Sketch Across the World 2022 - Park Wood

by Alice Savery May 4, 2022

This year I joined Kath (The Walking Sketchbook) for a sketch adventure in Park Wood, at Hergest Croft Gardens. It's not too far from the studio which is great.

I started by drawing a bluebell study using a graphite stick.

Sketching bluebells in park wood by Alice Draws the Line

I joined Kath on Sunday 1st May. The day before I'd been dancing with my fellow Appalachian Dancers at Crossover Festival - the wrist bands we had for that seemed appropriate for today too!

Sketching in the woods for Sketch Across the World 2022 Alice Draws the Line

I have been experimenting with gouache paints recently. They weren't the easiest to use out in the woods, I put them in a pot I could put a lid on in the hope I could use any remaining paint later.

Working in gouache out in the woods by Alice Draws the Line

It was lovely sat on a log drawing the bluebells with all the bright green beech leaves - and then a cuckoo called from the ridge - and continued to call as we drew and had lunch in the woods.

Bluebells in the beech wood by Alice Draws the Line

It did start to drizzle at this point so I popped my sketchbook in a bag to carry back - this picture just about shows the effect the rain had on the paint which I quite liked.

The rain marks on the gouache by Alice Draws the Line

We returned to the tea room in the gardens where I had an enormous cream tea!

Bluebell woods photograph by Alice Draws the Line

I did a bit more to the picture later that day, adding some more details with colour pencil. I will try and photograph it in the light and add an image of it's final finish.