Working With Summer: July 2011

 

Working With Summer: July 2011

 

Heavy rain has made painting in my garden impossible today. I had hoped to sit and paint sweet pea but alas this was not to be. I am trying to avoid painting in my studio as I am working with natural light as much as possible for the experiments I am including in my next book.

As I sat and typed an intriguing chapter that has me spellbound to my computer and easel I noticed the rain outside had briefly stopped. Sure enough, the sun was making an attempt to shine. I quickly picked up my board, paper and palette and sat on the steps outside my studio. Here I have an old terracotta pot and nasturtians are making their way around it. I use the flowers in salads for decoration and to eat.

Experimental nasturtians in watercolour.

I must admit there is nothing better to beat the grey skies of  an awful rainy day  than to work in vibrant glowing oranges. I carried on with the theme from my earlier poppy painting by adding clingfilm for texture around the blossoms. I hastily carried the piece inside to study when the heavy rain began again.

This was a very quick play with pigment but I thoroughly enjoyed the break from typing!

"Nasturtians" waiting for central detail and leaf additions.

When the rain stops!