Things around the world seem particularly tricky , I know too that we all face different challenges and issues , when I am struggling I often think of this quote and smile. 

"Your track record of surviving bad days, so far,  is 100%".

 

I am trying my best to cling on to the happy times, to take comfort in nature

This was Saturday afternoon, by the canal in Exeter , drinking in the view.

Also enjoying time spent with my family , and cherishing times when teenagers come out with us and leave there mobile phones behind for a minute or 2.

 

I think kindness on every level could change the world.

So humming a Christmas carol . I thought  I would let my brushes do the dancing, and I would share with you a simple but effective Christmas tree painting, for all of you to lose yourselves in.

Firstly I taped my paper to the board.

then I drew a rough ( very rough) tree shape.

Now I wet the whole piece of paper.

Now while the paper is wet I added phtalo blue then indigo around the tree shape, going from light to dark.

 

Then I threw salt on it to see what happened

And let that dry.

 

Now rub off any salt, especially where you are going to paint your tree.

I think of the tree as a shape, and add lots of greens and blues into it

Working my way from top to bottom, 

changing colours as I go.

Then let that dry and add in some darker tones

And a bit of colour

Then I mix some of this gold pigment with water

And add a star and some golden baubles, well it is Christmas x

Finally I add a little flourish of snow, with splatters of white acrylic .

 

My Christmas tree is ready, my Christmas preparations certainly aren't...

Oh my goodness what a year, please please, take time for yourself this Christmas, relax, reflect and pat yourself on the back