Orchard Trees in Hay Meadow with Icy Ridge Willow

“Orchard Tree in Hay Meadow” [9th May 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, quick sketch with H, HB, 4B and 8B pencils signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3043 x 2596 pixels.

“Orchard Tree in Hay Meadow” was completed in just two drafts of 25 minutes and <15 minutes respectively. Just under 40 minutes in total.

Over 25 orchard trees were planted in Hay Meadow this year, 2023. Interestingly when I sketched “Wooden Walkway with Birds Feet” on the 5th and 6th January 2023, the orchard trees had not yet been planted. Standing from the same wooden walkway perspective, you would now see the orchard trees to the right.

I took various photographs, deciding upon this composition as one of the most artistic. Since these planted orchard trees are quite young (approximately several feet to twelve feet in height) they have a tree guard cage with an irrigation system around each tree to help them grow.

I believe this sketch is of a plum tree.

Here is the composition for my Orchard Tree sketch:

“Orchard Tree in Hay Meadow – photograph” [evening of 16th April 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Next we have a sketch of Ridge Willow, immediately below:

“Icy Ridge Willow” [12^th May 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with H, HB, 4B and 8B pencils signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2856 x 2415 pixels.

“Icy Ridge Willow” was completed in the first and only draft in just under 27 minutes.

The photograph was taken on 21^st January 2023 along with several other beautiful shots of the Nature Reserve in a misty fog. Including a short video of Meadow One, Wildflower Meadow.

For those interested in having a look at these, here is a selection of the finest compositions, starting with “Icy Ridge Willow – photograph” itself:

“Icy Ridge Willow – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

I loved the icy swirls on the ground. I knew in January I must sketch this photo.

Ridge Willow is south, directly adjacent/part of Hay Meadow.

“Wildflower Meadow Entrance no.1 Left – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

It is approximately 200 yards to the trees you see farground, from the gate.

“Wildflower Meadow SW Jan 2023 – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Birds sing and nest in these trees. Top left there is a bat that flies nightly.

“Wildflower Meadow SW – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This looks towards the gate entrance to Wildflower Meadow. To the mid-left is where “The Curious Face in the Pond“ [23rd Oct – 7th Nov 2021] was derived. The pond would be frozen on this day in January.

“Wildflower Meadow North – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Here you see the King James I & IV Oak Tree of 1612 (prominent tree, left).

“Wildflower Meadow WN – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This faces west, with the fused horse chestnut tree to your left, the King James I & IV Oak Tree of 1612 to the right, facing north.

“Hay Meadow Ground January 2023 – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Am I the only one believing this photograph to be somewhat cool? Ice and snow, really cool.

“Wildflower Meadow Entrance no.2 Right – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This photograph is slightly right of the central composition I produced in my sketch “Entrance to Wildflower Meadow” on 23rd May 2022. I thought these misty-foggy shots were interesting enough to include both here on my blog.

If you feel you could make a sketch from any of my photographs I am more than happy for you to do so.

Finally here is a quick video of Wildflower Meadow: