The First of Spring

4 - 18th February

Hello, and thanks for reading my newsletter on art and life, according to the seasons. I use this space to share some of the things I’ve observed, contemplated, enjoyed, and drawn over the past few weeks.

It always feels optimistic looking for Spring in early February, especially this year.

There are lots of ways to measure the start of the new season. Some look to the weather - a ‘meteorological’ start - which brings us to the start of March. Others use an ‘astronomical’ approach - using daylight as the cue to Spring. In that case, we look to the equinox, when daylight and nighttime equal out, as the beginning spring.

However, seasons are slow in their approach, and we begin to see the first evidences of spring even in February.

Here in Scotland, we have experienced a gloomy - and sometimes snowy - start to the year. In recent weeks I found myself with a bit of a case of cabin fever. This has certainly resulted in a bit of a dip in creativity. I’ve still managed to draw in my sketchbook every day, but sometimes this has been a small pencil sketch.

While we've also still managed to get out of the house every day, we've definitely gotten use out of the ‘even if it's just down the road’ clause on the rainiest of days. In sum, it has sometimes felt like enduring some of the new year's goals, rather than being enriched by them.

One source of joy has been the emergence of our earliest flowers, the snowdrops and crocuses. One of the perks of moving house is discovering what a new garden holds in different seasons. We've been pleasantly surprised to discover a patch of crocuses peaking out of our lawn!

These flowers are the true beginnings of Spring for me.

Over the past week - the last microseason of First Spring - we've enjoyed a few sunny days that have felt like a giant blessing. I feel like we are emerging from winter, and the world feels changed with the sunshine; the small tokens of Spring are seen in a new, glorious light.

I feel a bit like the garden crocus, opening up to embrace the sunshine.