Friday 14 March 2014

Taking a long journey has its risks

Taking a long journey has its risks


Ghost Trees is my first contribution to Nature Trail 2014-2015: a Natural Sketchbook Exchange,
a collaboration of 15 artists from the UK, Ireland, Holland, Italy and the USA. Once a month each artist will complete a double-page spread, or maybe more, in their sketchbooks before posting to the next artist who will do the same until, fingers-crossed, our own sketchbooks will arrive back home 15 months from now.


Ghost Trees. Birches on
Pitmedden Estate
 woodland walk. Watercolour.















Giovanni Cera has illustrated the route each sketchbook will take in his delightful map.


From Giovanni Cera's sketchbook






I have come to know my fellow artists through FlickR, Facebook, and the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) diploma course which I completed in 2013. They are a talented, enthusiastic, and supportive group of people whose beautiful work constantly reminds me to keep trying... and trying!





 

We are using Stillman and Birn sketchbooks, size A5, handy for posting. The paper is thick, smooth, and should take a bit of punishment from water and brush!  Mine was lovingly dressed in a smart green coat with colourful lining before being packed off from Ellon post office.















 
A long journey has its risks and no doubt some books will suffer creasing, tearing, or denting. Some may not make it at all... But I hope all will return like well thumbed passports, pages stamped with the distinctive marks of 15 artists.

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