A splash of colour

I posted a week ago this painting emerging. It is still work in progress, however as the days get shorter and cooler as autumn advances , every day I have looked at the bright jewel coloured flowers, wet with new rainfall and glowing, however soon they will be gone. So I have picked blooms which have fallen and taken them into my Studio to paint them. The result as I work is serendipitous because the blooms have chosen to be part of my painting. It will take a few weeks to complete, but I am happy with it so far. The paint is very wet do I will be continuing with watercolours and prints.

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Remembering September

I have fond memories of September, especially the abundance of all kinds of berries in the hedgerows. Blackberries have been juicy and sweet. We’ve had glorious warm days and the cottage garden has kept blooming. Dahlias are just beautiful jewel colours, brightening even the odd dull day.

I hope you have enjoyed September.

Warm wishes to all

It’s been a very strange year of many ups and downs and I apologise to everyone who follows me, likes my blog and enjoys reading my posts. I promise to make 2019 the year when I pen my poetry and get painting again. After one of our beloved Border collies died suddenly last year, the arrival of our Slate merle pup in early spring and Skye, our surviving blue merle having a Stroke, I wondered whether life would ever become calm again.

However, Storm is a year old now, pictured above, and has a lovely nature; she gets on really well with Skye and has helped Skye get over her Stroke by assisting with her physio!

We’ve had lovely holidays in North Norfolk walking along the Coastal path, across the salt marshes and on Holkham beach and I have enjoyed a few hours here and there to paint.

I hope you like my photos and my watercolour painting of the cheeky robin who visits my bird table every morning. I have designed a Christmas card, so he can be enjoyed by friends and family.

I wish you all a warm, peaceful and jolly Christmas and the best of luck for 2019!

XxX

Dahlia magic!

Autumnal breezes forcefully tore petals from the

Adored dahlia,

Settling on

Dead leaves: a musty floor.

Tattered frailty, melted magical

Majesty,

Glowing like a gold fae star.

Autumnal breezes, ripped this beautiful dahlia from its stem. I rescued it and watched it, as with lots of water and paint, I created an image which will last…I want to say forever. As sunshine warmed us all, tiny golden sparkles glowed on its shiny petals. I love dahlias.

Inspired by Squash

I love growing squash, but this year, I reckon because of the drought, the harvest was disappointing. The squash were much smaller. However they have made a very good Still Life subject. I feel inspired by their textures, colours and those fabulous stripey designs. I actually like the dried slightly mouldy wizened stem!

My painting is work in progress, in oil on canvas gesso board. The oil is quite damp so I’ve got time to think about any changes I want to make.

The weather is warm here, the light fabulous for showcasing autumnal colours everywhere in nature. I’ll miss the swallows though!

I hope you’re having a good autumn.

In the presence of trees

It has been a wet, autumnal day. I set off this morning with my dogs through a local woodland. It was dark and dripping raindrops which splattered on the leaf mold and moss filled floor. I could see beauty in tiny pools of water collected in large leaves which reflected the tree canopy and the charcoal sky: the woodland creaked and spoke to me of the year so far. The ancient trees, bark toughened, branches gnarled, split and hanging low over the path. The people I met were enjoying their rainy walks too, we were all out there enjoying the elements, exploring our day.

Later this afternoon, I left my husband decorating and headed down the garden to my Studio. I knew I would paint one of the old trees I’d seen and love in all weathers. I’m not sure if it’s finished yet. Tomorrow I will see my watercolour in the morning light! The watercolour sketch on the right I did a while ago. Another oak tree I see regularly and enjoy its presence.

Capturing the essence of autumn

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Slowly the leaves are crumbling under our feet or rotting  into the ground, the cold snaps will return soon and autumn will be forgotten. In the studio I simply aimed to draw and mix the colours of the leaves which tumbled from the sky.  

I hope you are all well. In the UK many of us have the home fires burning, casseroles and soups bubbling and we’re rushing about. I treat myself to Echinacea tea with a spoonful of local honey to keep colds and sore throats away.

Stag in a magical woodland

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I have been walking alot through woodlands lately, enjoying the amazing light filtering through the trees and the warm copper hues of the fallen leaves. A couple of times I have spotted deer running startled by the dogs. I love them, they are magical creatures and have inspired me to draw and paint this scene of the stag in a magical woodland. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend. 🙂

First frost breathes…

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First frost breathes through crystalline teeth,

 Steeping brightly hued blooms into a moon dipped

Weeping sleep.

I look down the garden now at the damp brown rotting garden and remember the warm days filled with summer fresh scents; butterflies and bees everywhere. Then came the first frost, it was such a shock but turned the garden into a magical place, frozen and beautiful. I am so grateful for nature. As the garden lies sleeping,  I enjoy every day as a different day. I can see the birds hopping about and the gentle mellow yellow sunshine through watery leaves. 

Autumnal veil

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A veil gently falls,

Groaning, hollow seedheads reach,

Dark shifts crystal ball.
I haven’t written a Haiku for a long while. It’s simpl