Leisure Painter - UK (2019-06)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk JUNE 2019 27

S

pring begins on 20 March and ends

on 21 June – midsummer’s day and

the longest day of the year. It is the

season of new beginnings, when life

begins to emerge from the depths of

winter, animals awaken from hibernation,

and the first leaf of the tree and the new

bud from a flower are about to start

a new cycle of life. Spring begins for

me when I hear the first song of the

blackbird; it leaves me with a feeling

of warmth and joy, his song raptures,

and it is then that I know this wonderful

season is about to start.

Spring marks the beginning of warmer

weather: trees and bushes begin to grow,

and new leaves and flowers start to bloom,

because the temperature of the air and soil

begin to warm up. We see an increase of

daylight hours as the days become longer

and bees become active. I look out for

the first signs of hares and foxes.

Birds, in particular the shy but colourful

chaffinch, can be seen feeding from the

bird table under a hedge in my garden.

The blackbirds and tree sparrows bounce

from hedge to hedge, eating nuts and

seeds from the bird feeders that hang from

the trees. Doves are in abundance too,

especially at this time of year.

On my many travels around the

countryside with my dog, Ellie, I take

a sketchbook and a couple of pencils

(usually 2B and HB) and I sketch ideas

when I find inspiration. Dandelions and

wild mustard, which are mostly seen

in hedgerows, the roadside and among

bushes and trees, are in abundance

at this time of year. These plants are

generally seen as invasive weeds, but

they are highly versatile. They are edible

and used by herbalists for medicine.

In this article, I will be focusing

on drawing and painting wild flowers,

namely the dandelion (taraxacum

officinale) flower and wild mustard

(sinapis arvensis) or hedge mustard. LP t

Part 1 Michelle Campbellbegins a seasonal series

with a look at how to begin a nature diary this spring

An illustrator’s diary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

nHow to draw and paint wild flowers

nPractise the wet-on-dry watercolour

technique

tPages from Michelle’s nature diary

Inspiration