17th May 2022
Hares are active, and as I walk George trying to keep in the shade, adjacent fields are full of crows. I stop and look. Then realise that the crows are being 'moved on' by racing hares and assume leverets are about. This is Clematis Farm at Lund, a busy working farm. This view looking across a field filled with cloths of golden buttercup and outcrops of cow parsley. It is framed nicely by hedges with green alcanet with its beautiful blue 'forget-me-not' type flowers and pink campion. Walking along these lanes, the heady sense of hawthorn enriching the soul with squadrons of swifts sything loudly overhead, it feels as if one is in a magical, phantasmagorical 'other place'. Alongside me a huge, muscled bull, I like to think he is called Maurice, struts casually around his domain, looking, sensing when to address his female companions. A relaxed hare appears, it is unhurried, stopping, eating and then repeating as Maurice stands and watches. I am no bovine expert but the cows are nicely patterned brown and white and I think they might be Ayshires. I need to ask the farmer on my next visit. The day is hot and still to start, though later the wind becomes very strong, I walk to the Methodist Chapel and see they are doing teas. I pop in briefly and have a tea and biscuit, the people are very friendly and we share some conversation, apparently where I sat, the roof fell in! The inner, low roof was removed revealing the present high boarded ceiling, to my mind rather beautiful with it's tie bars exposed. The problem is that the room with it's high ceiling is more difficult to get warm and people feel much colder in winter. Back to the painting, the barn houses some straw bales and a little machinery. It is functional and honest, hard working and useful. Alongside a silo stands partly enveloped by trees. It is a simple scene speaking of both the past and the future. A young couple park nearby and set off to walk to the bluebell wood. They return after a couple of hours and I was surprised to see that the man had been carrying their little girl all the time. We all stopped and had a drink, coffee for me, but then a disaster, I had forgotten my jam sandwich. A call to FSD remedied the situation and a sandwich was provided, phew.
Plein air, oil on canvas board, 12x10 inch.
Previous virtual exhibitions.
1) Lockington and surrounding area
2) Lund and surrounding area
Beginning to layout.
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