A Hockney researcher in the Wolds.....and a Thixendale footpath

Looking towards the Thixendale valley walk.

2nd September 2021.

How the year is passing, the evenings drawing in! The urgency to paint whilst the light is still good saw me on an unplanned return trip to Thixendale. On the way, via Fimber and Burdale I stopped to see if I could help someone who appeared lost. They were searching for David Hockney's Thixendale sycamores, so I led them to Burdale where they could see them. ( Of course...we know that they should be called the Burdale sycamores ). I pointed out the Burdale stepping stone before moving on, ( go here to read about it ) I drove past Thixen Dale village, to arrive here, near the dew pond where the horses are kept. As I approached the spot, I was disappointed to see that the bales had been collected leaving the field empty, only short stubble remained. That is, until I drove round a bend on the narrow, single track road and saw that the bales were neatly stacked ready to be stored. I quickly decided to paint the view. But first I had to walk George, we explored the area a little, patting horses and looking at distant sheep. Overhead buzzards flew by on broad wings, their mewing causing me to glance up,  a pair of hanging silhouettes in slow choreography. The rosebay willowherb in the field margins stood tall, with cotton wool clouds exploding along the lower stems, late rose pink flowers visible at the tips. Soon the dagger-ed leaves will look like they are on fire. I quickly outlined the main elements and then worked on the sky, progressing with thin layers of under painting before building up with thicker paint.  Occasionally walkers would appear heading out of the valley, towards me as I painted, and we cheerfully greeted each other before they moved on.

I realised it must be getting late when the red post van passed, heading for Robert Fuller's just up the road. Indeed the temperature was dropping as I quickly packed up.

Plein air, oil on canvas board, 12x10 inch supplied in protective white frame. Email me for details.

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