Some times I am asked “Why do you draw birds?”  “Is it because you like to draw birds?  Why not draw dogs or narrowboats?”   Quite often I take a step back, I ask myself  “Am I on the right track?”   This scenario is quite common, today quite by chance I came across this video through my husband, who is witness to my conundrums, my questions.

See Link :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06f17dw/bbc-music-john-peel-lecture-2-2015-brian-eno

I had the pleasure to be a student at Hallam University, to study as an undergraduate; where the questions were raised, ‘Is it Art?’  ‘Who pays for this?’  ‘Is Art a cop-out?’  Many questions were and have been discussed over the time I was there.  I have an understanding of What Art is, What can be Art, Who funds it? What’s the point of it?  Working with sculpture, with words, with prose, writing and making films, taking photographs; alongside the questions of ‘But is it Art?’  The video makes a good stab at the envelope  of ideas of What Art can be!  To me it is more than a drawing, words or a photograph.  They are all a compilation of my journey and each artist is walking a path which is their  journey.  It is not a journey of following a style, or a subject, it is a voyage of discovery.

Observations of my journey using my interpretations of encounters, I create, recreate meetings with wildlife along the way.  It is a diary of our journey, that is how I visualize it,  an explorer of nature, of  colours, of sounds and experiences.  They are what make the drawings  come alive.

As part of our journey we had the privilege to exhibit with the Guild of Waterway Artists at the Black Country Museum in Dudley.  We engaged with the public, bringing our visions of the waterways as a group.

Adults, children; together with students who were interested in techniques; something I am interested in. ‘Art for people, encouraging the arts for children, to inspire, to create!  To me that is what Art is about!  To enjoy all aspects of Art and the world of Art!’

To day we are at Great Haywood, a lovely place to spend a few days.  With Shugborough Old Hall, a quaint little village and lots of boats and visitors who came to say hello.

Hopefully coming soon an on line shop, life in the slow lane on the canals and rivers carries on at its own pace.

Some shots I managed to get of Shugborough, Great Haywood where the river Trent and the Trent and Mersey canal pass each other.  We will be moving onward towards Birmingham for the Historic Boaters’ Gathering at the Black Country Museum for the 26th & September, where as a member of the Guild of Waterway Artists we will be exhibiting in the ‘Old Cafe’ opposite the boat dock.

Finally…  I now have a profile on the webpage as a new member of the  Association of Animal Artists.  Home page : http://associationanimalartists.co.uk/  After an eventful year, I am trying to catch up getting myself up to date with new news.

My Profile : http://associationanimalartists.co.uk/artists-biographies/lesley-pearson/

We have travelled extensively this year, starting from Llangollen in January; then moving on to Braunston on the Grand Union Canal, traversing the River Soar, the River Trent, the River Witham; all of which have a wealth of wildlife.  Spotting little egrets, lapwings, cormorants, kingfishers, a wealth of herons, crested grebes, and what a way to see them as we travel on our NB Hekla.  I really has been a diverse summer.  The rivers offer a wilderness of wildlife and fauna.  How lucky we are to be able to see what lives with us as we travel.

Catching shots, sometimes isn’t that easy, so sometimes its a sketch to help me remember something I have seen on our travels.  This year we have only seen 4 kingfishers and all in one day as we went down the River Soar.  Quick little birds, in an instant they are gone.  Sketch books at the ready for more drawings to be inspired.

Venue : ‘Historic Boaters Gathering’ Braunston Marina, The  Wharf, Braunston, Northamptonshire. NN11 7JH 

Braunston… meet some of the gang from the Guild of Waterway Artists as we put up the show at Braunston Historic Boat Rally at the end of June.  We had a magnificent marquee which me managed to fill between us.  As a diverse bunch of Contemporary and Traditional artists we always enjoy Braunston and endeavour to put on a good show.

A new addition to my paintings, Poems, writing, and drawings are created as we move along the networks and on-wards towards Braunston as we join in the fun at the ‘Historic Boaters Gathering at Braunston for the 27th and 28th June 2015.

It is a very enjoyable affair,  ‘an affair’,  full of fun, song, dance along with the historic boats. Where Art meets History…. and History meets Art…  Contemporary and Traditional Art in the making.

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The week that was… due to a bereavement in my family we have been unable to continue on the journey of the Artists on the Canals tour 2015.  Playing catch up we found ourselves at Norbury amidst their festival.  Which just goes to show if you don’t ask you won’t find out.  So… we joined in the fun and gained a place as someone dropped out of the festival at the last minute.

We enjoyed some sun shine and the crowds came… as a Pop-Up Gallery we exhibit by bringing the gallery to a public place; which seems quite apt seeing we paint, draw, sketch and write prose about the wildlife we encounter.  The Norbury festival is on our list of venues for next year as we were quite impressed with the lively and friendly folk who came to visit, alongside the other boaters who brought their wares; who were a jolly bunch on all counts.

Some of my Watercolour, Pen & Ink drawings which I brought to Norbury; the lapwing went to a new home on a Shropshire Farm where there are many lapwings to keep it company.

After this week we shall be playing catch-up to join the Artists on the Canals… where we will hopfully catch them by Hemel Hempstead and Cassiobury Park; whilst fitting in the Braunston Historic Boat Rally with the Guild of Waterway Artists on the 27th & 28th June… it seems we have a lot of catching up to do over the next few weeks to carry on with our tour of Artists on the Canals.

Hope to catch you on our travels somewhere along the canals of England as we wind our way at a leisurely pace taking in the views and wildlife as we travel.

Another exhibition done; with my Kingfisher  Diving SOLD and winding its way along the British Canal Systems…. A successful exhibition with artists coming from all over the UK. The next exhibition I am involved with is unfolding in May at Atherstone where a group of artists are coming together to tour the UK network of canals.

6 Venues, 5 Artists, 4 boats hope you can catch us along the way.  Inspiring artists  Sculpture, Landart, poetry, drawing, painting #contemporaryart on the canals.

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistsontheCanals?ref=hl

Blue Coot… “Why are you so blue?” The ducklings asked.

“I don’t know!” said the Coot

The Blue coot ambled his way along the riverbank… wondering why he was so blue when his brother was surely black.

 “A trick of the light!” said his mother.

It is a story of taking a walk on the wild-side with Moorhens and coots..
I am presently looking to get a publisher… it is an illustrated read aloud story for around 5 year olds.  Life on the river banks and canals….

WOW !!! said the Blue coot…. “how did you do that?”

This is a liittle taster from the manuscript… I am looking into trying to get it published… watch this space….