Rosie Sanders
Rosie Sanders Spirit of Place
Jonathan Cooper
Spirit of Place Place affects me deeply. I enjoy the intimacy of knowing a place well, the reassurance that comes with understanding the lay of the land and where paths and tracks lead, the scents that become signposts of the changing seasons and the various sounds that indicate the time of day. My early morning and evening walks are a daily ritual and practice that I cannot do without. I go to the same place, varying the walks according to the time of day. Some walks I only do in the morning, others only in the evening. My morning walk includes the sound of running water, a river or stream, and that has an urgency about it. In winter the low sun glows through the mist as it rises from the river and the trees take on ghostly shapes which seem to dance to the music of the water. There is an ancient atmosphere in this place and it is easy to imagine ghosts of men and women on the old drover’s tracks and the smell of woodsmoke from the occasional derelict dwelling. In early spring, the abundance of Dog’s Mercury is an indication that these woodlands have remained undisturbed for a long time and the bluebells, wild orchids, native wild daffodils and snowdrops add to that history. The little wood where I take my evening walks is a quiet place. The path leads through a cathedral of towering beeches which in spring become a luminescent lime green. Bluebells carpet the floor and being situated at the top of a hill there is usually the sound of the wind in the trees and the birds to break the silence. The path at the edge of the wood leads down to the river and I love the bare winter branches traced against the dimming light. I have always felt at home in woods. I grew up in the Chiltern hills and for most of my life have lived among trees. Trees have a sense of permanence, they feel secure. There is a timelessness about them because their life is a continuum, a constant evolution through life and death, decay and regeneration. They are a refuge and a sanctuary for plants, insects and animals as well as people and as such we share with them the spirit of place. Rosie Sanders, July 2021
Spirit of Place
1
The River ’s Voice Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on Mylar 97.5 × 144 cms / 38.39 × 56.69 ins
2
Wild in the Wood Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on gessoed wood panel 100 × 102 cms / 39.37 × 40.16 ins
3
The Misty Solitudes Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on Mylar 97.5 × 144 cms / 38.39 × 56.69 ins
4
Trees Shade the Land’s Shadow Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on Mylar 97.5 × 144 cms / 38.39 × 56.69 ins
5
The Old Road Through The Woods Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on Mylar 97.5 × 144 cms / 38.39 × 56.69 ins
6
Where Sylvan Shadows Held a Name Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on gessoed wood panel 100 × 102 cms / 39.37 × 40.16 ins
7
The Weakening Eye of Day Graphite, conte crayon and oil medium on Mylar 97.5 × 119 cms / 38.39 × 46.99 ins
Wild Flowers
8
Clock Flower Oil and graphite on gessoed wood panel 88 × 90 cms / 34.65 × 35.43 ins
9
Bramble Leaf Watercolour on Arches 640gms paper 102 × 124 cms / 40.16 × 48.82 ins
10
Bluebells and Woodspurge Watercolour on Arches 640gms paper 95.5 × 76.5 cms / 37.6 × 30.12 ins
11
Common Spotted Orchids Watercolour on Arches 640gms paper 95.5 × 76.5 cms / 37.6 × 30.12 ins
12
Bluebells Watercolour on Arches 640gms paper 95.5 × 76.5 cms / 37.6 × 30.12 ins
13
Early Purple Orchids Watercolour on Arches 640gsm paper 95.5 × 76.5 cms / 37.6 × 30.12 ins
14
Lightness of Being Watercolour on Arches 300gms hot pressed paper 66 × 83 cms / 26 × 32.68 ins
15
Blown Away Watercolour on Arches 300gms hot pressed paper 66 × 83 cms / 26 × 32.68 ins
16
A Kind of Miracle Collage, graphite and watercolour on handmade paper 56 × 78 cms / 22.05 × 30. 7 1 ins
Commissions undertaken
Jonathan Cooper 20 Park Walk London SW10 0AQ t: +44 (0)20 7351 0410 mail@jonathancooper.co.uk jonathancooper.co.uk
Jonathan Cooper