A Canterbury ‘Tail’

Recently we visited the City of Canterbury in Kent. We stayed in a nearby Caravan and Camping Club site and walked in to the City each day to explore the ancient streets with beautiful old buildings, including Canterbury Cathedral. However the Cathedral didn’t allow dog owners and was also being renovated so that’ll be for another day. I always do a sketchbook log of our motorhome trips but decided this time to make up a handmade sketchbook zine of our trip complete with collaged found objects made into little Canterbury houses and shops as bookmarks. A little different, I know!

The Canterbury Tail Sketchbook zine by Janet Peck

Advertisement

Hedgehog watercolour completed!

My apologies for only showing you the early stages of my watercolour painting. As you can see, this fellow is completed! Well out of hibernation!

Sketching in the garden: woodland in spring

The weather has been amazing the last couple of days, too hot for working in the Studio so I’ve been sitting outside at a little table sketching with watercolour was crayons, called I think Neocolour. They are quick to work with and I love blending the colours. I used the above reference from a walk in the countryside yesterday and imagined the feeling of walking into a magical Blue bell wood.

Love hedgehogs

The light wasn’t great when I photographed the early stages of my watercolour painting of a hedgehog. I will build many transparent colour layers to create this little hog. I’ll aim to capture an essence of his character. I’m waiting for the paint to dry before I carry on.

I’ll update you soon with how my little hog painting is coming on!

It is a joy to be making puddles of colour again, adding water and letting my brush drop colour onto the paper.

Whilst I’m waiting, I’ll make a hot chocolate or chamomile tea to warm my hands.

Have a lovely evening.

I couldn’t resist taking this shot from the courtyard, such a colourful sky!

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.

Winter trees

A cold wet winter day is ideal for sketching in the Studio, remembering bright wintery walks.

Stag in a magical woodland

​

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. 🙂

Welcome to my Art Studio

I’m so excited to have my own home garden Art Studio. I think my husband is happy to see my art equipment leave the house and enjoys visiting me making art. When he’s having a brwak from gardening or from working in his greenhouse, we chat about the day’s progress over a cup of tea or Gin and Tonic! 

Pop over to my Lavender Moon Girl’s Tales from Brown Hare Cottage wp blog for more photos. 

https://Lavendermoongirlsbrownharecottage.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/Art-studio-up-and-running/