Sunday 27 March 2011

Week 12

                                        The tangle of seaweed and mermaids purse
                                             A goose feather and a tiny duck feather
As another week passes by we have enjoyed some beautiful sunny days.  I visited a nearby pebbled beach and we sat and watched as the tide went down and then listened to the calming sound of the waves lapping up and down the beach.  Of course I collected some little bits and pieces to examine.
My week 12 picture features the mermaids purses all tangled up with the sea weed.  I used the acrylic inks, then a black ink pen to stipple and to draw the egg cases and all the tangles.   I then  got a bit carried away and stippled with white ink on my paintbrush. The three colours are on the little tag, press picture to enlarge.   I had collected some lovely feathers so decided to add a goose feather and a tiny duck feather,  first in pencil, then inks.  
I had lots of visitors to my blog this week,  thanks to Pondside pointing them in my direction.  It is lovely to meet new people and discover new  blogs.   I guess it was a strange picture to find,  two pieces of seaweed and an old damaged oak leaf.   Not many people left a comment,  thank you to the ones that did.   It made me realise that this sea project is not always pretty,  but it is real.   I want to show real objects,  just as I find them,  a true record of my shore finds.   This is often earthy muddy colours,  torn and tangled objects and not really pretty things.    Of course objects are washed up and left on a muddy shore,  often  broken and battered by the sea,  they dry or rot,  can be wet and smelly.  It is a wet slippery muddy place at the moment.   Yes,  it looks and makes a pretty view but close up and amongst  it,  it  is often very different.  I do not want to hide that side of my shore line.
The days are  getting warmer,  the midges and flies are starting to wake up and spiders run between the debris of the tideline.   I saw several very large bees this week.   The oyster catchers are pairing,  each couple moving around looking for a nesting place.  My swan is still alone, elegantly swimming up and down the tidal river. The birds are competing to see who is the loudest,  the bird song can be heard everywhere.  I looked up to see a huge bird shape high up in the clouds, a glider twisting and silently flying in circles high above me.   This toy like plane reminded me of my childhood when my Dad would point to show me, eventually my eyes would focus and see it.    So as I looked up,  they looked down onto my shore seeing the whole picture,  and I am here seeing the details.   I  found only a few objects but enough for a new page.  Today we enjoy an extra hour of daylight,  the sun sets are so nice and so is the extra hour as the birds are still singing outside and it is well after seven.

Hope you like the page.  Please leave a comment and let me know you visited.   Thank you to the regulars,  welcome to my new followers.   After two weeks,  my laptop has returned, still some problems....three blue screens and windows shut down ...as I have been writing this!   Until next week.     Millyx

17 comments:

Susan Scheid (Raining Acorns) said...

The stippling adds yet another bit of magic to this week's drawing. I, for one, am enjoying these lovely paintings every week!

Jennifer Tetlow said...

Lovely to see the Goose feather - my geese are sitting at the moment and have plucked down for their nests, incredibly light, airy and soft, fluttering and floating from the slightest movement of air.

ELFI said...

je passe de temps en temps..car j'aime votre travail tout en finesse..

Pondside said...

For those of us who live by the sea, your drawings are as beautiful as reality - but we can visit the arrangements, frozen in time, whenever we like - no big wave to wash away a lovely still life before it's etched in memory.
I love how you've captured the feathers.

E Makes Art said...

I love your drawings. I love drawing attention to what other might just walk by without a second thought. You capture then BEAUTIFULLY on your pages. And I really love the drawings on the last post too. Well, I love them ALL. I'm now your newest follower so I can come back and see more.

xoEsther

Carolina said...

Hi Millie!
Your wonderful art always raises my spirit. I'm not visiting as I used to, but always remember you and your beautiful paintings and shore finding stories :)
Un abrazo,
Carolina

Melody said...

My eyes when right to the stippling...gives a great effect! I love the little duck feather. There just something fascinating about feathers.(very pretty dish too by the way) My package arrived this weekend; my goodness what a delight! Thank you SO much for the fabulous goodies! :) I saw my husband run his finger over the feather, to see if it was real or painted on... :)))

Diana said...

lovely Milly, I felt like I was there too. there is a calmness and such beauty to your work, love,Diana

S. Etole said...

your drawings are so very intricate ...

Frances said...

Milly, I feel as if this year is moving ahead even more quickly than any other. I cannot explain this, but think that nature might be involved!

The page you've posted from your sketchbook today is another beauty. I always love feathers, and I do enjoy how your drawings mix elements of nature that can be airborne with what usually swims. I guess that your role as a usually earthbound human completes the trio.

It's good that you've got your laptop back but I so hope that you won't be challenged by more of the dreaded blue screens.

Very cold in New York this weekend, with our temperatures just above freezing. Still, I know that our natural friends will survive and be blooming soon.

xo

Michelle Palmer said...

Oh if I could be a ladybug on your shoulder...
Just lovely~

Dan said...

I guess your seaside finds are pretty in an unconventional way. Actually, I find them really fascinating, you can tell they are from the water, not the earth. You're lucky to be able to capture them so beautifully.
I hope the swan finds a partner. Our local swan did eventually find a new mate, and it's lovely to see them together.
Dan
-x-

Claire said...

I love your drawings and blog and must visit every week.I found some feathers the other day and you've definately inspired me to draw them xxx

Mary said...

Lovely feathers, all so beautiful these treasures from the sea and the birds. The swan? Does it not have a mate? I hope there will be more than one in the area and cygnets will greet you later in the season.

Hope you received my reply to your e-mail regarding May 7 in Manchester......and that your computer problems are soon resolved, so frustrating.

Mary

suz said...

Lovely painting. I really like the stippling - it added something special. I love how you paint feathers. The mermaid's purse still fascinates me and I'll have to keep my eye out for them when I next head to the ocean (about an hour's drive east for me).

Teresa said...

Hi Milly,

Your art is sigh! wonderful! I love that you draw things as they are. Nature is so intriguing in all of its diversity and each thing has its own kind of beauty. Enjoyed your commentary... wish I lived close enough to the beach to walk there each morning. But at least I get to enjoy your beach walk finds :-)

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Hi Milly
I'm really enjoying your drawings from the seashore, there's a lovely flow and grace to 'Week 12'.

Don't know what it is about Oyster catchers, but I'm always delighted to see them. Bye for now. Lesley