Rescue Remedy

Trees, naked and skeletal, before spring really comes into it’s own; that’s when I enjoy drawing trees most. It’s also the easiest time of year to spot birds in branches, by the time those branches burst into green leafiness, I tend to hear more birds than see. Woodland walks, at this time of year, are therefore usually quite profitable.

Those walks are profitable in other ways too. Sketching comes to my rescue when I feel down, or emotionally drained. These sketches were drawn using pencil and my trustee cheap oil pastels. I was so excited to see a nuthatch weaving it’s way up the trunk of a tree, that I got rather carried away with my blue pastels. He’s rather more ‘kingfisher blue’ than a modest blue/grey. The whole experience was so uplifting and restorative.

There is a painting, which I have been trying to start for the past week, but haven’t been in the right frame of mind to take that first step. Last night, I finally settled on reaching for my sketchbook, the smallest one I have and painted a small watercolour sketch of the nuthatch I had seen on my last outing.

So, this morning, determined to get back in the saddle as it were, I took myself off for a walk. It was rather a trek to get to my chosen patch of woodland, but oh was it worth it. I saw more nuthatches and Ring-necked Parakeets. I rather like this noisy naturalised parrot, perhaps because of it’s Himalayan heritage. I also managed some sketching too.I think I may be able to pick-up my paint brushes again tomorrow.