Earth Rests...

I love the textures & patterns that the recent snow threw up. It may have been harder for many to get about, but nature grabbed the opportunity to dress up for the season in the finest lace & delicate fabrics, glistening in the pale light.

I was supposed to be teaching a workshop for North East Scribes, a calligraphy group based in Darlington, earlier this month... unfortunately it was cancelled due to the weather. My plan had been to work with textures inspired by nature, and as the weather changed, so did my ideas. Over the last couple of weeks I've been playing around with "winter textures".

Many winter scenes are mainly shades of white & grey, with just a hint of colour.... so that's what i've been using...

I'm not trying to 'copy' nature... just to echo the feel... the sense of the landscape & textures. I can sit and create endless variations on this theme! This is one I will probably work up to a larger piece (this is approx 12x17cm) & build on the words....

Earth rests, just waiting for spring...

I blended black & white acrylic directly onto repair paper (a lightweight, laid paper used for book conservation). The laid lines add to the texture, and it's lovely to write on. I used a ruling pen & walnut ink for the lettering, then smudged some very dilute ink amongst the acrylic.

Actually, earth does not "just" sit around waiting for spring, even though it may seem to us as if everything in on 'hold' for a while. The maple seeds above are still maturing, ready to be cast adrift... others already on the ground are shedding their outer 'wings' readying themselves, to put out their first delicate strands of roots, preparing to seek their nourishment from the earth mother, others are already in her womb, growing & preparing to sprout into the light... as do our own souls. 

No, nothing is static... in nature or in our lives. Even when we feel as if nothing is happening, that we are not moving forward, unseen energies are moving behind the scenes, deep within us.... preparing, maturing, shedding layers, readying our Self for the next stage of growth, the next step towards the light. Rather than nothing happening, things are opening.