8th July 2020.
The weather has proved difficult for plein air painting with strong winds being the major factor, showers being an unpredictable complication.
So, today, checking the forecast I could see a 'window' for an afternoon painting.
A short drive just past Etton, I stop and park on a wide, wild, grassy verge, amongst colonies of agrimony.
Above a red kite soars,
almost out of sight,
.........watching.
Pigeons coo as we set off listening to yellow hammers...(who like me, are not fond of cheese).
This is a view of Gardham, which can be seen from a bridleway path, about a furlong from Warter Road, near to Etton Westwood Farm. The path climbs very gently, and on our right, a thinned out wooded copse, is guarded three level strands of barbed wire. The upper strand of barbed wire was a little high, though too low to prevent deer getting over. The wood turned out to be Etton West Wood, where signs saying
'dogs to be kept on lead'
were fixed to trees facing the path.
I spotted a wonderful campanula plant,
standing tall,
it's large cascading,
bell flowers,
silently
ringing of hope, a
sonorous beauty,
quietly saying,
look,
you must be careful,
for behind me is a
bitter,
biting,
trap.
This was, we suspect, campanula rapunculoides, though, to me, the flowers seemed, perhaps a paler blue, almost white.
On the left of the path, walking up the gentle rise, a field full of flowering pea plants, already loaded with ripening pods looked as if it would be harvested soon. The path climbs to a high point before dropping away, running alongside a hedge, down to an old railway bridge, and then on to Gardham.
It was breezy as we walked the path, at the high point, just beyond the wood, turning right, we found ourselves sheltered from the breeze. Setting up here, just off the path, at the edge of a barley field, it seemed rather idyllic. Below in the distance, Gardham snuggled, surrounded by trees and distant rising ground.
Today, I had company, a companion who took George for a walk while I painted. This was very helpful and much appreciated, it meant that I had one less thing to do, and George would really appreciate a good walk. Nearby, the old, disused and much missed railway line from Beverley to York passes by. On the picture,the slight indication of red at the end of the hedge is the remaining bridge, which carried the track high over the fields.
As time passed however, I wished I had brought something warmer to wear and by the end my fingers became very cold.
Sitting down and having coffee I noticed George had a wonderful, green, broad shouldered bug clinging to his hair. It looked like a shield bug, but I am no expert. The railway track, which is now a path, is well worth walking as many beautiful flowers can be seen, including the mis-named, common orchid.
ORIGINAL Oil on canvas, 12x10 inch,
£200.
Available towards end of July when edged and varnished.
Card accepted, free delivery subject to 100 mile limit from Beverley.
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| Finishing off |
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| All packed up. |
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| Sky developing and distant land being added. |
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