Wild Sketch Club July - Rivers and Canals - Week 1 (28th June - 5th July)
A new challenge for July
As we head into July, we bid farewell to our coastal theme and welcome our new theme: British rivers and canals.
We chose rivers and canals as our latest theme because they are such iconic features of the British landscape and have played a significant role in our lives, especially during the summer. We have such fond memories of paddling, swimming, picnicking, and walking along the banks of rivers like the Dart in Dartmoor and Tarr Steps in Exmoor and now love to do the same with our children, especially on hot summer days.
These beautiful waterways weave through our countryside, with their tranquil waters mirroring the changing seasons. Spring brings a burst of green, summer a riot of blooms, autumn a tapestry of warm hues, and winter a stark, serene beauty. Along their banks, quaint villages, ancient bridges, and historic landmarks blend harmoniously with the natural scenery.
Kingfishers, with their vibrant blue and orange plumage, dart along the rivers
The wildlife along these waterways is equally enchanting, with a rich tapestry of species thriving in and around the water. Kingfishers, with their vibrant blue and orange plumage, dart along the rivers, while herons stand gracefully in the shallows, waiting to catch fish. The canals provide a habitat for a variety of aquatic plants and insects, which in turn attract birds and small mammals. The banks are home to wildflowers like purple loosestrife, which support a myriad of pollinators. These ecosystems not only enhance the beauty of the British landscape but also play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
We’ve decided to change the format slightly for July. Instead of dedicating each week to a specific topic - like mammals, flora, landscapes, or birds, we'll be combining them. This way, each week will feature a variety of subjects. So, without further ado, here are the reference images for the first week -
We hope you are all enjoying our challenges and you continue to keep getting involved and sharing your work, we love seeing what you create! Please share over on Instagram with the hashtag #wildsketchclub so that we can comment and share to our stories or share here on Substack - We would love to improve our engagement with our subscribers here.
What else……
Zoom Sketch Along
As we did in June, we will once again offer a pre-recorded Zoom session along with bonus photo references, available exclusively to our paid subscribers. This month, it’s all about ducks - make sure you upgrade so you don’t miss out!
Podcast
We aim to get together to record another podcast, if there is anything you want us to chat about, please let us know by messaging us or leaving a comment.
And Finally…
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