Month: March 2010

I’ve enjoyed sharing with you this step by step demo of Clematis Montana growing outside the studio. You’ll be able to buy a fuller version as a hard copy later when I have produced it in time for the Patchings Art Festival in June (10 – 13 June ). The clematis isn’t in flower yet, because the cold weather has made everything about a month late this year but soon it will be everywhere, adorning fences, hedges and trellises like layers of pale pink lace.

The Spring daffodils are out and to celebrate here’s today’s rendition of an old favourite. Daffodils against a dry stone wall. These flowers are almost as enjoyable to paint as white flowers in that they contrast beautifully with their surroundings, often at this time of year rich brown earth, dark green ivy, or, in this case, mellow stonework.

This week I’m in the studio doing some designs for Medici cards. It was nice to see one of my designs on sale as a Mother’s Day card. Not there anymore of course. It was here today and gone tomorrow. The card companies have to keep on their toes at this time of year…so no sooner is Christmas over than they’re into Valentines Day, then Mother’s day then on to Easter.

Here is the photo I promised the members of Glenmore art Group that I would upload on to the blog. Our brief was to paint water that looked wet. We’ve been painting our version this morning and all of the group had very glassy looking water by the end of the session. Well done everyone!

Twenty two people painted their hearts out at this workshop yesterday. They laughed when I said at the end “I’ve learned a lot today”, but it was true. They had tried some really beautiful techniques that made me look twice at what I was doing. Didn’t have my camera to take a photo of their paintings but each one was a different interpretation that showcased their personalities.

This is the painting. The flowers are left predominantly as white paper, with just the cast shadows painted to give them form and impact. A very loose background has been put in to contrast with the white petals.

We’re having a look at Narcissi on Saturday at Lincoln. I love these flowers with their pristine shapes seen against a background of dark greens and blues, and with the low Spring sunlight shining through their petals.

Just getting paintings, prints and cards together for the upcoming Society of Floral Painters Exhibition next week. See poster. Compton acres is a lovely venue on the South coast at Poole. Some very wonderful talented artists exhibiting.

I’m all anemonied out this morning! We had a good workshop yesterday. Feedback included words such as “intense” and “stretched”. Not surprising as they had a sketch book page of studies and a nearly completed painting to show for it. They did SO well.

In the depths of a very long, cold winter this year, I was inspired by the warm colours of this vase of anemones. I had painted them last year and while I had these precious flowers in my studio I made sure I took lots of photos of them for future reference.
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