Artists For Nature Foundation Project - Sark May 2011

Added 30/06/2011 to Whisperer Blogs, Features & Articles

From the 4th-16th May 2011, i was invited on an Artists For Nature Foundation project to work along with 12 other international artists on the island of Sark in the Channel Islands, to celebrate the rich and diverse fauna and flora that is natural to this lush and stunningly beautiful island.

As always on a project of this kind, the first few days are about getting to know the area and to become familiar with colours and subjects. We arrived on the ferry from Guernsey a stunning afternoon, barely a breeze and with wonderful warm sunshine. As look would have it this weather was to stay with us for most of the duration of our stay. On the first afternoon, as i drew a large Oil Beetle, I was thrown by a song in the hedges in the south of the island. Was it a Cirl Bunting?? though sounded Redpoll like or even Redstart???? Despite all the searching and the bird moving around often singing within 10 – 15 metres, I couldn’t find it and had to leave.

The next day dawned, and armed with my paper and paints i set off to begin exploring winding dusty lanes lined with dense hedges of Blackthorn in particular. Suddenly there was the song, a bizarre buzz but between a Wren song? How strange. I thought it may be a different bird interrupting the Wren but then there it was coming in the middle of the Wren’s song. Wonderful and a sound I have never heard a Wren do. The lanes were a haven for butterflies, including one very territorial Wall Brown that guarded the track close to where my bag lay. Almost always he returned to the same 4 metre length of track which was a small motorway for other browns, whites, Red Admirals, Green Hairstreaks, Speckled Woods and Small Coppers. What a backdrop, set against rugged greens of the west coast.

The Friday was again beautiful, hot early afternoon but with front of cloud arriving from west/ North West 1630, with wind freshening creating vivid sandy dust storms on the lanes when cycling back to the hotel come 1800. Change to weather on the way for tomorrow. Headed out onto Epequerie Common, on the extreme north of Sark, to look in among the carpets of flowers for butterflies. I came to a gully, which among the Sea Campion, Thrift and Birds-foot Trefoil fluttered many Common Blue’s, Brown Argus, Wall Brown’s, Green Hairstreak’s and Small Copper’s. Here was the place, a gully that faced west with stunning views along the coast and over to Herm, with Guernsey beyond. A Peregrine called and flew passed as i knelt painting.

For the next few days I explored all sides of the island and except for working through heavy thundery showers one day the weather amazingly held out. That wet afternoon I had to cycle at pace during a short break in the weather, so that the full days painting was not totally washed away. Thinking i had achieved the mad dash by negotiating lanes and avoiding drips i was relieved. But no, as I took the painting off my shoulder i realised it was splattered with mud, sprayed from the bike. I had no option, paints out under the nearest Elder and I had to try and rescue it whilst still damp. Thankfully it was fine, and all the invading marks were damp enough to change.

Blackcaps were the feature of the island, from almost every available copse and hedge blasted a Blackcap. For the first few days they were elusive to see, but finally, I found areas where i could watch and paint them. I love the abstract shapes caused by bright sunlight and shadow, and how what you would think would be a distinct difference in colour and form, muted blue grey of a blackcap among lush lemon green canopy, can disappear in the chaos of light and darks, and become hidden and invisible would it not be for the blast of sweet melodic song or a ‘tack’ in alarm. I finally managed to capture a singing male in Hawthorn blossom, which amazingly also housed an array of butterflies, one of those paintings which i knew ‘worked’, and captured what that part of the island was about. Working the blossom firstly, it was only when the leaves came in then finally the background wash at the back that pulled it together, I don’t know what it is but the colour was been behaving oddly. I noticed how gentle textures were forming in the washes, almost winter like – perhaps this is the water here for it could not be the sea air, nothing new for me. I noticed it as soon as I arrived and had been adjusting the way I was mixing the paint to compensate. Kept this painting deliberately light and clean.

The days flew and it is amazing how the spiral of creativity of a group of artists working on one goal intensifies and gains huge momentum. One of my most memorable was my last whole day. I decided to spend it at my most favoured part of the island, the north end and the track to Epequerie Common and Landing. As arrived, Blackcap blasting away in usual song perch but then amazingly followed me down the track to where i was painting, near the gap in the walls of the Fort. The sound from a singing Blackcap no more than two metres away was so incredibly loud, almost painful would it not be so sweet. Found a Cream-spot Tiger Moth sat in the middle of the track, 0930 and drew that for most of the morning. Amazingly it allowed me to eventually tease its upper wing away so i could see the staggering colour of the hind wing, a vivid orange set against a mainly crimson leading edge and body, Stunning to see it sat among lichened rocks and flowers.
The last weekend was a combination of holding a workshop and then the finale to the project two weeks, the exhibition of all our work  at the Stocks Hotel which Sophie Stafford the Editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine formally opened. It ran till the early hours and created a wonderful buzz with a packed out room of locals enjoying the paintings and sculptures the group has produced. A book and exhibition will follow sometime next year.

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10/10

shane coyle

Level: Newt, Added: 11/07/2012

Darren, stunning watercolours,i am looking fordward to your next book, do you hold painting classes, tuitorials ? I would be very interested in taking part in an outdoor painting class Regards Shane
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10/10

Darren Woodhead

Level: Newt, Added: 13/07/2011

Stephen and all, Many thanks for your comments. It is possible to certainly purchase prints of the Sark work, but please contact me on info@darrenwoodheadartist.co.uk and i will give you all the possibilities and details.
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10/10

Stephen Hayden

Level: Newt, Added: 06/07/2011

Wonderful paintings (especially the Tiger Moth) and stories of your visit. is it possible to buy the paintings or prints?
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