Summertime

We have a glut of courgettes. They are really delicious but Graham refuses to eat them, which is such a bore.. I have been slippping them into soups, in the hope that he won't notice. I have been so busy in the garden and with people staying that I have not really had time to paint, however I managed to do this on Sunday afternoon instead of going with Graham to show some friends Alexander's cottage. It was quite tricky doing the spotty skin. In the end I used masking fluid with a pen over the first layer of faint green. I think it has worked. It was also difficult getting the flower right. With yellow is always hard to convey shadows and the ridges on the flower had to remain pale and yet stand out enough. I hope I have managed it.

Life Drawing

This is the last life drawing with Lorna. It was rather a dull pose and I changed the angle of her head to make it more interesting. I started with a lemon yellow outline and then added yellow ochre and violet, or a mixture of Alizarin crimson and cobalt blue. I still don't think I have got her left foot right. It was at a difficult angle and just touching the floor.

Abdul Mohammed at Crac de Chevaliers

I tried to put this on my blog last night and wasted hours. I have at last succeeded but it look a long time and perhaps it is because I forgot to compress the image. I have put a suggestion of the stone backround in, and wonder if it is too light?

The Old Man at Crac de Chevaliers

I am having real problems downloading this image. Perhaps after I have written about him he will appear! I was wondering what to draw during a few spare minutes during our visit to this huge crusader castle, when I looked up and saw this wonderful old face sitting opposite me. I asked our guide if he would mind if I drew him, and then did a quick sketch in pen. Nick Hood very kindly took a photo for me and now I have painted him in watercolour. Hopefully now I will be able to access the image.......

Post Hay Feast

Dave is making the most of a bowl of Whiskas before any austerity measures kick in. He feels stimulated after a day at the Hay Festival and was particularly interested by Niall Ferguson's arguments about improvements that could be made to the way that history is taught in schools. This was all made more engaging by the fact that the Education Minister, who Dave says doesn't look long out of school himself, made an intelligent and encouraging question from the floor. Dave thinks there is hope yet, although he feels that the history of the victors has written felines out completely - he claims that they were a pivotal influence in ancient Egypt, hence all the pictures.

Solomon the Wise

Solomon is bemused that an Arabian alley cat has gained access to the household and now is opining on the troubles of the world. From his position in the heavens he thinks everything will sort itself out in good time and if the cost of Whiskas goes up Dave will have to catch a few mice. There are plenty there.

The troubles of the Daves

Dave is in a foul mood this morning over the Sunday papers. He is very upset about his namesake Mr Dave Laws and the fact that another Dave wasn't able to keep him in his closet and Cabinet. Heaven knows what the impact of losing Mr Laws from the Treasury will have on the cost of Whiskas.

Life Drawing

Some more life drawings that I have been toying with recently. I used Vandyke chrystals to begin with and then ultramarine blue for the background. I also used touches of ultra and sepia for emphasis. I could possibly put in a few more.

Dave and the orchids

Dave takes great interest in the garden, this morning he was recommending that I paint some orchids now that they are flowering. Given his Arabic roots he is probably thinking of a Desert Orchid!

camels

We went to the Camel Souk just outside Riyadh in December 2008. Sadly not very many brightly coloured saddle bags were in evidence.

Life drawing

I am attempting to do life drawing in watercolour. I am at ease painting plants and vegetables in the medium, but the human body is another matter. My first attempt used only two colours and the simpler the better. This one which I am trying to post I did last Friday and started alright, but then got carried away and ruined it. John took a photo for me at break and then at the end of the class. The problem is seeing too much detail - a common fault especially with botanical painters.

Botanical paintings

I painted this whilst staying with a friend in Sandwich, Kent. The painting was sold at my first exhibition at 54 The Gallery, Shepherd Market.

A Camel and Rider at Petra

The Tetrapylon at Palmyra, Syria

The evening light at Palmyra. We arrived rather late in the day, but got up early the next morning and had the place almost to ourselves.

Dave the Cat

We have been invaded by an Arab cat with half an ear called Dave. He is finding the Welsh hills a welcome change from the desert and although he is very much at home now he is considering staying in Surrey for the Season.

Life Drawing

This is the first proper life 'drawing' I have done solely in watercolour. It has almost worked, but I wish I could have done more in one stroke. the colours I used were raw sienna and Violet, plus lots of water. I made a minor adjustment to it - am not sure if it shows......

St Simeon Stylites Arch

This is an arch at the Church of St Simeon Stylites north of Aleppo in Syria. St Simeon was a crackpot who lived on the top of a pillar for 30 years. The great rock to the right of the picture is supposed to be all that remains of it.

Not being a landscape painter, I have to get used to being economical with the detail. I hope I have achieved a little of what I wanted.

Cockrel

Rhododenron

This is some of my botanical work

Cesca's Aubergines

This is a painting I did for Cesca -' Mr and Mrs Aubergine.'