....the pedegrees walked away..so I took the long walk, at Lund.

19th May 2022.

I woke early and completed some necessary tasks sooner than expected, which meant I had time to revisit Lund earlier than usual. I walked to the field with Manor Farm's pedegree cows, it was full of young, leggy calves who occasionally suckled from phlegmatic looking mothers, who stood still, resignedly chewing the cud and slightly lifting a rear leg to aid the calves progress. A magnificent inscribed stone announces that Manor Farm is the home of the pedigree Rossellie herd. I got my sketchbook out and started to draw. It was working alright for ten minutes but then they all walked away and completely disappeared..like magic. I realised that a cow walking, moves quickly.

 

 

 

So, I walked around the village looking for more views to paint. I realised that I had more or less done enough and so decided to drive round to the bluebell wood near Lund Moor Farm. I loaded my rucksack with the pochard box and set off with George soon reaching the winding path through the wood. I was stunned to see an ethereal pale light with pink, cerise highlights carpeting the now, foliage darked path. It was strange, so different to the last visit with bluebells in profusion. Now they had gone to seed and I soon realised the light effect was being caused by a sudden growth of cleavers which were still wet from recent rain. The light was being defused from their twisting, turning strands of leaves. The pink being campion soon disappeared as we walked further into the shaded, magical wood, the earthy smell of damp composting litter reinforced the notion of the place being 'otherworldly'. We soon emerged into sunlight and walked up the slight incline. The path was redirected as vineing peas for Bird's Eye had been planted along with a sponsored wild flower strip, which I must return to see. Continuing walking alongside fields of wheat, the long grasses soaked my feet and trousers. A hare moved on as we reached the far wood. The ground here is very overgrown with thistles, brambles and emerging blackthorn. A set aside  crop from last year to one side of the pathway with hints of yellow brassica flowers. I set up. Put the empty rucksack down for George to lie on and began to paint. The sky is wonderful and I detail this first before moving down to complete the view which includes the distant Lund Moor Farm, where I had parked earlier.

12x10 inch oil on canvas board.

Can be see here in my current virtual exhibition.