Second bite of the cherry . . .

Cherry Blossom II
mixed media watercolour by Teresa Newham

The cold weather continued right to the end of March this year, with snow on the ground in the South of England barely a fortnight before Easter.  The few blossoms which had dared to emerge on my neighbour's tree froze in the chilly wind.

this year's blossom
© Teresa Newham

The blossom is fully out now; perhaps not as spectacular as in some years, but still providing a welcome splash of colour as the gardens recover from what one of my friends described as "eternal winter".

the original Cherry Blossom watercolour
© Teresa Newham

That tree has inspired a couple of paintings in its time: last year it was a mixed media watercolour Flowering Cherry, and a couple of years before that a pen and wash called simply Cherry Blossom.

brightening up the background
© Teresa Newham

My favourite painting is always the next one, so when I do look back at my old work, I'm often pleasantly surprised.  Not with Cherry Blossom, however - it's never felt quite right - and once Flowering Cherry was finished, I knew it needed a re-think.

emphasising the foreground
© Teresa Newham

This year I embarked upon whole series of renovated watercolours, of which Cherry Blossom II is the latest: washed off and reinvigorated with Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Sap Green and metallic copper ink, and remounted. And at last I can say I'm happy with it!

revitalised painting in new mount
© Teresa Newham

snow scenes

Harpenden Common in the snow I
© Teresa Newham 2013

 

Everybody loves the snow, don't they?  I do - despite the trouble it causes!  my trains to London didn't quite grind to a halt this week but it was a close-run thing;  and leaving my teacher husband tucked up warmly at home (school closed) while I walked, wrapped up like an eskimo, through several inches of snow to the station was not ideal (to be fair he did offer to run me there in the car; but as the road was like an ice rink, I reckoned I was better off on foot!).

Harpenden Common in the snow II
© Teresa Newham 2013

 

The upside, as you can see, is that the snow has had me reaching for my camera again.  The colours of Harpenden Common were absolutely gorgeous  as the sun rose;  and if I hadn't been walking to the station I wouldn't have seen them!  these were taken before the worst of it;  a light dusting of snow and a heavy frost between them created a real winter wonderland.

 

Harpenden Common in the snow III
© Teresa Newham 2013

 

 

 Our most interesting weather was probably last weekend;  constant, steady snow on Sunday had us pulling on our woollies and snow boots to walk to Mass - no way were we going to get the car out!  I took the opportunity to explore the alley at the end of our road through to Cross Lane.  To my shame, I've been meaning to do this since we moved here nearly eighteen months ago - and this was the first time I'd taken a look! 

 

 

 

Cross Lane I
© Teresa Newham 2013

 

 

Cross Lane used to be a rat run from the St Albans road to Southdown; so the council blocked it off many years ago and now it's a haven for dog walkers, horse riders and (in this weather) sledgers.  Many's the time I'd envisaged popping down with my camera for a leisurely photoshoot.  I hadn't anticipated being so cold that my fingers would barely grasp the camera;  it was a very quick visit indeed!

 

Cross Lane II
© Teresa Newham 2013

 

Finally, in honour of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which I took part in this afternoon, here's this little fella eating his fill during last Sunday's steady snowfall.  I hoped very much that he would also put in an appearance today and I'm glad to say he did;  unfortunately I was too busy juggling my pen and paper, bird book and binoculars to take any photos of the birds at that point . . . 

 



blue tit at the peanut feeder
© Teresa Newham 2013

And if you think I was being intrepid in the snow again, you're mistaken. My birdwatch was conducted seated cosily inside by the patio doors with a rug over my knees. There's only so much snow I can take!

total whiteout

Harpenden Common at sunrise
© Teresa Kirkpatrick 2010

A gentle dusting of snow had me reaching for my mobile phone camera as I walked gingerly to the station along icy pavements soon after 8am yesterday morning.  I've had little or no time for anything vaguely creative recently beyond singing in some carol concerts, but my imagination was caught by the sun lighting up the still autumnal colours of the trees, set off by the snowy highlights.

Harpenden Common, 8.15 on a December morning
© Teresa Kirkpatrick 2010

Risking life and limb as I teetered along I managed to grab a variety of shots without falling over or suffering frostbite to my camera hand.  Gathering clouds filtered the sunlight - the whole effect was lovely and subtle.

It's all been a bit different today, however - snowing steadily (or should that be heavily?) from 11am to 4pm.  Here's a shot from my back bedroom window at lunchtime.  Compare it with the balmy scene depicted here and you'll notice the difference!

another view from my back bedroom window!

© Teresa Kirkpatrick 2010

The unusual weather is making it difficult to get about - I still have no idea whether I'll make it to church tomorrow,  let alone work on Monday - and I've warned my Christmas guests to make sure they  have a suitable Christmas lunch to eat in their freezer at home just in case they don't make it over here.  But it's also an opportunity to take photos and look at things with an artist's eye.  Who knows, I might actually manage to do some painting or printmaking over the Christmas break! 

snow on a lavender bush
© Teresa Kirkpatrick 2010