The tulips were in full splendour when I first sketched these on May 16 (first sketch below). The current heat wave has seen them quickly whither, unfortunately. They continued to whither even as I sketched their current state yesterday. Between the heat and the short downpour yesterday, this clump of daffodils looked like yellow rags on sticks.
Inspired by the guests on #usktalks Mike Daikubara (author of Sketch now, think later) and Rita Sabler (reportage sketcher) and this week’s challenge to record change, I grabbed my fude nib pen and a brown paper sketchbook, headed down the road a bit and started quickly recording the change in the landscape next door. I have avoided confronting it, until now.
I stood and sketched (spoke with a neighbour also disturbed by the change) then sat on my back deck, with a view of the action, to add colour. All the while, a ceaseless, tiring soundtrack of metal on rock and grinding engines filled my ears. I chose not to block it out with ear buds.
This is but a small moment in the grand scale of industrial agriculture (often financed by distant investors) where regard for the long term health of the land is secondary to cash crop profit.
It was a powerful experience to document this. I would never have done it if not for the #usktalkschallenge to document change.
(Usk is Urban Sketchers. Check out urbansketchers.org)
This little corner of my garden has changed a lot since I sketched it on May 3. It contains a variety of textures, blooms, plants still dormant and those just emerging. The rock in the front is a favourite, dug up on our property a couple of years ago. The driftwood is a keepsake from Grand Lake.
It should be noted that this was sketched while wearing a bug net shirt and hood – it’s black fly season.
I have seed potatoes almost ready to plant. Hopefully the harvest will be worth the effort and space in my garden. As I examined these spuds drying on the counter I asked myself, how can I make these looks pretty? I’m happy with the result.
Finally some sun and warmth is here or on its way. I was feeling very glad about that as I sketched these narcissus. I’ve been planting different types every fall for the last 5 years – these are just a few. There are more yet to bloom, so I’m happy!
It feels like Spring will never come. However, The recent unseasonably cold weather has kept the narcissus looking fresh and lively. But I’ve had no desire to sketch outdoors. But I can pick flowers to sketch indoors where I can get a close-up view.
The view from one kitchen window looks onto this sundial/pedestal in a little garden bed that is slowly coming to life. I’ve left a layer of leaves to see if everything will just happily push through as the worms keep working their magic on the leaves.
