Spring 2017

For the last few months I have continued working in oils, mostly working on florals. I am very happy with the bright colours I can achieve, though sometimes the paint brush seems to run away with me – unlike pastel sticks that I find much easier to control.

This painting has an acrylic underpainting in very bright colours that peep through in places. It also has patterns in a texture made from a thick layer of gesso. I used star-shaped pastry cutters to make some of the patterns.

This is a large painting of the poinsettia I had over the Christmas period – this may well become next year’s Christmas card. I really enjoyed painting all those bright reds!

I found these lillies quite a struggle with their many different petals turning in different directions.

I can’t stay away from animals for long and this stag was calling to me. It took me a long time to complete, and several times I had to put it to one side of the studio and let my brain slowly decide where I needed to go next. It has had a complete change of background, but I am quite happy with it now.

We went on holiday to Bali early in the year and, whilst there, visited an old friend in his home on the island. I was delighted by the water hens that lived at the bottom of his garden by a pond, and took several photos. This may not be the last water hen painting!

Since then there have been more florals, including these white roses.