It is a perfect spring morning for sitting in the garden and drawing.
With a steaming cup of coffee in hand and a cat by my side, I put my drawing board on my knee and got on with some sketching.
Today, I was looking at the branches of an elder tree -Sambucus nigra, part of the Adoxaceae family. The elder tree produces edible berries (when cooked), but I have to be quick to pick them before the birds eat them all! You can also make delicious elderflower cordial and wine from the flowers. The name elder is thought to come from 'aeld' the Anglo-saxon meaning for fire.
I created the drawing using marker pen and willow charcoal on paper. I put down some layers of colour using the marker pens first, then added the darker branches using the charcoal. I used a couple of different thicknesses of charcoal to create the lines.
I love to sit outside in the morning a do some quick sketches whilst having my coffee, it adds calm and focus to the start the day!
