A New Floral Painting (And A Very, Very, New Shop)

"Echinacea River" Painting by Clare Walker
Available at Pixels.Com

Hello there

Hope all's well and happy for you.

Here, as you see, there's a lot that's new here. Firstly, the "Echinacea River", above.

The story behind it

I have to give huge thanks to my friend and very-talented-photographer-in-her-own-right, Marilyn Doyle, that this painting ever even happened.

She shared tales of a happy afternoon. And I was so transfixed by her photograph:

Photo by Marilyn Doyle, used here
and as a reference with her permission.

that I immediately asked if I could use it as a reference...and found myself with a completed painting in an afternoon, pretty much, (if you come here often, you'll know how rare that is).

So, just enormous thanks to Marilyn for such an inspiring photo, and for the use of your photo here on the blog too. (I would link to her as well, but she doesn't have a website as far as I know).

I mention this all here because I really want Marilyn to get the credit she deserves. And because it's an unusual story behind the "Echinacea River" painting...And because I've already wondered whether these are echinacea (coneflower) or rudbeckia flowers...Or even something else...

Going on their cone shape, and the large prickly seedheads in the middle...I'm sticking with the Echinacea/Coneflowers. But the debate is on, if you want it to be...I'm about to start it on Instagram.

Update on Aug 9th: Have just remembered a great thing about the new shop: you can *comment* below images. Yay! If you have an idea about what these are, please comment here. Many thanks!

Update on August 10th 2025: Have just discovered that the original flowers may have been Euphorbias.
Really not sure what to do about this yet.

Hang on a minute. What about this shop thingy?

Ah yes, the new shop. Just in case you're thinking that I may have gone out of my mind to launch this on a Friday evening in August at the bottom of a post about something else... Well, yes, I might.

But this isn't false  modesty or anything. It's just the softest possible "launch" (those quotation marks are working particularly hard, there :-) ), so that I can keep everyone whose been such a support in the loop, whilst still being able to correct inevitable mistakes as we discover them.

There will be more on this, I promise. And with that, thanks as ever for reading this far, and for your support...and have a lovely weekend.

More soon.
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Happy Harebells...And (Sort-Of) Christmas in July...

"Happy Harebells" sketch...

Hello there, and I hope you are thriving in your corner of the world.

This week's art and designs are such a mixed bag, that, like football (soccer!) they are a game of two halves.

First came this sketch of harebell flowers, that then made its way onto a really dear friend's birthday card. (I think she might actually be a newsletter reader too, so this comes with even more good wishes. And speaking directly to that person for just a second, no, I won't put this on anything for sale until you've had loads of time to enjoy it, and maybe not even then. Thank you for being you. ;-)).

Then there is/was... the "Christmas in July" situation...

And just like that, here we are again. The point in the year that astounds any sane person. Namely, that July is the traditional time in which artists and designers are supposed to prepare designs so that they are available/algorithm noted etc, in time for Christmas or pre-Christmas purchases.

And yes, I'm aware that it's the very last day of July, as am typing this.

In truth, I just couldn't face even trying to get festive in the midst of summer weather (and ooh, you know, the state of the world, etc).

But then some little robins and berries just made their way into some art the other week. And what do you know? That snowy robin led to an entire collection of designs.

I hasten to add, they are still very much a "work in progress".

But if you'd like a quick peek at the collection in its rough form, here's a photo.

Thanks to Jim for this pic, who came into our bedroom
when I was trying to get this into a photo, and took it for me.

So please watch this space, a little later in the year.

And with that, I'll leave you to your day (and huge thanks for reading down this far).

The next instalment might not be for a couple of weeks or so, as there is a huge amount still to do, not only for this collection, but also on items that'll be fun for you much sooner.

But there will be...

More soon.
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Here's Some Pink Cosmo Goodness...

Pink Cosmo Sketch: Inktense Paints and Sakura pen
on Artway Indigo paper

Hello there

In the midst of everything else of much greater importance in the world, if you want to relax, take a breath, and look at something pretty for a moment, there at least, I might be able to help.

The picture you see above is a sketch, based on pink cosmo flowers at Capel Manor (yes, from our trip the other week, and captured in a new, handmade-paper-and-as-far-as-I-know-vegan Artway Indigo journal/sketchbook, to which I treated myself last week. 

(And yes, if you fancy one too, that is an affiliate link, so I'd get paid a small commission if you purchased through it. But it's fine if you don't, are curious, and just want to have a look :-) ).

Good news for crafters

Which all, in a roundabout way, adds up to some good news if you're one of my readers who enjoys a downloadable craft sheet. I've started making them again. So go here if you're looking for some colourful pink cosmo crafting goodness, where you'll find a sheet that'll help you get the look of all that original paper and watercolour more instantly. 

If you keep to the card as designed (don't feel you have to!) it'll give you a result something like this:

Tap or click here to see  and buy this
as a card sheet at Craftsuprint...

Either way,  hope it gives you, or a crafter you know,  lots of fun and joy to work with.

And that just about wraps things up for the week. Be safe, well and happy. And thanks so much for being here, and for reading down this far.

More soon

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