The Calendar Turns

In very ancient Rome the year began with the first day of March. The month of March is named for the god of war, Mars, because that was the season when wars could at last re-commence. The weather allowed armies to travel again. In our times, March is still the beginning of Spring according to the meteorological calendar, and it's usually when things begin to warm up here in the upper Midwest. Last year my sketches of Druid Hill Creek during late February and early March showed that the weather was warmer, with considerably less snow. 

It is instructive to see last year's watercolors alongside new ones. I've gone back and extracted a few from last year to show what things were like then compared to now.

A sketch from February this year shows how snowy it has been along Druid Hill Creek. Cold, grey days has been the rule, with several significant snowstorms. The snow is still several inches deep and the creek is frozen solid. It feels like January instead of approaching spring.

In comparison, here is a sketch from almost the same day last year, showing virtually no snow, sunny conditions, and a clear hint of the changing season. My notation from that day even comments on the gentling of the season as the soil began to warm.

This is the creek in early February, just when the winter turned coldest and snowiest. We had had some snow earlier in the season but it was then that we knew we were in for worse. And the comparison sketch, just below, shows that this year wasn't much different.

Using my sketchbooks as journals that keep track of the seasons is one of the pleasures of sketching. Along with a few written notes they let me remember times and places that would otherwise fade away. Looking through those old sketches may even provide a hint of when we can actually expect to see green grass and emerging foliage. According to last year, not until mid-April, which is when the first hints of green showed up in these sketches (right). Perhaps this long bout of snow and cold weather might actually precede a warmer and drier March?

All of these watercolors are in 5x9 sketchbooks. In every case I began by drawing a loose graphite lay-in to establish composition and positions of trees and undergrowth. Next I often lay in colors from dark to light, although I'm not rigid about that approach, trying to establish appropriate form and values. To finish I commonly add ink to emphasize edges and darks, here and there. This spring will bring another series.



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Related:
Sketching Druid Hill Creek Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5