White lilac

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My lovely neighbour had pointed me in the direction of her flowering cherry with permission to pick some to paint. When I popped in to get it, I found this white lilac so took the liberty of helping myself. This led me to mull over one of those important questions in life: Can the term “scrumping” be used in association with White Lilac? Discuss.
I decided to leave the background on this one, it is the raw umber wash I give my boards so that I’m not painting on starck white – messes with the tonal values don’t you know.

White lilac

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard – SOLD

Pears and teacup

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I am back in Pakistan and battling the old jet lag. So much so that I had to lie by the pool all afternoon…..what a drag. Sorry.

Pears and teacup

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard-SOLD

Storm clouds over Farthingstone

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After painting the church, which I felt I’d laboured over too much, I drove around the corner, plonked myself in a rapefield and gave myself a stiff talking to regarding loosening up my brushstrokes. I think this is going further in the direction I’m aiming for. I will be heading back to Pakistan this weekend so we’ll catch up later. Enjoy the snow!

Storm clouds over farthingstone

8″x5″ oil on gessoboard


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Everdon church

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Yesterday although I painted all day, I plum forgot to post. A sign of age methinks. Easter weekend was so lovely that I spent all of Saturday out and about with my paints. Having supped at The Plough Inn on Friday evening after a walk, I decided to retrace my steps on Saturday although the light wasn’t as inspiring as it had been. I also managed to park myself right in front of the allotment gates for this one which of course meant having to move several times to allow the happy gardeners access.

#1426 everdon church

8″x8″oil on gessoboard-SOLD

Black and green

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My borders are full of these lovely black tulips, Queen of the Night to be precise. I have built up my stocks over the years and contrary to expert opinion, they keep going year on year.

Black and green #1424

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard


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Primrose and bowls

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Busy, busy. Trying to ready the house and fridge for visiting family yet all these flowers to paint, leftovers from yesterday’s activities. Not enough hours in the day. Off to collect my poor girl now who has been tramping around on Exmoor over the last four days for DofE. Hot bath and fish pie ought to of the trick with a bit of luck.

Primrose and bowls

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard-SOLD

Cut daffodils

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This weather is amazing! What a pity I left my entire summer wardrobe in Pakistan. I’ll just have to stand in the shade. The garden is beginning to look lovely and I’ve just bought this beautiful plant trainer at the Bell Plantation. There’s one late flower hanging on for all it’s worth on this camellia so I will be trying to think of something else to put in it, maybe sweetpeas. Anyway, these daffs are fading fast.

Cut daffodils

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard


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Plant trainer

Plant trainer

Down by the Thames

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Yesterday I spent a great day painting plein-air with David Sawyer and some painters from Dulwich, painting by the river. It was a beautiful warm and sunny day but when the sun moved so that I was in the shade it was freezing with the breeze from the river. So, while people were sunbathing I was standing in the shade with a big fleece on shivering so much that I had to stop at three! What a wimp. Anyway, this is as far as I got so will have to finish it later.

Unfinished

Unfinished


David mapping out

David mapping out

Blue hyacinths

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What glorious weather, I hope it stays fine for the marathon on Sunday although I won’t be running…..shudder the thought. Instead I hope to be painting on the Thames with David Sawyer and the Dulwich art group – a lot less exhausting. I’ve just been for a walk up the lane to find our farmer planting which is a great sign as it means that come August, there will be some stooks bathing in the sunshine for me to paint. He is one of few remaining farmers to grow thatching straw or at least to dry it in stooks. Bring it on. Anyway, I digress. Back to spring and some hyacinths.

Blue hyacinths

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard-SOLD


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Magnolia 1

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A full magnolia tree is such an impressive sight in early spring. I’ve come in from the studio to find that Floss has got the spag bol underway and it smells good. She has made enough to take some with her on a DofE expedition in Dartmoor next week. A rucksack full of frozen spag bol can’t be easy. Rice cakes, now that’s the way to go.

Magnolia 1

8″x8″ oil on gessoboard-SOLD