Part of the herd

 

Epsom Common June 2013

Today, in oppressive heat, I walked my usual route around High Meadow on Epsom common. Amongst the shrub and oak trees I encountered five of the Holstein cows whose job it is to graze, and restore this area to 'lowland heath'. They accepted my presence: and, as I stood still they came closer to investigate. On previous visits I have seen them edge nearer to dogs being walked in their temporary summer home. These encounters end in wild barking and the owner calling their dogs away. I think at first the cows were checking to see if I had any animal with me. When they had decided I was OK, I moved to sit under a nearby oak.

This change in my height sparked great interest and they started to jostle each other for a better position from which to sniff and even lick my clothes and hands. Maybe I was a strange kind of dog. I could smell the silage on their breath and see my reflection in the dark orbit of their eyes. I stirred and this occasioned some backing off by the cows. Getting up slowly, I continued my walk and was immediately followed and then flanked by the five cows. they ambled and tossed their heads and I felt that they were guiding me around their complex of paths, scratching trees and resting places. Soon up ahead I could see the rest of the herd, and one of my accompanying animals made a noise I hadn't heard from them before. the five we were approaching looked up from their grazing and watched.

I felt at once invisible and part of the herd. The rest of the herd greeted their friends with much tossing of heads and I continued on my walk, feeling somewhat changed by the experience. walking transforms us in so many ways, today walking allowed me to get closer and become, for a time, part of a herd of cows.

More Work from the last Artwalk

Gemma Seltzer came on the last walk and made this drawing at the stop, it was a great day and it is always fascinating to see how many different approaches people have to the same place. Do people vote for more Artwalks next year?

ARTISTS IMPROVISE EASILY

Anja Eichen made this piece just out of paper making creases to represent one of the trees within the triangular earthwork. A good artist can improvise and use what is around them. 

I have many more examples of this to follow. Trees provide inspiration and materials all we need is to spend some time with them.

RED BRACKEN

This picture made by Suke has that strange duality, that even though the colour is very obviously false,  there is only a secondary realisation that there has been an inversion from green to red.

The last Artwalk lingers with me as a hot day and this image matches that feeling.

Nick Joubinaux Made this image of an oak with a heart shaped hole in it during the last Artwalk. It is one of the fire damaged trees within the triangular shaped earthwork on Ashtead common. This is a place I always want to stop and sit or draw when I am walking the commons. It has had a drastic haircut so it is a bit bald at the moment.

I hope to be back there soon.

BEST TURNOUT YET

We had a great turnout today 16 humans and one Bailey. Bailey especially enjoyed the day, meeting other dogs and generally being well behaved and even adding to the talking bits by barking at the right time. There was a lot to talk about, and some wonderful drawings were made, which I will post up next week, after a bit of a rest. Thanks to all who came.

Woodcock corner, a place that is at the boundary between Epsom and Ashtead commons, Newton wood and fields to the North. When I get to this point on my walks there is a feeling of arrival and immersion. I can't explain it, but it is like diving into cold clear water, both familiar and strange.

It is called Woodcock corner because they used to shoot them there, so now there are none, strange how that happens.

It isn't long now till the last Artwalk on the 1st of September, see you there

Before I set off to Epsom common I always look out of my kitchen window,  this morning our local crows were perching on the scaffolding, occasionally diving off and letting the updraft lift them back up. As I made this picture a pigeon came past and in the very top corner of the frame a seagull was turning West and screeching at the morning.

I prefer to make pictures from a distance of animals, I expect they are fed up of having long lenses pointed at them all the time.

The caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth eating away at yellow Ragwort, Epsom Common

The caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth eating away at yellow Ragwort, they brazenly flout their waring yellow and black markings, which I think potential predators read as 'I am poisonous, don't eat me'

They become a black moth with red wing markings, If I was a moth I would love to be dart shaped, and decked out in black and red. As the goths of the moth world they dress in black and fly in the day despite the sun.

Drawing by Sarah Anderson 2013 made as we walked through Epsom common high and low meadow

 Sarah Anderson 2013

We walked through Epsom common's high and low meadow on to Woodcock corner, along the edge of Newton Wood to Ashtead common and within the Triangular earthwork, where I always think time stands still, or at least doesn't sprint past, we drew. Sarah Anderson made this drawing of one of the ancient oaks. There was a fire in this area in the 80s and all the trees are charred.

