They may not mean much to others but they do to me, they tell my story of a day, a memory which I want to keep.
Like the berries I picked today.
 
I stopped to look at the hawthorn tree, all tangled and twisted with thorns and there I saw this last branch of berries. The remains of a leaf came home too. I will try and do my best to capture them both together on a new page. The red berries give me so much pleasure to see. It seems such a long time before they will return again next autumn, so let me hang on to the image of the last few as I draw them. Later the birds will have them to eat.

And here is the page from one of my older sketchbooks of my drawings from nature, the acorn cups and oak leaf, the lovely crackled China and the sycamore seeds. Strange little objects with a damaged rose hip berry. Yet I remember that day so clearly as I collected them all.

And I will leave you with the view outside. As the temperature dips we are keeping warm by the fire. I am going to start sketching my branch of berries and skeletal leaf.
What are you drawing ? I would love to hear why or how you choose your subjects to draw or paint. Hope you are all keeping warm.
Thank you for visiting and for the lovely comments, I enjoy reading them. It seems to take so long posting as my eyes do not like the computer. I hope you like seeing my first completed drawing of 2015, painted using acrylic inks.
Sunday 18th January 2015 At. 4pm. See you soon . Millyx
 
All photographs, artwork and writing belong to Eileen Postlethwaite. Please respect my copyright, all rights reserved.

 

 

 

11 comments:

Tammie Lee said...

lovely to see your world
and your first ink drawing,
it is lovely.

i love the berry branch with the shadow it makes, i wonder if you will include that in your drawing ;-)

it sounds like winter is a good time for you, strolling, looking, collecting and i imagine meditative drawing.

lovely new year to you ~

Alice Jo Webb said...

Ha! What a fabulous concept you have shown here. I often look at the long views and huge skies and distant hills and think of the light on them and how they might be portrayed and here you are making beautiful art out of the flotsam and jetsam you've found on your walks. I needed that reminder to bring my focus in now and then and see what is right under my nose. Thank you!

Bonnie K said...

Your work is so amazing. I also enjoy taking walks and more than once I come home with my pockets full of treasures.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful drawings as always :) Your posts are so enchanting to read x

Feathers said...

I'm happy to see that you've been able to be outside walking in this early January. What lucky finds you've got there, they make a lovely grouping. Not much to find in Michigan right now-snow, half-way to the knees makes walking difficult too. Nothing seems to inspire me to paint at the moment-working from an old photo--not really my cup of tea. Enjoy the warmth of your fire and enjoy your new finds.

HollyM said...

I love your delicate drawings. In summer and fall, I often do as you do on my walks, coming home with pockets filled. This time of year with the snow covering everything, I sometimes use my camera. There are still branches and dried bits here and there but other things call to me. My latest sketch was of the fish shanties on the ice near here. The little temporary villages fascinate me. Each year, the configuration is different.

Debbie Nolan said...

Dear Milly - I so loved my winter walk with you. Your gathered treasures are beautifully drawn. As always I just get so delighted to see your gorgeous drawings. Your love for the small things that so many of us miss just helps me be more aware of my own buried treasures. Thank you for sharing as always and for inspiring me to keep on drawing too. Hugs.

Frances said...

Milly, on my own afternoon walk around my neighborhood, I saw some dramatic clouds, that with the strong breeze, changed their story many times.

Of course, I did not have my camera with me. I was on a very mundane errand walk.

How glad I am that you do have a camera ready to capture the natural beauty and drama of the areas where you take your walks, and find those treasures. Even when the weather is sooo chilly.

I loved seeing your earlier painting along with the one that is resulting from this recent walk. Isn't it a happy moment when a painting takes you right back to a particular time and day and year?

Milly, I am also sorry that the computer screen light is not kind to your eyes. Treasure your eyes more than the screen's light.

xo

Dale said...

Milly, Thanks for such a wonderful post! I look forward to getting online and finding out what is new in your sketchbook.

I'm a collector also, and I regret I do not get most drawn or painted but love the search. Leaves & nuts and sticks and shells, on and on. I understand how you feel about your past art, it will bring back memories that can not be replaced.

Thanks again for your artistic inspiration.
dp

suz said...

I love how you bring simple things to life. Thank you for continuing to share your work with us.

Janice Grinyer said...

Anytime I need to calm my heart, coming here does a world of good.

AS always, love your work!

xox