Sketching Sheepdog, Maria elena Ferrari, Italy

After a few years, unexpectedly, my computer finally gave me access to the blog!
How beautiful it is to find you! (I've always read this blog)!
Yesterday:  a day to sketch a sheepdog at Oasi WWF dei Ghirardi (Borgotaro, Italy)

NATURE ALONG THE LOIRE

 

We had a wonderful time staying on the banks of the Loire at Briare, cycling every day to explore the nearby villages. We were rewarded one day by the sight of an otter calmly swimming along the canal who took no notice of us as we stopped to watch him go by.  At one stage of that day's outing we took a wrong turning and found ourselves deep in a rather damp wood and were surprised by the trails of caterpillars hanging on threads from the trees.  We quickly decided to turn back as the insects were rather busy too!

 

At the campsite the shower block was taken over by a flock of swallows that swooped and chattered all over the place with no fear of humans.  They were busy building their nests in the rafters and even on the light fittings. One pair had chosen a spot inside the shower area and had to wait for human assistance to open the door if it was inadvertently shut!

 

 

 

 

MISTLETOE IN SPRINGTIME

We have just returned from our summer trip in the camping car to the Loire valley and beyond.  We were camped by the river with a lovely view of the trees on the banks of the historic waterway.  This tree had been overwhelmed by mistletoe caught my eye. 

Lavender Festival 2017 - Journal - Lin Frye

Journal - A small remembrance of lavender from the Lavender Festival last week ....

Lin Frye, North Carolina

Hay Field - Lin Frye

Journal -- Hay fields and hay bales - it's that time of year again -- I love to document the seasons with the natural events going on ... and so, spring returns, and with it, my beloved hay bales ...

Lin Frye, North Carolina

Old Sketchbook, Nature Elements & Wood Artist Liliia Tereshkiv

I found an old holiday sketchbook. It transported me back to our countryside holiday a few years ago. The old sketchbook still had many pages crisp white so I added a horse drawn by Rafael. But without its rider, directing it. Somehow, for me, nature sketches are free from intruding and dominating humans.

My latest project is about studying Feng Shui. I decided to draw Feng Shui's 5 elements. For drawing the Water Element, I chose a lotuspond with a flowering lotus. For Fire Element, I drew red tulips with their petals mimicking flames. For Feng Shui's Wood Element is drew 3 wooden sticks, driftwood and old branches found in our local woodlands, as well as a wood cut through with visible growth marks. I need to draw Metal and Earth Element to complete this series.

As the schoolyear draws to a close, I have ordered for my daughter 'Teacher Thank-You' woodcards at Sorriso Design. Sorriso Design is a one-woman company of my friend Liliia Tereshkiv. Liliia added lovely sketches to the customized texts. Liliia loves nature; she loves wood and I admire her eco wood work.

Wishing you a lovely summer with loads of nature sketches.
Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Spring Daisies - Lin Frye

Journal - Daisy season -- love how they add brightness to the roadsides!

Lin Frye, North Carolina