Fast Flowers

This was a bit of a rush job - I just wanted to paint something, anything. Both the set up and the painting were very hurriedly done.

Sometimes there is some nice quality about paintings done in a hurry. The whole thing may not work, but sometimes there is a bit more life in them than there is in things you labour carefully over.

Lousy photo - also a rush job.

Rain and the dog

It's hard to get bothered or excited or interested; this endless rain and lousy Spring sap the life out of you. I took the photo for this last October in West Witterings. I'm not entirely sure we have seen the sun since!

 

I utterly forgot to post about the other main distraction that has arrived in out lives:

 

Max, who is about 9 months old. He's a Collie/Labrador. Daft as anything. Also rather nice. At about lunch time every day I have a think whether I should spend the next hour painting or walking the dog. He wins. Walks are tedious stop/start affairs as he is slowly learning to walk nicely on a lead. He does extraordinarily well until we see a dog/child/bike/lorry/leaf/clump of grass. It would be so so much nicer if most of this  walking wasn't in the bloody rotten, persistant, unwelcome, relentless, dull an perfectly horrid rain.

 

Forgotten which end of the brush to hold

It's been an age since I've managed to paint - so much so, both the brushes and myself have gotten old and stiff in the meantime. I had the essay from hell to write ( re the role of religion in the construction of political identities in Israel/Palestine) which entirely engulfed my life for the last few weeks... and now I'm free! Yipee! Well, for another week or so.

 

Nothing special. But it was nice to get painting again. I adore Hellebores but did it no justice. It's a wiper. I was happier with my sketchbook/watercolour attempt.
 

 

I've been trying to at least keep up sketching, it's nice to feel you are doing something a bit creative, or at least still looking and drawing. Doing it has made me realise just how much my life revolves around the kitchen.
 

 

It also revolves around food - I've been charting the weekly veg box arrival.
 

 

What a narrow little life I lead! Which is not a complaint, it's just the way things are at the mo, study,family, food. Then some more food. Anyway it's cold and wintery. I  like having my sketchbook. It's something I've always meant to do, this time the commitment is lasting nearly to the end of a book.
 

 

The only other bit of oil painting I've managed to do is a copy. I tried to copy a Roos Schuring painting that I've got in one of her calenders. I think the way she simplified things and captures moods and weather is amazing. I thought copying would give some idea of how she goes about it.
 

 

And I did learn from the experience, I learnt I certainly can't paint like Roos Schuring !

Someday maybe.

Paul's side of the Room

I'm quite chuffed with myself - I did the whole easel on location thing - no photos -just plein bedroom air.

The mirror is actually old and streaky, well, mebbe not that streaky. It took oodles of concentration, more than usual. I'm not sure is that because it was from life or just because Pauls side of the room is a bit busy. I can see bits I've drawn wrong, but I'm happy with the experience.

 

I was full of trepidation about the tray on stool set up on a light carpet, so I hauled up an old mat and tried to keep nice and calm and not send everything crashing down. I'm a very messy painter at the best of times.

I feel this is a bit of a step, which is why I'm documenting it, but the room looks bloody messy.

 

My Side of the Room

As I don't have the courage, equipment, courage, time or now that I think of it, courage, to go off outside and paint, I'm practising by painting indoor 'plein air' - ahem- well, it is a cold house, it's awfully like being outside.

 

I figure it must be good practise for actual real live outdoors stuff, but I'll have to come up with a better system than a kitchen tray balanced precariously on a stool.
 

 

That was a failed attempt at the sitting room, waaaaay to complicated - how on earth are you supposed to approach bookshelves.  Also, the light keeps changing - surprise surprise - that makes things a bit ridiculously hard.

The bedroom pic was a combo of initial sketching from life, sloppy watercolour sketches and photos. So not in the least bit plein airy at all actually.
 

 

 

Snow at the Moat, Elstead

We've had some wonderful walks the last few mornings in the snow. It's hard going, awkward, crunchy, thigh aching and slow , but rather otherworldly beautiful as well. Especially when the sun makes a rare appearance like it did yesterday at the moat.

Puddles, West Bexington

Although I quite liked yesterdays cloud, the land seemed seemed a bit smooth and careful. I wanted to try something a bit looser and less controlled.

Loose feels like it should be easier, but I find it a lot harder. I suppose because with fewer bigger bolder brushstrokes, each one matters more than lots of little faffy ones. Hmmmmmmmmm.