Sunday 26 February 2012

The wood, on wood, from the wood

Inspired by the work of Laurie Steen I gessoed a piece of wood I had left over from my lasercutting experiments and got the graphite out...


During these days of low winter sun I have been taking lots of photographs at Westonbirt Arboretum. The starkness of the tree shapes and the undulating shadows are exquisite.
The piece of wood I have drawn on is sourced from the Arboretum; there is a satisfying connection in working on material from the place being described.

Friday 17 February 2012

Woodland Sketchbook

Preparation for my final set of  MA work is now well under way and has required a number of sketchbook visits to Westonbirt Arboretum. These are some of the more recent ones, drawn hastily because of the cold!




While I'm sketching I often write notes and phrases of the things I hear,see and feel. It helps me to develop a fuller image in my own mind of the place. I call these notes 'word walks', and I should warn you that there is absolutley no intention of them being poetry, but I quite like the shape of them. I hope you don't mnd if I try one out.:


Winter space,

A wider path.

Gateway.

Sentinel trees lean inwards, outwards.

Stubborn frost hardens and glitters.

A pale January sky

Silhouettes twisting branches.

Outside world quietens,

Blackbird settles on path ahead.

Rustling in undergrowth,

The dog investigates.

All other sounds are distanced by trees.

Low sun, light pools

Warms hands through gloves.

Trees stand straight,

Or bend and buckle

Throwing theatrical shadows.

Give space, close in

Reach overhead

Embrace the path

Tunnel the exit

Into space