Ink and imagination: finding new ways to embrace nature in midwinter. Join an artist's exploration of winter's light and landscape. Learn how the subtle beauty of the season fuels creativity, leading to new discoveries in ink, graphite, and beyond.
Michela, I have always read your lovely posts, but I chose to listen to your audio version this time. Your voice and observations transport me and bring me along your journey. It's such a pleasure to be there!
Thank you Paul. I’m glad you enjoyed listening; after a little break I feel a bit rusty with these. I find recording them outdoors whenever possible frees me up a little.
The rusty part doesn't bother me at all. The lyrical quality in your voice makes up for that. I love hearing the ambient sounds in your recordings as well.
I love seeing your artwork and listening to you talk about its creation. I began the year with the intention to start my own sketching practice, but the time I need keep slipping through my fingers. Listening to this piece reignites my longing to engage in my own visual play. Thank you for that. Perhaps this afternoon …
Hi Jamie, Thanks for your kind comments. I recently watched a 3 part video course that artist Sam Boughton put together. It’s short, low cost and quite liberating, in particular the encouragement to sketch as you walk, drawing the things that you notice rather than trying to recreate a view. It’s a useful way of abstracting the essence, and perhaps might help you incorporate sketching in something that you are already doing-going for a walk. It’s also quite nice that a little and often begins to build a sketchbook of your own marks.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Michela. What a wonderful suggestion and I will definitely look up that video course. There are so many ways into a creative practice. 😊
Thank you for your kindness Christine, and for your encouragement. Reading this has been a lovely surprise on a morning that promises a wild wind. Perhaps best to ramble indoors today while the storm rages!
Fabulous words as always, Michela, and really enjoyed the depositions of place on paper. That feels like an idea that has legs. Looking forward to seeing more. 👏
I love your combination of words and artwork Michela, your patient observations make it all quietly vivid. And for me it’s a wonderful meandering, filled with curiosity and attention, not at all rambling.
Thank you Margaret! I had intended to reshape the last part, but it eluded me. It’s the first time I’ve gone beyond the garden with a sketchbook, but I’ve enjoyed doing so despite the cold, and am again seeing things in a different way. At least there are no midges to deter lingering!
Beautiful words as always Michela and I really enjoyed your sketching and experimentation especially the deposition of place on paper. The earthy tones combined with the textures and shapes are really mesmerising.
Thank you Gill. These have certainly taken my mind off what we’re told is a depressing point in January. I’m still fascinated by the way that the silt aadhered to the paper and the textures within it, though I can almost guarantee that if I try again I won’t be able to recreate anything close. That of course is part of the joy! And it’s been a week of beautiful colour in the landscape, so soft.
Michela, I have always read your lovely posts, but I chose to listen to your audio version this time. Your voice and observations transport me and bring me along your journey. It's such a pleasure to be there!
Thank you Paul. I’m glad you enjoyed listening; after a little break I feel a bit rusty with these. I find recording them outdoors whenever possible frees me up a little.
The rusty part doesn't bother me at all. The lyrical quality in your voice makes up for that. I love hearing the ambient sounds in your recordings as well.
I am loving these frost fragments and inky depositions. As always, your images, words and sketches are a balm for difficult times.
Thank you Mary. I hope the words are slowly coming back to you. If this has helped in the meantime, I’m glad.
I love seeing your artwork and listening to you talk about its creation. I began the year with the intention to start my own sketching practice, but the time I need keep slipping through my fingers. Listening to this piece reignites my longing to engage in my own visual play. Thank you for that. Perhaps this afternoon …
Hi Jamie, Thanks for your kind comments. I recently watched a 3 part video course that artist Sam Boughton put together. It’s short, low cost and quite liberating, in particular the encouragement to sketch as you walk, drawing the things that you notice rather than trying to recreate a view. It’s a useful way of abstracting the essence, and perhaps might help you incorporate sketching in something that you are already doing-going for a walk. It’s also quite nice that a little and often begins to build a sketchbook of your own marks.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Michela. What a wonderful suggestion and I will definitely look up that video course. There are so many ways into a creative practice. 😊
Indeed there are. Let me know if you want a link.
‘The view from an old window; a place of echoes and sighs, a shell to put your ear against.’
This sentence, I kept reading over, knowing many old windows I’ve found on my rambles.
Thank you for your rambles, always enjoyed!
Thanks Mimmi, that’s great to hear. Perhaps we are drawn to them as another viewfinder, but bigger.
Love your ‘ramblings’ which are always so evocative, Michela.
Thanks Debbie. Hope you’re keeping well.
Love your birches in blaeberry!! So beautiful.
Thank you! It’s funny how we stumble upon things. Sometimes we make more progress if we disengage brain, and simply respond / react.
Oh definitely! It's finding that guiltfree time to play that seems the hardest part
I love the very vivid descriptive ramblings. Enjoy the ink and graphite . Whatever you put your hand or voice to is wonderful.
Thank you for your kindness Christine, and for your encouragement. Reading this has been a lovely surprise on a morning that promises a wild wind. Perhaps best to ramble indoors today while the storm rages!
Fabulous words as always, Michela, and really enjoyed the depositions of place on paper. That feels like an idea that has legs. Looking forward to seeing more. 👏
Thank you Dave. All puddles fully frozen yesterday, but you never know! I hope you stay safe in the storm on your farm. We’re amber here too.
I love your combination of words and artwork Michela, your patient observations make it all quietly vivid. And for me it’s a wonderful meandering, filled with curiosity and attention, not at all rambling.
Thank you Margaret! I had intended to reshape the last part, but it eluded me. It’s the first time I’ve gone beyond the garden with a sketchbook, but I’ve enjoyed doing so despite the cold, and am again seeing things in a different way. At least there are no midges to deter lingering!
Your birches in blaeberry contain multitudes!
Thanks Amy. I have some in elderberry now too!
Beautiful post. Your birches in blaeberry are lovely, I looked at that picture as if it were a 'magic eye' picture and the depths really came to life.
Thanks Juliet. I’ve become a little obsessed with making these!
Beautiful words as always Michela and I really enjoyed your sketching and experimentation especially the deposition of place on paper. The earthy tones combined with the textures and shapes are really mesmerising.
I loved that one too and also found it mesmerizing. So much that I kept returning to this picture while listening Michela’s sooth voice.
Thanks very much Mailys! Nature always has the best marks.
Thank you Gill. These have certainly taken my mind off what we’re told is a depressing point in January. I’m still fascinated by the way that the silt aadhered to the paper and the textures within it, though I can almost guarantee that if I try again I won’t be able to recreate anything close. That of course is part of the joy! And it’s been a week of beautiful colour in the landscape, so soft.