Snails

Last week I collected lots of snail shells from the hedgerows.  They are empty shells and have faded colours of blues and grey and brown.   This is the common garden snail and you  usually see them as brown patterned shells, but over the winter this brown skin peels off  and reveals the paler blue colours. The shells are quite fragile and easily break.  I washed the empty shells in soapy water and put them in a large glass jar.

I chose them one at a time to draw and hoped to capture some of the colours and patterns on my page.  It is getting more and more of a strain to draw all the fine lines.  So as my eyes became tired I decided to make some  larger than life size at the bottom of the page.  I was working in my acrylic inks and using a paint brush.  Then for the last shell I decided to try one with my  pencil crayons and also  recorded my progress.

I first sketched it in pencil and chose to work in Derwent coloured  pencils.

I carefully recorded the patterns and colours.  I actually used seven different coloured crayons.

Then I had a little visitor....who walked right across my page.

So tiny . I think the sunshine pouring through my window had woken her up.

Then along the edge of my book.

Perhaps like me, she liked the smell of the pale yellow Hyacinths flowers I grew from bulbs I planted before Christmas. . My husband placed her safely back into the garden.  He found her walking around on his shoe.

 So seven snail shells sitting serenely in my square sketch book......an  alliteration or a little tongue twister....trying saying that fast.   Snails... love them or hate them?   I hope you like my drawings.

 As always,  thank you to all of you who visit my blog and those who kindly leave a comment,  I always enjoy reading them.         Millyx