4 Seasons on the Stour: getting started

After the gales of yesterday it was a beautiful day here today. Just the day to start my new 2018 painting project. Off I went to the Stour estuary, to Wrabness to be precise.

Grayston Perry’s House for Essex was visible across the fields in all its weirdness, against the backdrop of Stour Wood.

There was a good view across the estuary as I walked down Stone Lane.

And I was surprised to discover that the shore here is like a proper beach, with sand and shells – cockles, oysters, mussels – and a black sea-weed strand at the high tide mark.

There were lovely cloud formations blowing down the estuary from the west. The sun periodically lit up the tower and buildings of the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook on the Suffolk shore.

A group of Brent geese flew down river low to the water, and I saw ringed plover and redshank further down the shore line. The cranes of Felixstowe were visible in the distance. The wind was whipping down the estuary which was breaking in actual waves on the shore. Definitely a bad hair day!

My fingers were frozen drawing despite very thick fingerless gloves, but at least I have made a start now and I know just what my first painting will show! 🙂