I am starting to venture out with my new hip. I can’t go far as I get tired rather quickly. Today, I took my teeny sketchbook with me and a pencil. It’s sunny today, and warm..16°! Within 2 minutes I was surrounded by buds and birdsong. I noticed the first yellow dandelion pompoms and hawthorn flowers starting to appear. I stood and watched a tree creeper for a while and wondered if it’s a conscious decision to ascend in an upward spiral. I quickly sketched a hawthorn flower and pressed a couple of beech leaves between the tiny pages, before heading back with a headfull of ideas for my afternoon studio time.
Back in the studio, I thought I would make a concertina book, using a watercolour painting I wasn’t keen on. It has the fresh yellows and greens I saw in the hedgerows. Paintings can take on a new life in book form when divided, with each page a new composition. I love how going for a walk can trigger positive thoughts and plans.