A Touch Of Golden Light And What Happened Before Concerning A Hare Fox And Owl

The sun rises on a new day. The golden light we haven't seen so much of this summer, glittered through the dew drop dappled windows at dawn, gilding them in July's apricot hue.

Early morning light, the light of magic. Indoors is quiet, folk are still lost in the world of dreams but outside the song of a new day is being composed....
Today the sun shone and the ground felt warm. Bees, butterflies crickets, grasshoppers and all manner of other insects ventured out to enjoy the golden rays that have been so rare this summer.
I picked some flowers to brighten our shady north facing kitchen.

I love the twirly stamens of Nigella ( Love in a mist) It self seeds everywhere here and is so pretty.

 Everything in the garden is lush and green from excess growth and water. Below a patch on the lawn that had to be left because it was much too pretty to cut. Another area that has sprouted yellow and orange hawkweed. The brown butterflies like it too.

I've been busy with the illustrations for the book that I'm working on and in between time have been painting some ACEO's. These are tiny paintings measuring 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches, the size of a collectable trading card. They are based around my painting 'Moonrakers' I started to think about what maybe happened before that moment that was captured in paint. What was the story of the white hare, the fox and the owl? So, I had the idea to do a series of tiny pictures for continuing the characters story. Or I suppose they could be called 'prequels'?

Note the Wiltshire corn circle! You see there were strange goings on that night of cheese raking. ;- ) Maybe I'll do another batch and call them 'sequels'. I suppose it is the Illustrator part of me that wants to continue the story?

Then I did some more..

These were playing with paint really and the wash formed mountains. Mountains that needed to escape on to paper after my visit to Wales and ascent of Snowdon? I really had no part in it, except maybe adding the hares? ;-)

These paintings will all be for sale shortly in my Etsy shop, so if you are interested keep an eye open here.

Moonrakers

In my last post I told you that I had been working on a painting and that I'd share it in the next post. Well here it is....
                                                            'Moonrakers'

It's for a local exhibition that I'm taking part in this June which will be part of the Corsham festival. The exhibition theme was Wiltshire/a personal Journey, who you are and you're work.  I decided to take on the famous old Wiltshire story of the Moonrakers with a whimsical twist, including my white hare guide that still leads me one step ahead along my path.

And a bushy tailed  foxy friend to join him.

Oh and an owl..

For those of you who have never heard of the Wiltshire Moonrakers, then let me explain.
Many years ago, when wealthy men wore shoes with silver buckles and women wore long gowns, smuggling was rife. Some Wiltshire folk decided to hide contraband barrels of french brandy from custom officials in a village pond. (The location is believed to be the Crammer in Devizes)
One night when the owls and foxes spoke to the bright full moon, they came quietly to retrieve it using rakes to pull the barrels out. In the middle of the act they were caught by the revenue men who asked them what they were doing raking the pond? Pointing at the moon's reflection they replied:
"Why, just trying to catch that big piece of round cheese Sir"
The excise men thinking they were simple yokels, laughed, left them to their business and went on their way.
The Wiltshire men were left to carry on  and I'm sure were very happy with their french brandy!
                                         
This picture is not the best quality as it's just a photo when the painting was on my desk. But, I have plans to get it scanned this weekend and make it available as a print in my Etsy shop shortly.
                                                                        ****
My what a lot of rain has fallen this week. It rained non stop most of last weekend then rained on and off all through the week.  My water butt that was standing dry is now overflowing which I'm most pleased about.  On May 1st the sun shone on May day.I took my camera to greet the new month. This is what I saw.

Rain soaked fields and a river that had burst it's banks.

The old bridge taking strain.

I moved away from the watery world and back amid the little woods to see signs of greening. Wanting to capture something special on Beltane/May day. I was greeted with the pungent scent of wild garlic otherwise known as ramsons, buckrams, bear leek, wood garlic, broad leaf garlic,and bear garlic.

I love this little plant, it reminds me of playing in the woods as a child.
Then I came across another favourite Jack by the hedge.

And Periwinkle.

  Faerie size bouquets of hedge/cow parsley.

And twirling new growth of sticky cleavers.

And such pretty flowers and good for bees, dead nettle and ground ivy.

I took a slip of each and brought the new growth  inside, placing them upon my window sill.
Earth's delicate simple treasures.