A New Year with Old Resolutions… John’s Rose

Happy New Year, and an enormous Thank You! to everyone who has joined and supported me on my journey so far. As many of us do at this time of year I’ve been thinking during the Christmas break about resolutions, goals and ambitions for last year and the coming one… what I’ve achieved and which slipped out of focus.

I certainly lost some of my drive to paint over the final weeks of the year, in part due to a surge in workload from my job and the added stress that came with it. So, close to the top of my list this year is an old resolution to try and manage that aspect of life better and always make a little time to relax and enjoy the things I love to do.

Above all, I’d like to work on playing more and worrying less, especially about results… I know I can learn so much from experimenting and letting go, but it’s going to be tricky if I continue to be critical. I had so much fun at the Jean Haines workshop in November, sharing ideas and trying new things in a safe environment… I have to find a way to capture that and keep it alive!

I’ve already discovered a new and exciting blog to follow this year: “The Wash a Week Challenge”, which features seven watercolourists from around the world who call themselves the Washing Girls. They have made a pact to paint and post a wash each week, for the whole year. This should offer me lots of inspiration 🙂 .

To start my new year with enthusiasm I had a search in last year’s ‘Inspiration’ folder and found a photo from our trip to the UK in June. Jim’s Dad, John, has created a beautiful garden and beside the front door is a magnificent pale peach rose with very dark green leaves… I love the way the rose compliments the colour of the brickwork behind it. Here is a beginning, on the paper I don’t really like (but Will be used 😛 ). The absorbency of the paper has given the first washes a very soft effect.