Still a little early for full grown daffodils, but these Tete-a-Tete make a good addition to a still life, especially when it’s raining outside.

What else would you do with a giant terracotta pot than rest it on a tall plinth and guard it with a hedge either side? At least it is a reasonable deterrent to anyone who might want to walk off with it.

This is from a quick sketch done at the weekend. The weather forecast was terrible. The day started with rain and we drove through unbelievable floods on the way. By the time we arrived the rain stopped. The sun came out. For a little while. We actually sat outside under blue skies. For a few minutes.

Cliveden is now a National Trust property, but was once a home to a Duke of Sutherland. Later it was purchased by one of America’s richest men, William Waldorf Astor, who passed the estate to his son Waldorf, upon his marriage to Nancy Langhorne. Nancy became the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons.

The last Tulips of the week. It’s a shame to let them go without getting as much from them as possible. Any variation is a good thing. Besides there are a lot of other things waiting in the wings to take their place. But I do worry that everything is trying to be here too soon. There is surely another cold spell to come yet.

Tuesday Tulips because, (guess what?), I painted them yesterday ! They are different from the ones I painted earlier. A deeper red and for the most part a little more ‘relaxed’. I’m waiting for the leaves to relax a little as well before I do another version.

There is something about Spring flowers that makes one instantly want to paint them – even though it is not yet Spring and these tulips are from the supermarket rather than the garden, they are still appealing. Plus it is a good way of extending the painting season of a subject that is all to fleeting.

Pleased to announce Red Rose as the latest addition to my floral greetings card collection.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day !

I haven’t posted much recently, partly because I was working on projects for the class, and partly because I have had a bad back, which meant there were some days I couldn’t do very much at all. Standing or sitting for any length of time, only makes it lock and become more painful. Once one can actually move, it pays to keep it moving, however gently, and however long it takes to walk from one end of the room to the other ! The up side to all this has meant that I have been able to dispose of a lot of rubbish which had accumulated. Mostly notes and memos to myself which are now long out of date.

I also discovered some sketchbooks which have not been ‘finished’. I sort of knew they were there, somewhere, each with some blank pages, waiting for inspiration. Some are themed, such as garden sketches or nature notes. Others maybe a different size or format to how I later decided I wanted to work. I knew they were waiting for me to return to them, and as I have been restricted in my movements, now seemed as good a time as any to do something about it. Then they will be able to join other completed books on the appropriate shelf. To have too many unfinished books seems wasteful.

With temperatures tumbling and people looking for more and more layers to put on in an attempt to stay warm, one intrepid little Polyanthus has decided that this might be a good time to push through the ground along the side of the house, to lift our hearts with a dash of colour at the most unexpected moment.

It has turned from very wet to very cold now – really quite bitter as I walked along the lane this morning.

In the warmth of a coffee shop, this chap was waiting for his takeaway, and became absorbed by his mobile phone, so I had longer to draw him than I expected. It was the hat I liked initially, and I am looking forward to finding more head gear (and cold weather apparel) in the next few weeks.

It may be cold outside. It may be endlessly grey. It may be wet with flooding in some places – lots of places actually, but these Red Williams pears bring a touch of warmth into a day painting indoors. They are a lovely shape, wonderful in colour, deliciously sweet and succulent, and great to paint on an otherwise gloomy day. Happy New Year !