Carr Lane, Wansford, East Yorkshire.

25th February 2020

Oil on canvas, approximately 24x 24 inches.

£250

Beyond the flatlands of Wansford,

I turned off and drove along Carr Lane 
On the back road to Nafferton
Passing an ancient
Vernacular, verbose, crossroad sign, 
A minor ancient monument in it's own right,
informing us that,
  Carr House, 
  Cattlehomes, 
  Millingdale    (and a place called)
  Outgates.

Were all down a pencil thin single track.

As I drove along the narrow lane,
Passing rather sad,
Sorry,
Snowdrops in the verges,
I became interested in the scaly sky.
Suddenly,
I spotted a

Virginal visitor,
Seen more often now,
A beautiful snow white,
Little egret.

It was Standing alongside a miniature lake.

In an open
Water-sodden silvered field,
Embryonic green,
Where hidden
Memories deep,
Spired over it's ever changing
Season.

I stopped and reached for my binoculars'
Turning back to see it smoke away,
Disappeared into the halcyon blindness.

Passing the signpost which I noted was on a slight rise in the road, about a metre higher than the flatlands around it I stopped at Potters Lodge and talked to 2 farmers whom I’d seen when visiting previously. We chatted happily about art and the heavily drained land, how the farmyard was recently flooded by rainwater from the surrounding fields. I mentioned that I was looking for a view to paint and I ended up back at the crossroads which, was a little higher than the land around it.

Had to make a quick visit to the Londis shop in Nafferton first, to buy some items that, in my haste, I had left at home,  I returned with the items plus three bananas, George loves bananas.

The wind off the flatlands was terrible, the temperature at 5 degrees C, felt much colder in the biting wind. I wondered if I'd be able to unscrew the easel when I needed to pack up, with numb fingers, nonetheless, I set it up, and tried to paint.

Very soon the easel was blown over and water was spilt as I fought to hold the canvas and the easel. I had to keep stopping as the wind blew harder. Detailing the picture was made more difficult as the canvas kept being buffeted by the gusts. The sun shone brightly and glistened off rippling water in the fields. In the distance the Spire of the church at Wansford stood proud from the tree line, a smaller pinnacle, of the old village school to the left.

The growing crop in the flooded field provided lovely shades of green, in the distance another field separated by a hedge shone brighter still, a nice contrast to the flooded foreground field. The sky was very dramatic with lots of cloud edged with bright sunlight. 

Occasionally people would drive by, slow down and have a chat about the painting, and how difficult the conditions were. When talking to another walker,  the easel and palette were blown over again and the water tumbler, from Londis, flew into a full drainage ditch, the water flooded inside the tray holding the oil before coating my trousers  an interesting shade of dirty grey.

Enough I decided, I must stop, the painting was complete, especially in light of the weather, which was getting colder. As anticipated the easel proved difficult to dismantle and I was glad to be returning home via the Pipe and Glass. On the way there, grey clouds suddenly released hailstones, sleet and heavy rain. I had finished just in time.
At the Pipe and Glass ( soup) I was delighted to meet a couple from Cleethorpes, over to so shop in Beverley and there to have lunch. We shared some thoughts about art and architecture and hope to meet again.