Growth patterns of lichen are often sinuous and complicated, radiating out from a centre or developing along a line. The rate of growth is often very very slow. It is as if a giant sits down and slowly scribbles on rocks and twigs – inscrutable inscriptions that we ponder over and enjoy. Dessicated leaves, fossils and small creatures add to the sense of richness – layers of time laid one on another.
Lichen rocks _ hornet study. Oct – Nov 2021 Graphite & watercolourHawthorn Sawfly Lichen Ode Aug 2021-Jan 2022 27.5×19.5 Graphite & watercolourLichen stones _ other beings Oct 2021-Mar 2022 34.5×22.5ins Graphite & watercolourLichen stones detail 1Lichen stones detail 2Lichen stones detail 3Lichendao iii Jan-Feb 2022 22.75×16.5ins Graphite & watercolourLichendao iv Jan-Feb 2022 21.5×14.5ins Graphite & watercolourDried grass & lichen haiku Jan-April 2022 27.5×20 ins Graphite & watercolourDried grass & lichen haiku Jan-April 2022 – detailLichen Dao study Feb-May 2022 15×11.25ins Graphite & watercolourLichen, plants & wings Oct 21-May 2022 28.75x21ins Watercolour & graphiteA blackcap remembers Oct-Nov 2022 29x21ins Watercolour & graphiteA blackcap remembers Detail 1 LichenDao V Nov 2022 16x21ins Watercolour & graphite
Trees & landscape
Sometimes the landscape drawings are more diagrammatic – field patterns dotted with flattened shapes of trees. Sometimes they are more spatial and topographical – volumes of rock and tree set against the misty void of clouds, wind & rain. Colour starts to creep into the drawings.
Charnwood rocks & birches has this text below the drawn image: Memories of skylarks and foxes, butterflies and bilberries, spuggies squabbling, smell of heather, grass swaying, bracken clinging, dark sombre granite keeping vigil over our brief lives.
Other works
Birdsong 1 May-July 2022 15×21.5ins watercol & graphiteIn the stream I Apr-July 2022 22.75x17ins WatercolourIn the stream II Apr-Aug 2022 31.5x18ins Watercolour & graphiteTracks & traces study May-June 2022 18×16.5ins
Notebook & other studies
From the collections of things found on walks, I often select one item and study it more closely. The shapes of dried, battered, trampled clumps of grass are particularly interesting.
Notebook study Jan 2022 dried grassesNotebook study Jan 2022 dried grasses detailNotebook study Jan 2022 Buddleia formsTree stump study Mar-Apr 2022 15.5×10.5ins Graphite & watercolourFlat stone & plants study July-Aug 2022 15.75x21in Notebook study Sept 2022 EarthformsNotebook study Sept 2022 Rock & ashNotebook study Sept 2022 Rock forms