Redgrave and Lopham Fen through the seasons

In late April we visited Redgrave and Lopham Fen on the border of Suffolk and Norfolk, it was Spring – the leaves were fresh and bright green, the reeds beds were full of birds, bright flowers spangled the heath and marsh and we heard the calls of the cuckoo and bittern . . . it inspired this linocut.

Yesterday we returned, our intention was to have a long quiet walk – but when we arrived we found dozens of cars in an overflow carpark! Suffolk Wildlife Trust were hosting a Apple Day Fair, it looked like fun so we paid the entrance money and went in for a look around . . .

There were lots of apples!

and some cute hedgehogs!

I bought bargain plants and vintage garden tools

and then we went for our walk . . .

Redgrave and Lopham Fen is large enough to feel like a wilderness; the weather was perfect – warm and breezy – for a day striding out between the rustling reed beds.

I love the textures at Redgrave and Lopham Fen, especially the vertical patterns of the reeds broken up with areas of water that reflect the sky.

The swirling patterns of this willow's bark echoed the movement of the reeds and leaves in the wind.

Sunlight illuminated the vivid olive green lichen on the Elder bushes,

and the russets of the Teasel heads.

Along a green lane outside the reserve we came across the quintessential toadstool – the Fly Agaric. 

And back inside the nature reserve area we stumbled upon lots of Giant Puffballs  . . . and these really were giants! as you can see compared to our OS map . . .

. . . or to my toes!
The puffball on the left has been munched by something, the one on the right has matured and is puffing out spores.

However tempting the thought of bacon fried with slices of puffball for supper, we left them untouched.

As we made our way back across the fen we met the resident herd of Konik ponies, these were introduced in 1995 to graze the vegetation prevent scrub invading the precious heath and marshy grassland habitats. Native British ponies aren't suited to living in these tough, wet conditions but these Polish ponies thrive. Konik ponies have the characteristics of the now extinct Tarpan – an primitive type of horse that roamed the plains of Europe after the Ice Age. These beautiful stocky ponies look as if they've walked out of a neolithic cave painting! They were very placid and didn't mind a bit that I took loads of photos – I think they'll be appearing in a print inspired by Autumn at Redgrave and Lopham Fen.

I hope you had chance to enjoy the unexpected warm sunny weekend, before we batten down the hatches for the first of the Autumn gales.

Celia

xx

A print by the 'Two Brushes'

I went to my favourite local auction house today, I'd spotted something in the catalogue that made my 'art antennae' go into alert-mode! After a little research I realised the description in the auction catalogue was, how shall I put it? . . . economical with the truth. I could be on to a bargain!

In case someone had spotted what I had spotted and the bidding went bonkers, I decided to leave a modest commission bid with the auctioneer and cross my fingers.

But I couldn't resist popping in to the auction . . . and YES! The auctioneer banged down the hammer and I got the print for much less than my commission bid max. 

I skipped home and couldn't wait to get it out of it's grubby frame . . . I know it's a bit faded but the condition isn't bad at all. What I've found is a collaborative print between two major Japanese artists, Kunisada (who used his pseudonym 'Toyokuni III' to sign this print) and Hiroshige in a series of prints called 'Fifty-three stations (of the Tokaido Road) by the Two Brushes'

Hiroshige did the landscapes, views along the coastal route between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. The views are similar to his earlier series '53 Stations on the Takaido' which established him as the master of the landscape print. This print depicts Station 9 'Odawara', at the Sakawa River crossing which is near the Yumoto hot springs.

Kunisada, who was famous for portraying Kabuki actors, did the figures in the foreground. This print has a woman (probably a Geisha, as she has blackened teeth) wearing a shibori dyed cotton yukata (summer kimono robe), she looks as if she's just been bathing in the hot springs and is drying her face.

I think the other figure is a maid? but her clothes and hairstyle are quite elaborate, so maybe a she's a Maiko (trainee Geisha)? Or is she selling something? I'm not sure exactly what is in the basket, is it food or cosmetics, or souvenir trinkets? It looks like a toy box!

Kunisada was 68 and Hiroshige 57 when they worked on this series together, I think they must have been old mates. I love how they called themselves 'Two brushes ' (it makes me think of The Two Ronnies!). In fact when Hiroshige died only a few years later, during a plague epidemic, it was Kunisada who designed his friend's memorial plaque. 

Hiroshige who died on 12 October 1858 by Kunisada

I can't quite believe I've found such a gem.

Celia

xx

A watershed moment

OR

thoughts while enjoying the autumnal sunshine

Thank you to everyone who came along to my exhibition at The Church Street Gallery in Saffron Walden which finished last Saturday. I haven't been to collect the unsold prints yet or check exactly what sold . . . I was a little disappointed with how quiet the gallery has been, but then again I'm not sure what I expected to happen. Should I have waited until I had done lots of new work just for a solo show? Was it silly to agree to putting together an exhibition in only a few weeks? 

Probably best not dwell on 'what-ifs'. A good number of prints including a framed 'Winter Evening in Bull's Wood' and lots of cards sold. And I've had some lovely positive messages from friends who did visit the gallery.

The past couple of weeks have felt like a watershed – between getting all my existing prints framed and exhibited and moving on to work on something different. I so want to do something a bit different! Is that a normal reaction after an exhibition?

And now for something completely different . . .

CUSHION COVERS

I'm introducing some printed fabric items into my online shop, starting with these printed linen slip-on cushion covers.

I have kept the price to enough to cover the fabric printing/making up the covers/p&p plus a little extra (after all I'm not giving stuff away!)and have decided to only sell them direct from my online shop rather than offer them at a trade price to shops/galleries.

I'd like to add further designs to the range, I can get the fabric printed in very small quantities and re-print the popular designs. Any feed back or suggestions of which of my designs you'd like to see adapted for cushions would be most welcome.

WATERCOLOURS

Some of you will know that I've wanted to get back into the habit of doing watercolour sketches. I very much want this to be a habit that becomes a small part of every day (not sure this will happen but the intention is there).
Earlier this summer I decided to treat myself to a brand new box of watercolours  . . .

of course, I had to start by doing this . . .

and after a slow start I'm gradually re-engaging with painting . . . 

I have rules -

no pencil or eraser allowed

 the Ginger Studio Assistant got bored and didn't pose for long!

discovering that limited time is actually good

not worrying about just painting over bits that went a bit wrong

and discovering that my car makes a good studio while out and about.

I haven't painted today

. . . and the sun is out! . . .

Celia

xx

PS: it may be sunny BUT it is VERY WINDY!!!

just done, still wet
today's watercolour -
the view beyond our garden.