A Walk and a Bike Ride

Early early light is a beauty. On Sunday morning I was out on my new bicycle - all sit up and beg and girlie basket - in the misty low light of a damp but sunny spring morn.

This photo, unbelievably taken with my iphone and unadulterated, is probably my favourite image of any I've captured.

The bike is my new trusty steed with which I will discover some trackways amongst the urban sprawl where I live in Middle England.

The canal ways are calling for more sketching so there are some lovely tow path scenes to unearth this summer for me.

Today I walked on Highgate Common near Kinver Edge with my good friend Fiona Mill.

We hit upon a little pond, a haven for wildlife, quite un disturbed and amongst the peeping of jay birds and some rather less inspiring mosquitos, we sketched and painted. So peaceful. The time flew.

The light was poor and flat and it was a struggle to find where it was really coming from but a yellow wash background provided luminosity where it may have hidden.

Green woodpeckers and many pond insects were unaware of two women becoming at one with their surroundings. Some even tried to feature in the sketchbook - very arty!