Loving Winter and the Wonders of Ivy.
Why this artist enjoys hibernating.
Winter provides a very welcome hibernation period for many animals in the world, including me. The year is always busy with the turning seasons, especially in the garden, with days flying by leaving me wondering what I actually accomplished until I mentally list what I did, and my work life is no different. With good luck and a following wind most of the year is nicely challenging with producing art, making things to sell, packing orders and posting them out, then January arrives with it’s post-Christmas lull, which gives time to hold a sale, clear out old stock and get on with listing new things.
I have been busy creating some new wildlife and outdoor themed pieces including the colourful kingfisher above. Using bright colours and bold designs brings cheeriness to a dull month so I am happiest at my desk, listening to an audiobook or podcast while I spend my hours planning the release of new work. Then inevitably February arrives, the daylight hours get longer and my mind turns to planning the vegetable garden, sowing seeds and getting outside more. I walk every morning (unless it is icy or there is torrential rain of course) and just this week there have been some great sunrises to lift the spirits.
We had a day of said torrential rain yesterday, with a big drop in temperature overnight, this morning seemed fresh and light with frost hanging on in the sheltered spots. I noticed a beautiful patch of ivy with drops of moisture hanging on the berries and found a renewed appreciation of this well-known, but underappreciated plant. Vital in the winter for blackbirds, perfect nesting habitat and protection against wintery weather and great for insects and bats, it goes unnoticed unless it is taking over in a tidy garden or getting a little too comfortable on a tree. There is a lot of folklore surrounding ivy, and as you know I love a bit of that.
All evergreen plants have been a wonder and were associated with longevity and eternal life due to keeping their leaves through the winter, tough and beautiful in a barren landscape. In Shropshire where I come from it was thought to help ailing animals recover and if a piece was fed to livestock on Christmas morning it would keep evil spirits away for the rest of the year ( afternoon was too late it seems). It was also thought to protect against drunkenness and bind friendships, so hanging some in the house seems pretty obvious! Along with holly and mistletoe - revered for the same evergreen properties, the winter decoration trifecta was born. As I look up the garden now I see a Mistle Thrush tucking in to the mistletoe bunch in our apple tree and I am sure the blackbirds are making use of the ivy in the hedge. Love your ivy, folks!
Anyway, back to work. If you want to have a look at my new pieces they are listed on my Etsy site The Hollow Way where there are Giclée fine art prints and cards available, as well as all my other offerings.
Bye for now!