Swallow, watercolour

Over the last few days, the first swallows have arrived back here in Pebworth after the long, cold winter. They skim low over the fields at the bottom of the garden, twisting and turning and expertly snatching insects out of the air. These birds will have spent the winter months in South Africa, and will have travelled around 200 miles a day, mainly during daylight hours, to make it back to Britain.

Orange tip and Cuckoo flower, watercolour

Orange tip (male above, female below).

I saw my first orange tip butterfly of the year in the garden today, tempted from its chrysalis by the warm April sunshine. These beautiful little butterflies are a colourful sign that spring is truly here, patrolling their territories along ditches and flower borders. Only the males sport the bright orange wingtips that give the species its name. The female is white with black wingtips.

Orange tips tend to use plants from the cabbage family as food, including garlic mustard and cuckoo flower (pictured). The cuckoo flower, or lady's smock, is a perennial plant that is often found near water. The name cuckoo flower derives from the fact the it is often in flower at the same time as the arrival of the first cuckoos in the British Isles. It is the county flower of Cheshire.

Fritillary, watercolour

The dainty, exotic-looking Fritillary blooms in April and May. They thrive in the lush wet grass in our garden, nodding their heads beside the late daffodils. Once they were common in flooded meadows, but draining and modern agricultural practices have led to a sharp decline.

The Fritillary is the county flower of Oxfordshire, and this Sunday, 15th April 2018, is the annual 'Fritillary Sunday' in Ducklington, where you are invited to walk around a field of fritillaries near the church. You can get further details here.

Mallard Duck and Buttercups, watercolour

Imagine our surprise one morning last week when a pair of mallards came waddling up the garden, through the arbour and across the lawn to the little apple tree by the kitchen window. The duck was definitely the more inquisitive of the two, clambering nosily through the shrubs and daffodils. Perhaps she was looking for somewhere to nest?

Since then, the mallards have been frequent visitors to the large pond at the bottom of the garden. The pond is one of about 25 natural ponds found in Pebworth.

Water Vole, watercolour

I heard on the local BBC news this morning that the People's Trust for Endangered Species are asking for volunteers to record sightings of water voles as part of a national survey. The population has declined steeply, by around 90%, due to habitat loss, river pollution and the escape into the wild of  predatory American mink. 

You can get involved with the charity's survey here: Water Vole Survey

Hellebore, watercolour

Masses of hellebores, Christmas and Lenten Roses, have been one of the first surprises in our new garden. There are so many different varieties growing all along the side path of the house - white, pink, and all shades through to deep velvety-purple. There's even a primrose-yellow form. They started flowering just after Christmas and are still going strong, attracting bees in the weak winter sunshine. 

Pebworth Cottages, Dorsington Road, ink sketch

As I was walking around Pebworth on a cold, crisp March morning, I came across this patchwork of cottages opposite the church. It is exactly the type of subject that fascinates me. No two houses are the same, each with its own style, colour and texture, yet together they seem to form one cohesive group. Also, the bright spring sunshine helped to define and simplify the solid shapes. I thought the subject lent itself to an ink sketch.

Stage 1

On an A4 sheet of cartridge paper, make a simple outline pencil drawing of the principal shapes. Start with the building closest to you, in this case the white house on the left. This will form the initial focal point of the finished sketch, leading the eye across the page from left to right, and taking the viewer 'down the lane'. Do not try to draw every brick and shrub at this stage. Let the pen add the details later.

Stage 2

Once you're happy with the composition of your sketch, you can get to work with the pen. I like to use a fine-nib drawing pen which allows me to get a lot of detail, but feel free to experiment. You can even achieve some great results with a ball-point pen.

Start with the house on the left. Use a light-touch sketching technique to suggest the different textures of the tiles and bricks. The whitewashed bricks don't need much detail, especially on the wall in full sun, but the gable-end facing us has slightly more shadow. Use cross-hatching to define areas of shade under gutters, behind chimney stacks and inside windows. This gives the sketch a 3-dimensional quality, making the buildings look solid.

Close-up showing drawing and shading techniques

Stage 3

As you work across the paper, the drawing can become less detailed. This will help emphasise distance and give the sketch extra depth. Sketch the shrubs and plants in the front gardens very loosely, so that they don't become too dominant. Let the pen 'squiggle' on the paper to suggest foliage, and add some shading underneath and behind the shapes to create bulk.

Close-up showing treatment of plants

Stage 4

The last house on the right has very little detail other than a little shading on the roof, and the outline of the windows. Suggest some trees in the distance. 

Close-up showing house and trees in distance

Finally, add the bare branches of the trees on the left, and the denser shape of a yew on the right, with its shadow stretching across the road underneath. 

The finished sketch is shown at the top of the post. I hope this has given you some inspiration, and you will be tempted to swap your smartphone for pen and paper when you next want to capture a special view.

-Kevin

Grey Heron, watercolour

Herons have a tough time in winter. During long periods of snow and cold temperatures like we've experienced this year, ponds and lakes freeze over and fish shelter near the bottom. Many young herons don't make it through their first winter.

One poor heron in our garden must have been particularly desperate this December, overcoming its inhibitions in its search for food and tip-toeing right up to the terrace outside the sunroom.