Infinitely Blue

You may recognise the image I’m sharing today—it’s made the rounds before under the title A Sewerby View. But something shifted recently. I revisited the photo, and instead of simply admiring the scene, I found myself writing a poem. And with that, the picture earned a new name: Infinitely Blue.

Danes Dyke is a place that always inspires me to create artworks, both of the beautiful landscape and the small details - the plants and flowers that can always be found there. It's one of those places that seem to have a personality all their own, and carry an indefinable sense of the sacred.

It has an interesting contrast between the shadowed hush under the trees and the shimmering expanse of the sea, glimpsed between the trees. I always want to return, and so far it seems an never ending source of inspiration.

This particular image was sketched in pencil first, then I went over it with a fineliner pen. I found myself captivated by the detail, and added more, and more.... Finally, after many hours of work, I decided to be very brave and add a gentle wash of watercolour. I say brave, because watercolour seems to have a mind of its own sometimes and it could have been ruined. Fortunately I seem to have managed it ok.

Infinitely Blue

As you step, a hush descends – every crackle, every snap

is loud in the Silence.

The soft grasses wave in the gentle shadow under the trees,

they glimmer silver and gold in sudden patches of light.

Intricately secretive are the patterns of bark, leaf and stem.

Dark branches throw sigils against the sky.

The breeze comes in from the sea, whispers amongst the trunks,

Riffles through the leaves - and wanders back out.

As you scent the ocean air, you are drawn

from the dark green womb of the magical glade

into the light, into the distance, most infinitely blue.

Léonie Brown