Calderwood Country Park – Pencil study on a Watercolour Moleskine

This study was done in a Watercolour Moleskine so I could use the rough “tooth” of the paper’s surface to get some texture into the scene. I “loaded” the paper by shading and blending it into a smooth, dark surface then outlined the general layout, taking some tone off by using an electric eraser. The detail was added, at home, over the next few hours. This is the first time I have tried this technique using pencil work. I have heard that it is best used when working with charcoal but I find the use of this stuff too messy. After all I cannot eat soup without getting most of it on my clothes. (Maybe I should stop using a fork!).

Calderwood Country Park joins the west side of Almondell Country Park in West Lothian. They are essentially one large park but formed from two previously privately owned estates. While Almondell is more “manicured”, Calderwood has been allowed to survive without too much interference by man, resulting in a fantastic place for wildlife. According to one wildlife census there are roe deer, badgers, squirrels, foxes and a huge variety of rodents such as field mice, wood mice etc as well as a range of wild birds including heron and woodpecker. All of these are supported by the diverse types of trees such as oaks, beech, birch and hazel. We are indeed blessed to have such places on our doorstep.