I have been taking lots of photos of trees and foliage during my dog walks. I am really attracted to trees and all the flowers and grasses growing beneath them.

I love all the business and particularly the light against dark areas. I think if you are going to paint a very busy scene then you must paint these contrasting tonal areas , not only to add interest but to add some depth to the painting otherwise it can look ‘samey’ and flat.

I have never done much in the way of ‘plain air’ painting and yet when I do then I really enjoy it. It’s lovely to combine the creative process of painting with being out in the countryside

During my recent visit to Skomer Island….see previous blog for more info….I took a lot of photos and was particularly drawn to the white sea campion growing along the rocky shoreline and on the walls.

Skomer is an island off the coast of Pembrokeshire in West Wales. It is a national nature reserve, site of special scientific interest and a special protection area …..

They are always such a lovely subject to paint, and not difficult as the wild ones emerging now in the woods and along the lanes have a very simple structure . I paint them every year at this time…

The weather is just right for painting frosty, snowy trees but I will be glad when we get a thaw so I can take Sam out on our usual daily walks. Feeling rather housebound as I am no good on slippery pavements and tracks. It is giving me time to practice my watercolour salt effects

The third week of my painting course ….see last blog for more details….and I was working A2 in watercolour and then cropping and collaging. As a reference for this work I used a photo of mine of a cottage on a country road. I approached the subject loosely and intuitively and really enjoyed the project

This is the third week of a three week online course that I have been doing….back to school! The course is called ‘Painting, collage and how to express yourself’ and the tutor is Lewis Noble https://www.lewisnoble.co.uk It is an especial challenge as Lewis is an abstract painter. I am doing his course not because I want to totally change direction with my art but I feel I have reached a stage when I do want to paint looser and more expressively.

Sometimes I take a break from the woods and love to have a walk along the Towy River with my dog when there are no sheep or cattle in the fields. I have made the most of September to date as the fields have been mown and are empty of livestock….Sam can have a good run and I can get some lovely photos of the river and riverside flowers and trees to paint from.

Tangles of flowers and seed heads….watercolour, pen, masking and splattering.