There is a timelessness to Sarah's drawing, made with pencil and some water, quite beautiful.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME

The more I visit Epsom & Ashtead commons the more I realise that it is time that is of importance to me and hence to this residency. The privilege of simply walking a familiar route, and is nearly always the same route that I walk, taking my own sweet time and seeing the changes in the plants, the animals and the trees, it is enough for me. I feel a pressure to make something, a photograph or a drawing, but it is enough surely just to be in a space.

To prove that I do make something here is a photo of a Meadow brown butterfly on a thistle.

DEAD TREE

katrina Naomi, Oil Pastels on paper

Katrina Naomi, a poet, responded to one of the dead trees within the triangular pre-historic earthwork on Ashtead Common with this startling piece, which is an oppositional affirmation of life, with it's vibrant colours and inherent energy.

DRAWING

Christine Nicholls, Epsom Tree, pencil on paper

Sunday was a great day for conversation, walking and drawing, and it seems that we had some very skilled artists along, Chrissie made this elegant piece of work in less than 15 minutes, quite something.

SECOND ARTWALK

Yesterday we had almost the perfect weather for the second Artwalk of 2013, the showers typically only came when we sat down to eat or draw, the rest of the time sun and some light winds accompanied our progress. The sun has bleached the coulour out of the grasses revealing spiders webs full of seeds and grass hoppers clinging to stems.

Some very impressive drawings were made before the rain, and I hope the artists involved may upload their work over the next few weeks. For me the conversations we had were the highlight of the day.

Walking, conversation and art, a perfect day.

Thanks to Arts News - spreading the word about Art Walks 28.07.13

Not only have Arts Council England been a fundamental partner in funding the development of my residency on Epsom & Ashtead Common this summer.

Arts News has been spreading the word about Art Walks via their website promoting all the latest Arts Jobs & Arts News across the UK http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/

Follow this link to see their latest post about Art Walks

http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/index.php?id=25&ne_post_id=107532

Follow Arts News on Twitter @arts_news

PREPARATIONS FOR THE 28TH

Today I rediscovered a familiar shelter off the summer horse ride, it looks as if it had been recently added to. With the good weather more people are on the common and the kids often add branches to these unofficial shelters that occur all over the wooded areas.

preparations for the second Artwalk are all in place and I hope to see you on Sunday at 11am, weather should be better than the first walk, so bring some water and food and a hat.

BUTTERFLIES AND SUN

It wasn't long into my walk onto the common last Friday when I spotted this small tortoiseshell butterfly. The sun seems to bring out more butterflies on the lower meadow and this hot snap has proved to be particularly productive. I have been preparing for my trip to the Czech Republic in August, and this trip down to Epsom has helped me to get away from the computer and just walk all day.

Brown Ringlet butterflies seem to occur all over the commons too, but prefer the long grass to settle on and open their wings.

Art Walks - new date for 1st September 2013

AUGUST ARTWALK RESCHEDULED

I have had some great news, having applied for a place as one of the lead artists on a 'Wild residency' in the North of the Czech republic, I got a yes over the weekend. An amazing opportunity to work with 20 other artists from Europe and the rest of the world in North Bohemia, but it will be over the time of the last Artwalk, so we have re scheduled it to the 

1st of September.

Sorry if you were planning to come to that walk, but I hope that you can make it to the new date. Above is a picture of the jays feather that Ben found on the Artwalk in June, which now seems a long time ago.

Ben Hallifax's photo of the Adders Vertebrae we found on Low Meadow.

FIRST ARTWALK OF 2013

We had a good turn out on Sunday despite the rain, which started on cue at 11 as we met to start the walk. A big thank you all those who came along. We found what I think was a snake skeleton, well the vertebra anyway. We saw the terrapins in the great pond, and had a chance to draw at the earthwork on Ashtead common.

This is Ben Halifax's drawing, made with pencil and some charcoal (which Liz found) from a burnt tree, so it is a drawing of a tree, made on paper from a tree with charcoal also from a tree.

Someone looks pleased with themselves.