Camellia sinensis

 

Back in November last year I got a request from a potential customer, and tea shop owner, to draw an outline of the Camellia sinensis, whose leaves and flowers are used to make tea. I wasn't quick enough to respond to the email and didn't get the job, but had at go at it anyway. The outline is based on an old illustration by Franz Eugen Köhler.

Corita Kent's Art rules

 

 

You have probably seen these before, but for me it was a true revelation. I got introduced to Sister Corita Kent's art rules by Aslinn Adams, a talented artist and author of Nature Trails 2014 (a natural sketchbook exchange worth visiting!). And I was smitten. Not all the rules apply to my personal situation, but there are a few I simply adore. My current favourite is Rule I - Find a place you trust and then try trusting it for a while. It fully embraces the purpose of my creative awakening this year as I tend to try one thing and switch to another very quickly without giving it any chance to soar into something great.

I copied all the rules on my sketchbook using my brand new calligraphy set as an easily accessible reminder, but all the rules can be found here.

Italian sketches

Every time we get to go on holiday I always make big plans on things I'm going to do, especially related to sketching outdoors. Every time I pack my bag with too many colours, pens, sketchbook, and all I can think I might need. And promptly, most of them remain unused and never see the light. This time, I took advantage of the fact that we were travelling just with hand luggage and took with me only the basics: my tiny  homemade watercolour box, my tiny concertina book, one water brush, a pencil and a gel pen. And it worked. The weather hasn't been great and the time I had to sit and draw was very limited. I only managed to do two very quick sketches, one in Rome, while waiting for the tram, and one in Pisa, while waiting for my girlfriends. Talking about killing time while waiting...

Sketchbook #1 // Roots

This is a sneak-peak at my sketchbook from February. I'm carry on with my intentions of choosing a subject a month. Last month I went for roots, being fascinated by the many bulbs and tubers sprouting around this time of the year. It is very much a botanical subject and probably not really in line with this sketchbook (and its thin paper), but I loved it and regret I didn't have much time to paint some more. My inspiration book was an old botany book that was used in the seventies by the pupils of the local grammar school. It's full of inspiring illustrations and descriptions.

I'm currently working on a slightly related painting and hoping to get that done before spring arrives!

Taxus Baccata

On a bright sunny day, a little branch from a massive yew caught my attention. I brought it home, I looked at it closely, then made a little watercolour out of it. So simple, and so complex at the same time. And next you know it, I got to use my calligraphy set for the first time.

The Vintage Garden

This has been my labour of love for the entire month of February, and I love how it turned out! I like the symmetry of the topiary, the details of the garden furniture and even the colour scheme, with which I struggled a bit at the beginning. I'm getting more and more accustomed to this style of painting, and I think I might have found my perfect match. Hope you like it to!

The original painting will be available for purchase in my Etsy shop, but I'm planning to add postards and prints as well.