It’s lovely to be able to go out and about a little more freely while still complying with social distancing. It gives one time to attempt a sketch without having to rush things.

Today I went to visit the replica stone age roundhouse close to my home which was built a couple of years ago, to see how it has mellowed. Someone has added a bit of decoration to in the form of a large pair of eyes on the doors. I am not sure if this is some authentic Iron age art or not, but I thought it gave a menacing feel to the house (an early version of security camera perhaps?) so I chose to leave it out. It also has a gateway with a very un-Iron age padlock which is a shame. Still nice to paint though!

I wasn’t going to post this as I thought it was too similar to the Orange of two posts ago, but I thought it might be useful. I was working on the top Persimmon when it occurred to me that it was becoming overworked and I was losing it’s freshness. Not what I wanted at all. However I was delighted to find that I could lift out most of what I had painted with a wet brush, waited a little and then started again. The paper in my Moleskine watercolour sketchbook doesn’t seem to have minded at all despite the treatment I gave it. Well done Moleskine !

This is good news as it gives me the confidence I can be a bit braver when I’m using it outside on location – which won’t be long now that the Lockdown has been relaxed a little in the UK.

Stay safe.

Sometimes painting greys can be just as fun as painting brighter colours. I often use French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna but sometimes I use Indian Red instead of the Sienna. Either way once I have the blue/red mix on the page I drop in a little Yellow Ochre which, being more opaque than the other colours, tends to stay where I put it without travelling too far or turning into mud.

Continuing with the fruit/veg theme these closed cup mushrooms were interesting to sketch. I might add some text to this page later on.

Does anyone else have a favourite fruit or vegetable to sketch ?

From today’s sketchbook.

I seem to have painted a lot with earth colours recently, so when I saw this orange it was a good excuse to bring out the Winsor & Newton New Gamboge and Cadmium Scarlet.

Always remember to begin sketching BEFORE you eat anything, otherwise you end up with a less interesting page.

21 x 26 cm in Moleskine watercolour sketchbook

 

The new normal – queuing to enter the supermarket. At least there are more things on the shelves than when this started.

Many people have trouble with the 2m rule. Some interpret it as a good 12 feet, others as the length of a supermarket trolley. Others still don’t seem able to ‘get it’ at all.

Although not anatomically good, my main object here was to pass the time while holding a small sketch book and trundling forward slowly without making it too obvious to those travelling in the opposite direction less than 2m to one side. I added the watercolour later.

 

21 x 13 cms Moleskine watercolour sketchbook

The Village is closed. There are notices that say so on all approaches, advising that car parks are shut until further notice – and so is everything else so there is precious little for any visitors to do if they did get here.

An air of calm lies over the village like a blanket as most inhabitants obey the official advice and stay at home. Indoors or quietly toiling in the garden.

The roads are less busy and pedestrians scarce. There are those who walk their dogs and others who take a gentle stroll as part of their daily exercise in the wonderfully warm Spring weather we are enjoying. The sun is a blessing. Imagine queuing outside a supermarket for half an hour in the pouring rain.

Since the lock-down was imposed, those one meets in the course of legitimate exercise or shopping,are invariably polite and considerate. We smile warily at each other as though sharing a secret understanding.

It is not so everywhere, I know, but where it does, wouldn’t it be good to hope that after this catastrophe is over, the air of communal support, co-operation and respect which flourishes at the moment could continue to thrive, and not be quickly forgotten ?

Keep your distance. Keep safe. Happy Easter.

In a brief respite from the rain today the temperature actually climbed into double figures and one could believe it felt like Spring. Another page from the March sketchbook.

Colder today with a few breaks in the cloud giving the occasional hint of sun, but not for long. The main focus apart from trying to keep warm, was to keep it simple and not try to add too much detail.

Moleskine sketchbook again.

I haven’t been able to keep up with posting much recently but am hoping to get back into the swing of things now that March is here.

Daffodils always lift the spirits and are a welcome sight in the garden. I only wish they would last longer than they do. They seem to lose their heads so quickly in their excitement at bursting into flower.

After so much rain recently, and I am sure there is more to come, it’s lovely to have a sunny interlude. Both these images are from my current Moleskine 5 x 8ins watercolour sketchbook.