19th January 2022.
After being in reserve position, ready to pick up the baton...I drive to Etton, where I heard the team news that the event was over, I carried on and found myself visiting the disused Rail line at Kiplingcoates. It was a sunny day, though a cold wind reminded one that it was still January, standing still painting would be challenging. I walked George along the disused line and was delighted to find a seat with a table, something to aim for at another time ( FSD picnic site ?) ....I decided quickly to set up the tripod and pochade box to paint this view. It was to be my first oil painting this year. Sheep had replaced cattle in the fields below me and heavy shadows cast by a low sun. To one side I could see a kestrel, wind hovering. The biting wind ruffled the pochade box and gnawed away at my fingers. I soon decided to pack up stopping to look along the rail track. I could see six kite. Bodies shining white on russet wings with pale silver heads, their distinctive forked tails twitched as they floated by me, constantly surveying the ground. I turned to head back to the car and was surprised to see another kite, it was only a few feet above me, cross the track. This is a view looking towards two farms, the white building being Walk House Farm with Goodmanham Wold Farm behind ( though I may need to check this...). Earlier I crossed a road which leads to Ridgehill Cottage ( another name to double check ). The rail track at this point is surprising high at 200 feet, and the hidden road below is 75 feet lower. In the grand scheme of things this does'nt seem much but here, on the edge of the Wolds where land is basically flat, it is significant. I reached the car and began to charge my phone battery which had suddenly gone flat whilst I painted. It was a relief to see it working though I guess it may herald a problem requiring a new..ish replacement.
Oil on canvas board, 14x10 inch.
No comments:
Post a Comment