Back to work

I have been busy every day since I last wrote but it's been finishing little jobs off rather than starting anything new and exciting. Every quilt that is ready for exhibition this year now has a binding, label and hanging sleeve. It's essential but boring stuff that has taken me ages so I'll spare you the details! I have found a little bit of free time to practise my watercolour painting though. At the moment I'm working into a pencil sketch I did for a DMTV video in the spring.

It's still very much a work in progress as you can see from all the white paper that's left. I'm being strict with myself about allowing drying time before I add more washes. Patience was never my strong suit so it's hard to walk away.

I'm trying hard to get the accidental marks that most 'proper' painters do their best to avoid. If you know the work of Shirley Trevena you'll know exactly what I mean.

The trick I find is getting the right balance between painterly colour washes which appear completely out of control, and the necessary hard edges required to define certain shapes. Total chaos is not an option. I need lots more practise but I am enjoying trying! The garden is another distraction right now. Everything needs attention. The Iris are some of my favourites but their moment of glory is very short. I shall have to be quick if I'm to capture these in watercolour.

I attempt to paint them every summer but what difficult subjects they are. The shapes of the petals and leaves are easy enough but those amazing markings are impossible. Nature is such a show off and refuses to be outdone.

Hope you are finding a little bit of time to be creative too. Bye for now, Linda