A quick sketch of a dry marsh-Concetta Flore

Very hot and dry summer for this part of Tuscany, and

the Padule di Fucecchio (Fucecchio marsh) is high and dry.
We trod on ground that should have been 60 cm below water level. Bad for the birds- its a very important migration spot- and for the hunters, too- which is good. In my opinion of course.
So on a very sunny day, with 4 storks hovering over us- they nest in the Reserve- this puddle is the only water I managed to sketch.
I used a flat-tipped brush with a slant; nice potential for fine and thick strokes.
Poplars and salyx trees.

Greenfield Park, Wilmington, NC, Lin Frye

Journal - Cape Fear Sketchers - Enjoyed sketching at Greenfield Park today -- The sun was in and out all day - clouds made it comfortable sketching ...

Marsh and Morning Glories, Southport, NC, Lin Frye

Journal - My second sketch yesterday from the Marsh Walk, Southport, NC. We found so many beautifully blooming morning glories on the way to the pavilion... so I tried to add some of these flowers (which were not in our sight) to the view we had of the marsh.

Loggerhead Turtle - Lin Frye

Journal - Loggerhead

Lin Frye, North Carolina

Greenfield Park

Journal - Greenfield Park, Wilmington, NC - Sat sketching the lake from the shaded pergola - even noticed the eyes of an alligator and lots of turtle heads in the water ....

Fountain and Pond at Riverwalk Park - Lin Frye

Journal - Sketched yesterday at Riverwalk Park, Belleville, NC with Cape Fear Sketchers

Lin Frye, North Carolina

Tufted Duck Embroidery: Painting with Floss

It all started with observing a Tufted duck couple in our nearby duck pond. Their cute shape combined with studying Celtic interlace designs, resulted in a drawing that I later used for lino-printing.

 

Did my Tufted Duck inspiration stop there? No. Moving house and being without a proper desk, urged me to transfer the design on to fabric in order to do some 'thread-painting' while travelling from country to country. Did I stop after finishing one hoop? No. By now, I have 5 cute and colourful couples.

Will I stop when I have 6 Tufted duck couples? Most likely because other projects are calling for my attention. Was it fun? Oh, yes. Textile crafting often felt like a meditation; it kept my hands engaged while my mind grows more still. Highly recommendable!

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

at www.mindfuldrawing.com