Circles and sound waves

Lots of things to explore, mind full of ideas. Spent the day reading about sound waves, but also thinking of how ripples form in water when you throw a pebble in. Watercolour and Artgraf. Read lots of about sound waves produced by a cello. I'm really interested in Bach Cello Solo #1 and I love this representation of it (I don't read music so this was helpful). So, yes, mind going in all sorts of directions. And I'm travelling to Belgium and The Hague next. So it will be a while before I get a chance to fully explore this.

Two days exploring abstract art with Nuala Clarke

I attended a workshop about abstract art with the wonderful Nuala Clarke. Loved it. So much to think about. I've written it all in my studio book and now I need to think about it all. Funny how the last doodle I did in my little sketchbook on the 2nd day is what's pulling me in now.

 

On the way to the beach

Hard to believe that this painting is inspired by the same road I have been working on for the last few weeks. I was looking at the heavy version, then the cloud came to me. I love those big clouds over the sea. This version looks like a path to the beach on a beautiful summer's day. But it also reminds me of the amazing clouds I was privileged to see in Cill Rialaig 18 months ago. Where all you see is light bouncing between sea and sky. It feels like heaven.

 

Potters Pink

That's it, it's decided, I'm bringing a tube of Potters Pink with me to Toulouse. It mixes so well with everything in my palette, Naples Yellow, Monte Amiata Natural Sienna, Hansa Yellow Medium, Quin Rose, Buff Titanium.

Pencils4Tea 25 June 2026

Tried a different brand of watercolours for this Pencils4Tea. I have a set of portrait colours from Kremer. They're an interesting texture, quite grainy, completely different from what I'm used to. Used a few extra colours from an old set. Graphite pencil over the watercolour. And Stabilo Woody for lips. In Stillman & Birn and Seawhite of Brighton A4 sketchbooks. 

Too much

I don't know if I'm at a crossroads or an impasse. Either way, it's uncomfortable. But I feel pulled to keep on trying.

I added more white acrylic paint, more watercolour, more gouache. It's a bloody mess, but has an energy. Then I decide to cover all of that with white gesso. What to do next? Part of me feels I went too far, and how will watercolour work on top of that? I could add some watercolour ground? Would I have been better off starting from scratch? But then I'll never know.

St Stephen's Green on a sunny day

A perfect sunny day in St Stephen's Green with Dublin Sketchers. Relaxed and slowing down, and chatting with my fellow sketchers, while we observe the world around us.

Peonies - still there!

Just a quick drawing this time, with a dash of watercolour on top. Found this angle easier - looking at the flower straight on to its centre. Still don't know how I can paint it, but I need the time to learn the shapes and the lines.

Neocolor and watercolour swatches

Watched Liz Steel's video on Neocolor II. A lot to take in! But that glow!

 

Struggling with peonies

Too many white bits. I think I'm trying to paint in a way that is not me. How do you paint flowers?

 

College Green

Some days, I just need to escape from the hordes of tourists that invade town.

 

Peonies - a few more experiments

Not as exciting as the gouache version, but interesting to do some semi-blind drawing with colour pencils, then went a bit crazy with pastels and tempera sticks. I like the colour of the first one.

2nd layer and more

Went back to that landscape, looking at how I cropped and added layers. First thing I did was apply acrylic paint with a painting knife, then added some more watercolour. Then some more watercolour and white gouache. Let's see how many layers until I'm happy. I think I may need some collage and gouache, but lacked the energy for that today.

 

Revisiting peonies before they fade

I have no idea how long peonies last. Are they like tulips? So there is a sense of urgency. 

But first of all, I wasn't too happy with the Gansai Tambi version, so I covered some parts of it with white acrylic paint, applied with a painting knife, added more paint, pastels (oil and soft, I think), and scratched through the surface to recover some of the underlying colours. A bit frantic.

Then, the next day, I applied gouache on top, and pastels again. Scratched and added until I was happy. All done while chatting with a friend - best way to get out of my head. I even got rid of one of the flowers by applying dark green gouache on top - my friend gasped, I think. But in that moment, I felt that gouache gave me so much freedom. If you're on Instagram, make sure to swipe to see the close-ups. Maybe that's what I really want to paint.