Coed Simdde Lwyd Oak woods

I've visited some more sessile Oak woods still within the Rheidol Valley but this time downstream of Coed Rheidol (where I was last week). They are called Coed Simdde Lwyd which means 'Wood of the grey chimney' in Welsh. Not such a nice name but it harks back to an age of heavy metal mining in this area.Indeed there are many ruins of mines dotted around Ceredigion.
These woods are much bigger than Coed Rheidol and as they are south facing are drier with less luxuriant moss growth. I saw hundreds of oak saplings, some covered in red pea galls, so the woods are regenerating well. I collected some galls to draw at home. These galls are fascinating; they look like tasty little fruits.

The wildlife Trust of South and west Wales have put in some new paths, one I followed right to the top of the steep valley (phew,very tough!!) above the woods,with glorious views of the Rheidol valley and the sea beyond. Some of the gnarled trees at the top are only just bigger then me!! There were plenty of bluebells and bees here too. I could here the unique call of a cuckoo in the distance.

 Following the valley top I then descended back into the cool woodlands, and found a rushing stream cascading down. Here the plant-life is slightly more varied with more species of tree, including Wych Elm and Ash and I collected some golden Saxifrage to draw; its a common plant found in these damp places.

So as promised I have uploaded some sketches, some from the oak woodlands of the Rheidol and also Coed Cwnch in the Elan valley too. You can see bilberry, barren strawberry, golden saxifrage and common violet with the hairy wood-rush and some mosses.

Below is the actual oak woods painting with some spring additions so far; hazel catkin & hard fern (Blechnum spicant) crosier,

Below is a wood anemone, an acorn germinating, the red pea galls and some wood sorrel. I germinated the acorn myself, but the fresh oak leaves are from a one year old sapling. Really enjoying this painting but its a good job that these oak woods are quite low on species diversity as I wouldn't fit everything onto the page!!

The Oak Woods in Spring

I have visited Elan valley oak woodlands, (Coed Cwnch) and Rheidol oak woodlands to record the spring species I find and collect some things to paint. We have had a really cold spring and lots of plants are very late in their growth. The oak leaves are just starting to burst and there are curly fern crosiers everywhere.

In the photo above;  The ancient woodlands clothe the sides of the Rheidol valley, they exist mainly in steep river valleys.
The main plants of these oak woods are bilberries, heather and mosses, with birch, Holly and rowan trees adorned with honeysuckle, lichens and ivy. There are few species of flower as the soil is more acidic, but we have wood sorrel and violets,with bluebells and wood anemone in the deeper soils. Some of the mosses are now producing their spore capsules on bright red and orange stems, so I've been painting these for my oak woods painting. Also some Pied Flycatcher eggs in a little nest, these birds along with redstart are seen frequently in these woods; They are summer visitors.
 I saw many bumble bees too feeding on the bilberry flowers.

The sessile oaks are twisted and gnarled and in some places their roots cling to the rocks.

Above you can see the oak branches still in bud, with the river Rheidol in the distance. A small bridge spans the gorge; called the Parsons bridge.

 The river has eroded the rock in the gorge below into cauldrons and pools.

You cannot walk very far in these woods but its good enough just to sit and think(or de-stress!). Its great that we have these places protected for the future.
Next week I'll post some sketches from the spring woodland.

Latest work

 

I have made some necklaces with resin and dried daisies- a change from painting! They are ok for a first try and I really like them( have been wearing one).

 

Heres a sketch of a frilly parrot tulip - the first to open in the garden, with a bulb. I found it difficult to get the red hue right and was using winsor red,winsor red deep, and cadium red.

 

 

 

Red Marsh Orchids, old and new paintings, the macro view is a new one. This red is painted using Schminke permanent carmine(PR19) and W/N permanent alizarin, with touches of perylene violet.

 



 

Pyramidal orchids with a six spot burnet moth, Euphrasia and common milkwort. This is a reworked painting from last summer.

                                    This spring collection is a rework of many old paintings.



Two Years On.

 

I have realised that this blog was 2 years old last Thursday. Time has flown so fast.

I also completed this Narcissus study as an evocation of spring. Even though we have had thick snow and it has been really cold this past week, spring is not far away.

The Narcissus is a multi-headed variety called 'Pipit' with pale lemon flowers and a beautiful scent.I found the bumble bee last summer and have kept it safe in order to paint. Despite the cold temperatures there are a few bumble bees out in the brief sunny interludes, feeding on the plentiful heather flowers in my garden. Its almost like an oasis in the mono-culture of the surrounding farm fields.

I have also found a few dead Tortoiseshell butterflies too, now in my collection. Will paint them one day soon.

Spring eruption,the vital sap,

Flows through bud and twig.

Bursting with youth,

in lime green showers.

Cells divide, regenerate.

To begin again.

Gold leaf

 The ox-eye daisies goauche painting is now finished and I have embellished it with gold leaf.

I also added a few light delicate grasses to show wildness, then I guess that the gold suggests dazzling summer light! The gold squares follow the opposite pattern to the flower buds so I thought they might strengthen the composition.

I practised using the gold leaf first as I have never used it before, always a good idea!!

 Instead of buying adhesive, size or gesso I used a jar of Winsor Newton gum arabic that I've had for years and hardly used. First I drew out little squares and painted them in with neat gum arabic. Then I placed a gold leaf sheet on top of the square, pressing down very gently. After drying for a few minutes, I gently brushed away any loose bits and edges; any gaps were carefully re-stuck.

 It seems to have stuck the gold leaf very well and wasn't too difficult.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately the final photo doesn't show up the gold bling very well but it looks nice and shiny in real life! I have made a card out of it for my mum for mothers day but she's just told me now that she's not sure about the squares!! Oh well! Nice to try something a bit different and I recommend it for this.

Gouache again

Spring has arrived here in Wales with sunny warm weather and spring bulbs starting to flower. I even saw plenty of bumblebees and a couple of butterflies!

But before enjoying the weather I started a gouache painting. It's of an old ox-eye daisy sketch from last summer. I found it a little hard getting used to gouache paint again, after so long using transparent watercolours. I'm hoping to use some gold leaf that my friend gave me on it somehow, but I've not used it before so I'll be experimenting with that soon.

I enlarged the daisies by about a quarter.

 

 

 Below is an old gouache painting from a few summers ago, foxglove and bee. I'm not really sure if I like it, but it does look a bit better in a frame!

 

 

Lastly thanks to everyone for supporting me on my artistic ventures. Art is a very healing pass-time and it keeps me out of trouble!



More in the Woods

I have almost finished the winter section of the oak wood painting. Now I have to wait for spring to arrive in order to start the spring section. It's bitterly cold here in Wales at the moment but with beautiful sunshine so very nice not to have more rain!

 

I have added an oak twig with the lichen Evernia prunastri at the base in graphite. Also some vibrant red holly berries to fill up gaps! I also drew some hazel catkins as they are now about and hazel is very much a part of the sessile oak woodland flora. Their tassels are lovely to see and the twigs have the tiniest red female flowers on them.

 

 

Below are the mosses, decaying leaves and Usnea lichen.