Cherries

 

Cherries from our tree

Watercolour

 

The cherries are ripening now and it will be a race between us and the birds to see who picks them first. These are not very nice to eat from the tree but make delicious jam !

Summer interrupted

 

Summer interrupted

watercolour on paper

 

Summer has been interrupted by thunderstorms and heavy rain and the normal smooth running of everyday life has been interrupted by the return of a bathroom leak which has been dribbling on and off for quite a few weeks now. Something to do with a faulty olive apparently. Just time on the way back from the plumbing shop to pull up in a lay-by to paint the grey day before exchanging paint brushes for wrenches...

Friday lunch

 

Friday lunch

watercolour on paper

6 x 8 inches (image)

 

After yesterday's rain the sun came back today to lull us into believing that it really is summer! At least it persuaded this threesome (and others) to adopt the leisurely holiday spirit. Having painted this sitting on the ground I realised my legs had gone to sleep and for a moment I wasn't sure if I'd be able to walk again...

Before the rain

 

Before the rain

watercolour on Arches block 5.9 x 11.8 inches

 

It feels strange to be able to see the ground again after weeks of threading ones way through tall grasses - or not being able to get through at all. Suddenly it is all compacted down into a handful of bales. I just finished this as the first drops of rain began to fall.

 

 

 

An hour later I was sitting by the river with a mug of tea and sketched this couple enjoying their lunch. The earlier rain didn't come to much at all.

 

Where the poppies are

 

Where the poppies are

watercolour on paper

14.25 x 10.25 inches

(20 x 16 inches mounted)

 

One of the paintings inspired by my recent sketch. This is a wonderful area for poppies with fields and fields of them swathing the landscape with their scarlet glow.

Field of Scarlet

 

watercolour Moleskine sketchbook 8 x 11.5 inches

 

sketched this leaning on a gate beside a busy road, the car pulled half way on to the verge of long grasses. I was nearly finished when a car drew up behind me and a man jumped out. Someone wanting to see what I was doing ? Someone wanting to take a photograph of the view ? Neither -just someone wanting directions to the nearest town...

Garden planter

 

Garden planter

Moleskine watercolour sketchbook page

8.25 x 11.50 inches

 

Sometimes it's good to just paint something for yourself without worrying about how much detail you put in or leave out. Another words to do something just for FUN. Sketchbooks are a great place to do this as well as trying out new ideas or techniques. They are also good if you don't have a lot of time at your disposal