LANDSCAPE PAINTING - Warter Road concertina sketch.

Enlarge to full screen and note the six pages with folds.

I popped round towards South Dalton looking for a view to paint, remaining optimistic about finding some hawthorn blossom, though it is now getting late to find looking it’s’ best. I did find some possibilities yet their locations did not work. Then I saw one of my favourite views. It is off the Warter Road near Etton West Wood. I can see the tall spire of St. Mary’s Church at South Dalton. It is framed by Sir John’s Plantation and Sir Charlie’s Clump, looking to my right the cow parsley verges line up in front of the low hawthorn hedges. Almost surreal, the disappearing, long, straight road seems improbably lined with cream ribbons. The trimmed hawthorn is growing spring green fresh with upper tips having a reddish tint. As they were trimmed earlier, the growth is all new with virtually no sign of  blossom. I sketch with a pen and then add tones of black to get values. The sun is hot and dries the paint quickly. I am reluctant to add any colour at this stage. Then I see some cranesbill among the tall grasses and decide to add a suggestion of colour. Before long I am adding colour to most of the sketch being aware of the need to suggest the cow parsley. The four page wide sketch is extended another two pages to include the disappearing road. A pheasant struts over the road. I stop and wonder about visiting the Pipe and Glass at South Dalton and having a coffee deciding that my allotment needs some work, rain is forecast for tomorrow and I am behind in my digging.