Here is the little drawing I made of the magnolia tree from the visit to the garden. It was made in the afternoon when the sun had moved onto the little terraced garden.  Click to enlarge as usual.

I went back to the garden I help tidy and do a little light pruning for the first time this year. It surprises me how much I have missed it and I had to keep pinching myself that I really was there. It’s in the Lake District here in the UK. The rhodies are not really out yet, but the heathers are and I did a sketch with my oil-bars in my new sketchbook with the wonderful hand made paper that is really bumpy and textured. It was the light on the lawn that was the key this time. Later it was the magnolia tree on the terraced little lawn. The garden is just waking up. We made a fire on the beach and my gloves ended up smelling of wood smoke and still do! A very special day where the lake was like a mirror early on. I saw a swan flying low over it perfectly reflected so it looked like one was flying upside down as well.

I made these two studies in a new sketchbook I was gifted by my son at Christmas. It has lush handmade paper and I am just finding out what I can and can’t do with the it!. The surface is quite bumpy and I tried using oilbars as I have been enjoying their texture and rich colour in recent work. The paper is a good support for the oilbar but fine detail is nigh impossible. I then thought I could introduce some stitch as the paper is really sturdy. This is working quite well and I may continue to experiment in this way. These studies are providing interesting halfway houses before I embark on a new theme. I always feel quite bereft when I leave a piece that has taken awhile and I have been immersed within it. The muse always returns in some form and I am staying open and trusting that it will! Click to enlarge as usual folks!

Well I am approaching a point where I will leave this one alone. I have done some more work in the sky using oilbars and stitch. I enjoyed putting oilbar marks over the stitch in areas too as it hides the thread and reveals the parts I leave alone in terms of colour. I must be careful not to overdo this one and may stop soon! Watch this space. Then I may think of getting a frame made for it.