A word from Alice - studio stories from Alice Draws the Line

As regular readers will know, I seem to have an interest in experimenting with working at a larger scale.

Last week I took a big piece of paper out into the parkland near the studio and sketched using one of my homemade feather quills.

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. 

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.

This was another sketch-outing with Katherine Owen (The Walking Sketchbook). We had planned to meet somewhere to draw the previous week, but Storm Eunice appeared and scuppered that plan. 

This outing was just up into Brampton Bryan Parkland, on the Herefordshire Way footpath, not far from my studio.

It was cold but there was a bit of February sunshine which was lovely when out of the breeze.

We had lunch and a natter before both getting engrossed in our separate things. 

As per usual, 2 hours vanished and we both had some creations to go home with.

Last week I had a really inspiring phone conversation and afterwards I decided to go for a walk and keep mulling over the goodness as I went. 

It was bitterly cold but bright and the sun was catching a huge swathe of snowdrops that I passed. 

Well, I almost managed to pass them, but not before crouching down to photograph them!

On Saturday I went for a walk to the woods with my young nephews. We had a snack while sitting on a fallen branch and then collected some fallen treasures on our way back.

Once back, my 5 (and three quarters) year old nephew arranged our treasures on a little table in the garden - 

We then drew it, side by side at the little table in the garden. He on a large piece of paper and a pencil selected from my tin, and I in my sketchbook with the graphite stick.

It has been raining a lot here recently - and the woods are looking all the more lush for it. 

These were all taken last Saturday on a trip to Mortimer's Forest just outside Ludlow. There was rain... but there was also some sunshine after -which was really well received as it began the process of drying out the waterproofs!

This week spring seems to have gone into overdrive! The leaves are bursting everywhere, with each species displaying it’s own special green. 

Here are a selection I spotted on a walk recently. The sky isn’t quite so blue as I’m writing this, but the rain is much needed!

I thought I’d keep up the idea of sharing some of the photos I’ve taken while on my walks.

Time has whizzed and these were all actually taken last week -