Alder tree

As I was walking Zac today I was noticing the differences in appearances of trees and mentally comparing hawthorn and alder when I realised that although I can visualise the appearance of most of the common local tree types I had no idea what an alder tree’s bark looked like – even though I drew one a couple of days ago!  When I saw this rather nice looking alder growing in the sheep field by the river it seemed a good chance to draw it.  Zac was much less impressed because I chose to draw a larger picture and so kept him waiting much longer!

Catching up on daily sketches!

Three sketches to start catching up…

Round hill near the junction of the river Leven and the river Tees.

Alder tree – fantastic little trees with fascinating little cones.

Young sycamore? tree

I think I’m now 2 days behind 😦

Larch cones

It was pouring with rain when I went to walk the dog so I’m back to drawing those pieces of woodland I can take home!  I liked the way the cones were so evenly spaced on this particular twig.

Beech tree

Because I spend more time walking in woodland than I spend sketching in woodland I find more and more that I set out on a sketching trip with a particular tree or location in mind.  Today was no exception.  This is a beech tree in Saltburn woods growing on the edge of a steep slope.  If the slope was rock we would call it a cliff as it is it is just earth covered with a treacherous layer of rotting leaves.

The first picture is my sketch of the day, the second picture is a photo of the same tree taken earlier in the year.

Saltburn Valley Gardens

I’m sorry, I’ve been terribly remiss about my daily sketches.  Hopefully now I am back on track.

Sketch from Saltburn Valley Gardens, if you know Saltburn Woods this is the view looking across the beck below the Woodlands Centre.

I love this particular view and I hoped it would give me opportunity to explore the appearance of a woodland floor in more detail. I settled down happily to start sketching a double page spread.  However I had overlooked the effect of the damp conditions on the local wildlife – I had barely started before I was attacked by swarms of midges in such numbers as I have only previously met in the Scottish Highlands.  I lasted as long as I could but eventually I fled the scene taking a few photos so I could finish the sketch later in a midge free zone.  This is how it has turned out.

Sketch of Blow Gill in autumn

I had a trip to the North Yorkshire Moors today and spent a while sketching Blow Gill on the Hawnby – Osmotherley road.

This is a photo taken from a similar position… it was really beautiful.  I must start using colour in my sketches sometimes.

Tree at night

Hopefully this should bring my daily sketches up to date!

I often paint trees in night scenes but since badger watching as a teenager I haven’t drawn trees from life at night.  I enjoyed this, I want to do more.

Oak leaves – pencil v biro

I used to draw a lot with biro/ballpoint.  You can’t rub them out but you don’t have to sharpen them all the time either…

I felt I’d grown a bit careless about making marks on the paper right first time.  So I tried drawing the first oak leaf without any corrections and then tried the second drawing using the biro.

Have the courage to recapture creativity

Do you ever feel with creativity that your ideas and dreams get snatched away when you want them most?  Creativity is precious.  Guard it fiercely, even if you lose your grip for a time be like Zac and his stick – have the courage to go out and recover your ideas and dreams and keep them safe.

Pinecone

I said I would revisit pinecones… this one is a little worse for wear, a bird (probably a crossbill but I’m no expert) has split the scales to get to the seeds.