Summertime Blues

“Blue colour is everlastingly appointed by the deity to be a source of delight.”

John Ruskin

Blue is the colour that sings to us of heaven and sky, of fresh water and deep oceans, of spirituality, serenity and stability. It’s definitely one of my favourite colours, and yet I don’t seem to paint many blue subjects. All that is about to change, because I have a garden full of blues … tall elegant Agapanthus flowers that are just coming into bloom.

The first challenge with any new plant is the set-up. It’s great when

Changes

“Change always comes bearing gifts.”

Price Pritchett

A change is as good as a rest they say. Recently I needed to take a short break from the botanical art and blogging, and take time out to catch up with my life.

Change is good. It gives you a chance to re-evaluate

Challenges! Painting the Laburnum

Laburnum anagyroides on natural calf vellum © Shevaun Doherty 2015

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

Arthur Ashe

Sometimes we sail through life like a ship on a calm sea, and at other times, everything seems to come at once- a veritable maelstrom of appointments, deadlines, exams, exhibitions and meetings. I’ve been channelling my inner Wonder Woman recently, and rather than allowing everything to overwhelm me, facing my challenges one at a time.

I can do this!

A plentiful supply of fresh flowers is a must for a complex painting such as this. Okay, perhaps I was a little too enthusiastic!

Right at the top of my To-do list has been the laburnum. Not only did I have a deadline that was looming with ever increasing urgency, but the flowers were blooming and finishing before my eyes!

Plant, vellum, I'm all set to go!