THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

24 October 2013

SKETCHING TEDDY


One of the three commissions I've had recently was to draw CT's dog Teddy, often to be seen on her great blog: http://countrysidetales.blogspot.co.uk/ . What a great subject he was; the scruffier the better I find. It's been so great to actually work at something I really enjoy. We won't be installing a swimming pool any time soon, but it doesn't matter - I feel like I've achieved something at the end of the day for the first time in ages. So....thanks to the three of you who have put your trust in me!

Welcome to some more followers too; it's been a bit of a bonanza over the last week. Thank you so much and It's wonderful to have you all.

Here are some photos from the last few days. First, a Mohican Chaffinch:


Not very sharp, but I loved this little Blue Tit on the fading hydrangea:


I can't remember which foal this is but it's grown a lot and definitely isn't black any more. So much for them all turning grey:



Back to fungi.....and those found on the endless gorse, both dead and alive. I've never seen this strange, flat and slightly pitted one:


I think this is an older version of the last:


If you have a brilliant memory, you may remember the black Witches' Butter fungus I photographed last year. This, I now realise, having photographed it many times, is the yellow version, also known as Yellow Brian, Golden Jelly Fungus and Yellow Trembler:




Does anyone know what these TINY little red fungi are? About half an inch wide, if that:
  


Very strange.....
  

These look like tiny Chantarelles but I'm just not sure:


Three ponies in the rain:


And then there were four....


Stormy clouds:


Most of the Beech leaves have gone from the trees on the fringe of the moor:


We've had a couple of days without major rain, but more is due tonight. I'm back wearing wellies walking, which isn't good for my feet, but the alternative is trench-foot from boots that just aren't up to the job. Fine in a shower, but once the ground is saturated, rubber is the only option for me unless I have some kind of miraculous financial windfall and can buy those boots whose price make your eyes water. Anyway, the fire is lit and the smell of smoke and autumn leaves is in the mist outside. The dogs are out of the habit of their evening walk now until spring comes and are asleep in their baskets. Until next time, here's Jack in the grass. I love the second one. 



44 comments:

  1. Top Banana pic Em- it's arrived in the post today and we all love it, so THANK YOU! CT :-) XX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome. So pleased you like it. I do too which, as the queen of self criticism, is quite a feat.

      Delete
  2. Fungi is fascinating and so pretty. Your pencil drawing is very good - wish I could be as clever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Elizabeth. And as for fungi, I just wish I was more confident about identifying it. I open the book and the pages start swimming in front of my eyes!

      Delete
  3. I did smile at the ponies- hey that's not a pony!
    I love it that Jack is having such a great life, his old owners must be thrilled that he's so happy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aww, Teddy is SO cute. Great job on this Em.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the first one of Jack... just the tail!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He doesn't seem to be getting much taller.....at least we won't have to buy him a bigger crate.

      Delete
  6. I must go see Teddy blog because your drawing is Fabulous !

    You know how icky I think the fungi is but I love the last one.
    It is a keeper. I took a photo of a halved red cabbage and cropped it really tight. It took a second till you knew what it was.

    I love ... "and then there were four". Your boys live a great life !

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love drawing red cabbage too so thanks for the reminder - I haven't done it in years.

      Delete
  7. Wow, that sketch is really really good!! Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Teddy look fabulous, nice to have commissions.
    Always great to see your photos Em.
    Is the big brown and white pony the stallion of the herd ?
    I laughed out loud at the tail in the grass ~ he is a busy little dog indeed !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That pony is one of the ridiculously big mares who are by no means pure Dartmoors. She's very sweet and docile though and easy to spot a mile away!

      Delete
  9. That's a lovely drawing, full of life and vigour. Your photos make me want to visit the moor again, even in the rain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you John. The walker numbers certainly drop when the rain comes down and shoot up as soon as it stops. The best time for me is when it looks like it might rain but doesn't so I have it all to myself without actually getting wet!

