This Geranium probably had a little more water than it wanted overnight (like everyone else), but snuggled comfortably between two larger plants managed to survive quite well.

I uses combinations of cadmium scarlet, scarlet lake and permanent rose for the flowers, and Winsor yellow, new gamboge, permanent sap green and french ultramarine for the greens.

After so much rain recently, although thankfully no thunder as yet, I thought a reminder of sunnier days wouldn’t be amiss. It really isn’t fair for some people who are just beginning to feel safe about being outside,that the weather turns either too humid or too wet for it to be comfortable to venture far. It’s a case of having to snatch the chance of freedom while you can.

A meeting with family recently at the National Trust Hughenden estate with enough parkland for everyone to socially distance. Even though the house is closed for obvious reasons there are enough parkland walks and beautiful gardens to  keep everyone fully occupied for many hours.

St Michael and All Angels church is very paintable from many angles with  no fear of being in anyone’s way.

This week was a good choice to paint the lavender fields as the weather is set to deteriorate by the weekend and the lavender harvest is usually around the end of the month, so who knows how much longer it will be there this year ? It is always a ‘must paint’ moment in the calendar.

One of the greatest joys of the year is to see the fields of lavender in July, and this year is no exception. It is confirmation that Nature carries on regardless. One compensation of this strange year is that it seems to have been a good one for the garden, whether you grow flowers, fruit or vegetables. It is a reminder that such simple pleasures can do so much for our well-being and mental health in difficult times.

This little sketch was done from the side of the road in my small moleskine sketchbook. Check back soon for more from this location.

The rain does have it’s good points. The vegetables are thriving. They are lovely to paint, even though I realized afterwards that I got the angle of the little patty pan squash wrong. Vegetables are often overlooked as subjects for sketching as their fruity rivals are somehow seen as ‘prettier’ or more colourful, but I like them just as much.

I hadn’t intended to paint a poppy today, chiefly because I didn’t know it was there, hiding at the back of a border in the garden. In weather such as we are having at the moment I know it is unlikely to be there long before its petals drop. I think it is an Oriental poppy, but how it came to be where it is, I don’t know. However it got there, it turned out to be a survivor, fighting its way up through the other more established plants, pushing its head up with a determination to be seen. It warmed my day.

A sketch of a little geranium and friend in the garden between rain showers. I am hoping to paint another version of this to turn into a greetings card in due course. The plant was found looking very bedraggled and weary on a forgotten shelf at the garden centre for only a few pence. Since it found a friend in our garden it looks as if it is going to be a lot more cheerful!

On a walk from my home towards the Slaughters (Upper and Lower), one passes some fields where ponies often graze. Look beyond them and one can glimpse what looks like a barn or a shelter camouflaged among the trees. This turns out to be the Cotswold Brewing Company, established in 2005, making modern keg beers. One day, when normality returns, I will have to walk around to the other side and have a closer look at it – and it’s produce..

Painted in Moleskine sketchbook.

I walk or drive past this view most days and what always thrills me is the big dark tree against the building. Today being very grey, I painted the house with yellow ochre with some of the grey of the sky. The subject is also a mini exercise in mixing greens, varying from yellow and permanent sap green on top of the hedge, darkened with french ultramarine, to a much greyer green in the main tree using very little yellow with french ultramarine and some indian red to achieve a very different green. Painted in a moleskine watercolour sketchbook.