When it seems the day has never dawned

I have not done today the things I meant to do. Dark and wet, cold and miserable, I begin to understand why swallows fly south before winter. This is no weather for owls. And although there is some comfort to be taken in the election results when I hear the voice of Trump, how he speaks to people, how he talks to the media…. well…….

The weather is true Mrs Noah weather. Outside the paths remind me of how some of the words came, as pathways turn to streams and roads to rivers.

This is the path to my house and the road to the path, singing with water fast flowing down the road from a spring that flows when the water table rises.

This week James Mayhew and I heard the fantastic news that Mrs Noah’s Pockets, written by me, illustrated by James, has been nominated for the Greenaway award. James’ first time, for the beautiful illustrations. The Lost Words, written by Robert Macfarlane, illustrated by me,  also has a Greenaway nomination, AND a Carnegie for the words. Robert’s first time.

Today I sought solace, distraction, peace of mind in ink and in pigment.

Sketches of tumbling otters lie in my book from a film I took of an otter swimming. It was the only way I could ‘see’ the movement, understand the shape.

First I painted small otters, made from spring water from Devon, 25 x 10 cms.

Then I turned to the Bideford Black, the 300 million year old pigment made by plants, made by time. With pestle and mortar I crushed some of the pigment, mixed it with ‘gum water’ bought from Cornellissen some time ago.

I had seen on Samhain, a picture of an otter, found beside the road by someone, I wish I could remember who, and taken and placed on a bed of gold autumn leaves. It stayed with me, and i wanted to honour the small, wild life also, and so, with ancient pigment and spring water I painted the curl that I remembered her body being placed in. And with gold leaf I gave her a halo.

Now I am offering her for sale. She’s a big otter, approx 75cms x 57cms. She’s on thick, beautiful watercolour paper, and if framed should be floated so the deckled edges show. She is £1 200, bideford Black, Spring water and white gold leaf and is called In Honour of Beauty, Samhain 2018, and the buyer will be asked to donate the money direct to The Lost Words for Devon. But please email me first to secure, with Samhain otter as subject, as the artwork is an original piece. I do love how the black pigment sits on the paper.

Small otters and hares will also be for sale, soon, soon. Just waiting to hear back from a lady who has been awaiting a hare. These are 25cms x 10cms and otters are sumi ink and spring water- £180 each, hares Bideford Black and spring water-£200 each.

Have I painted myself back to a peaceful mind? No. Not yet. But I guess that’s what keeps me painting.

I need wellies now to walk the dogs before dark falls.

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