Not long now until my exhibition of my sketch a day challenge from 2016. I would love to see you at my PV which is being held at “Gallery in the Lanes” in Norwich. The exhibition will be spread between 2 galleries with also work at “Riverside Art and Glass” in Wroxham. Both will run from 12th August until 3rd September.
I will have around 200 different prints of sketches from the challenge as well as new paintings that have come from the sketches.
I thought today would be another flower sketch and no better place than the wonderful Carlton Marshes. Here there is a diverse range of flowers with the stand out at the moment being the Purple Loosestrife, Meadow Sweet, Sow Thistle, Water Mint and what became the subject matter Hemp Agrimony. Along with these came an equally wonderful selection of butterflies such as Wall Browns, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Common Blues and Gatekeepers. The Hemp Agrimony attracts two of these in abundance these being the Peacock and captured in this sketch the Red Admiral.
I was sitting in the Bell at Walberswick with friends last Sunday listening to a wonderful Irish folk session when outside I could hear the Swifts screaming past outside in their pursuit for their evening insects. I was amazed at how many they were as I stepped outside and at how close they flew past often so close that I could feel the and hear the rapid beat of their wings. However at that time the light was very low and nothing to sketch with. So I returned midweek to capture them.
Over half way through the year and this is the first in many ways. It is the first Portrait image, the first botanical and certainly the first not to be a landscape. Having spent the day at Minsmere yesterday with so many beautiful flowers I thought today’s sketch should be botanical, especially as so many plants are nearing the end of flowering and the opportunity passes.
From my sketches last year I knew that Hen Reedbeds at Reydon would offer something special such as Musk mallow, Meadow Cranesbill, Chicory and of course Knapweed, which became the focus of attention particularly because of the Painted lady butterflies visiting it.
Over the marshes were 2 Marsh harriers .
The site of one the sketch a day sketches now part of the weekly challenge. The 13th century ruins sit inside a walled 7 acre enclosure with its 2 gateways. I was taken by the view through one of the windows.
