I have been struggling a bit lately as to what to paint 'just for me' , I have happily had a number of commissions to work through and been busy getting on with them but the other day I hit a proverbial brick wall. I didn't know what to paint, I really couldn't face doing the commission I had to do and I have learnt from experience that it is no use trying to force a painting that isn't there . But I wanted to paint. I went for a walk , I looked through old subjects, I thought about what I was doing and nothing was jumping out at me.
Then out of nowhere I decided I wanted to paint some birds, I have found a real love of birds as a subject. I have recently painted some very large A1 size pieces and probably because birds are small and I can lose myself in the detail, it was birds that captured my imagination. I couldn't wait to get started, and it was the catalyst I needed , it was that feeling of really wanting to do something that I had been searching for ....happy days x
So I have spent the past few days rediscovering my love of thesmall garden birds that inhabit our world.
I wanted to get those markings right, but not be too fussy . I had so much fun
Oh and then the blue tit
I had my mojo back and I was loving what I was doing. It may be a comfort zone, but I was finding new ways to paint some of my favourite things
I don't know where sparks come from but when they come they are wonderful
and so my days passed happily and I have painted five of my favourite garden birds
I have loved every minute and am looking forward to what the coming days may bring. I noticed in these paintings a subtle change of style, a new way to use my watercolours that I liked, small steps lead to more challenges, excitement is what I need in my paintings and a real joy for what I am doing I hope that comes across in my work. x
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