Happy Easter : Bluebell Inspiration 2017

 Bluebell Study in Watercolour

I have been working really hard in my cottage garden. Each day I have woken early , raced into the garden and attacked my days' new project with enthusiasm and energy. I set myself challenges to meet for each gardening session. Taking one flower bed at a time, removing weeds, deadheading, sowing seeds, dividing plants and taking cuttings. It has been heaven. At the end of each gardening session I am absolutely exhausted, aching all over from digging, pushing a heavily laden wheelbarrow from one end of the garden to the other and from walking continuously from one part of our large garden to the next.

I love designing the flower borders and I enjoy imagining what colours would work where and how. But at the end of each gardening day I am eager to paint , no matter how tired I may be feeling.

This afternoon I took my paints to the woodland section of our garden and sat quietly to work out which colours I could use to paint bluebells. I always joke each year that they are not blue flowers at all as they look more violet to me than a real blue.

This year Daniel Smith brought out a new watercolour shade called " Lavender" and it has worked amazingly well for these beautiful flowers. I have added other colours to bring this little piece to life but it is so soft.

As I painted the sun shone on my shoulders, birds were singing sweetly and the blackbirds flew in and out of our potting shed, where their nest is, to feed their noisy young who chirped eagerly for their evening meal. Every now and then a canal barge passed by on the water and I would stop painting to just soak in the calming atmosphere.

Our cottage is so pretty and the garden, as hard work as it is, gives me endless inspiration.

I understand that nothing in life worth having comes without very hard work to attain it. Hours and energy put in to the garden give me hours of gorgeous inspiration of beautiful things to paint. My gardening improves my art and I am continually learning from nature.

 Happy Easter to all who celebrate this time of year. New life, new energy, renewed love and passion for all that is good in life. And hope for the future, always.

"Bluebell Light"

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Bluebells in Watercolour 2014

 Bluebell Hues

Original Watercolour 2014

Only a year ago I was recovering from a broken ankle whilst in Australia following my watercolour workshops there. All the while I kept thinking of the bluebell woods in UK. My opportunity to paint them last year was missed completely as I couldn't fly home until I had healed from surgery. This Spring, I was teaching a weeks Watercolour Masterclass in Italy followed by a trip to Florence. Last week I was away, filming for my new book. I realised that unless I was very quick I would miss the opportunity, yet again, to paint these gorgeous flowers from life in my garden.

Today the sun shone as I raced to my studio this morning to grab my brushes and head for a quiet spot in the sunshine to capture the  soft bells. They are draped beautifully along the pathways of the woodland section in our cottage garden. While I painted, I listened to birdsong as the sun fell on my shoulders. I carefully studied the many shades in each sweet bell shape and most of all, realised I wasn't really looking at blue flowers at all as they are more a violet hue.

As a child I always imagined fairies lived in these woodland flowers. Or they would wear the bells as tiny hats. As an artist, I love how the strong blue formations in the foreground seem to automatically push the more blurred less detailed flowers into the distance. Learning how to paint from nature is  to me the best way to study art. If you observe colour and shape you can't go wrong. And even more importantly, your finished compositions when painting from life are unique. Its' so wonderful to see so many paintings of the same subject painted and interpreted in completely different ways. So my artists tip of the day is from my last book

" Don't be a sheep, be unique" with your art!  

Artists tips: 1) Paint from life as often as you can

2) Study colour and form. 

3)Take time to observe as well as paint

Placing my subject next to my painting to check if the colour is accurate

This is a great way to tell if your painting is true to life.

Are Bluebells Blue?

Bluebells 

May 2013

I am happily back in my studio and as I walked around my garden this morning I picked some bluebells. Now here I should be very honest and point out that I was on crutches so the challenge of the day was to for me to pick a flower to paint and I am thrilled I did!  I leant on one crutch and leaned over easily. My recovery from surgery, as far as I can see it, is purely a state of mind. I can sit watching television or get on with getting better! And as an artist there is no finer way to detract from pain than painting.

My dog Bailey followed me with great excitement as we both went on the adventure of my learning to walk further on crutches. He barked excitedly with my every move. I'm doing so well that I even managed to bend down and pick up sticks to throw for him. However , he resented my heading back to my studio as he obviously felt our "stick games" should have gone on for far longer. Sadly my standing time is limited at the moment. but I am getting stronger every single day.

I picked a bluebell and worked on a scrap of paper to capture it as a warm up exercise. Its' amazing but when I place this popular flower on my palette its' true colour leans more towards violet than blue. I can see gorgeous turquoise hints in it as well.  The morning sunshine gave an illuminous effect above the heads of the delicate bells making them seem angelic so the name "bells" reminded me of church bells ringing.

I have loved taking time out to  imagine how to capture them on paper. The familiar questions before painting any subject arose. What colours to use and how to portray the delicacy of the flower ? What colours would you use for painting bluebells? How would you make them feel like bells ringing, moving in the breezes?

For my painting I have opted for Cobalt Blue heavily diluted, with hints of Winsor Violet and touches of Turquoise. For my greens I have mixed Cadmium Yellow with the Cobalt or Turquoise and then with my rigger dropped my violet shade into the foreground greenery.

Isn't it amazing how one tiny flower can lead to so much interesting thoughts in a creative process?

Artist tip of the day : Pick something from nature and capture it in a quick simple study but let your thought process beforehand take longer than the painting itself!  Learn from the thinking process.

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