      Delete
  10. HI Em Love all the fungi and of course Teddy is so cute and a wonderful drawing of him. Also love seeing the ponies not matter what colour they are and the 'tail' in not fouling me!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a bit perky for a pony tail. Nice try Snippers.

      Delete
  11. Your pictures of fungi and Dartmoor are beautiful but for me this time Teddy steals the show! Your drawing is fantastic and it looks so like the pictures CT has shown us of Teddy.
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you recognised him Sarah. The end of his tail was missing from the photo so I had to make it up. CT says it's okay though!

      Delete
  12. That's a great sketch of Teddy Em. Not keen on fungus but can appreciate the interest in them with their wonderful shapes and colours. Love the ...and then there were four.. image-just brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love your drawing of Teddy - you have captured him so well from photos I've seen on CT's blog. Some great photos as always and really enjoyed looking at all the great variety of fungi :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful drawing of Teddy! So glad you are able to do some artwork!

    Love the photos of the ponies in the rain. And then Snippet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been great so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a few more - you never know.

      Delete
  15. I would certainly know Teddy if I met him! Well done.

    Your beautiful C/Cards arrived safely yesterday, and I shall cherish the ones I'm keeping, rather than sending (Dartmoor winter collage for office wall).

    LOVE your fungi photos again.. I thought Scarlet Elf Caps when I saw the red ones, but no, yours have a rounded top and the Elf Caps are little cups. Loved the "and then there were 4" photo! and the disappearing dog : )

    ReplyDelete
  16. I found a picture of the same red fungi but the caption was 'tiny red fungi'. Not a lot of help.

    So pleased you like the cards. I'd love to see a picture of your office wall with the collage!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Em, I'm so excited I could cry... ref the Featherstonehaugh family.
    Would you e mail me please at japawomo@xplornet.ca and I will give you the names I have and we can see if we can find the link.
    Jane xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will Jane. My dad died in 1985 so I need to get details of the family from others.....x

      Delete
  18. I so wish I could draw like you! Great pencil drawing of Teddy! My mum is a great watercolour artist and I have a lovely painting of our old doggy on my wall. Sadly I didn't inherit her talent. The yellow brain fungus is so cool! I can't help with red fungus ID I'm afraid. I do love your blue tit on the hydrangea photo and the last one of jack!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a shame that Blue Tit isn't sharper but never mind. It was raining and on full zoom!

      Delete
  19. Em, you truly have such talent, the drawing is really lovely, what a treasure it will be!!

    I also didn't realize think that hydrangeas would grow there. For some reason I thought it wouldn't be warm enough for them, they are one of my favorites, and lovely even at the end of the season, aren't they?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The soil is very acidic up here which is why they're naturally blue rather than the more normal pink. I remember my grandparents desperately trying to acidify their soil to no avail - they always came out pink!

      Delete
  20. Hi Em, wonderful fungi photos, you should illustrate a book on those. Thanks for the cards and the wonderful print of the Two Magpies which arrived safely this morning. The cards are beautiful - very skilful photography. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those white ones on the gorse would be lovely to draw actually - thanks Thelma!

      Delete
  21. Hi Em,
    love the sketch and the shots of the ponies.
    Hope you are prepared for the forthcoming storms and wind they keep talking about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Roy and thanks for visiting. We're rather concerned about the HUGE Beech tree under which we normally park the car and Land Rover, which lost a big branch in the summer. It could possibly reach the house if another one goes!

      Delete
  22. Superb sketch of Teddy, Em. Having seen CT's photos of him - you've captured him perfectly. I love the Mohican Chaffinch and all the amazing fungi, especially the jelly looking ones. And terrific photo of jumping Jack in the grass! Given the wet, windy weather outside here this evening, I think the dogs have the right idea if they're asleep up in their baskets!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's getting really windy tonight in preparation for tomorrow I guess, but it's close to gel force already!

      Delete
  23. As ever absolutely beautiful pictures, those ones of the ponies in the rain (and extra!) are wonderful! Hope you stay safe in this awful weather on the way!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.