We need and depend upon one another and our environment so that we can flourish and live meaningful lives, rather than simply existing in our individual pods, hanging on for dear life!
watercolour 
On my recent VIRTUAL trip to Crickhowell, Wales, I spoke about the importance of community many times, and how Crickhowell exemplified that for me.
In October 2005, during a personally challenging time, I had to move from beautiful Crickhowell to London. Along with the failure of a project that had been very dear to my heart, my elderly Mother who lived in Kent was becoming ill.
watercolour 
In 2008 I found a bolt hole in Hampton SW London….and so brought my Mother from Kent to a nursing home a few minutes walk away. Prior to this I had been commuting back and forth from London to Kent every week, overseeing nurses and my Mother’s house and garden and at the same time trying my best to keep up with work commitments.
I thought my bolt hole would be a temporary measure – maybe a year or two at the most, after which time I planned to move permanently to France.
Nearly 12 years later I am still here in Hampton, proving that none of us is ever creative enough to know how things will actually work out…….
watercolour
Although a pandemic has been long predicted by scientists – we buried our collective heads. None of us expected a global pandemic in 2020, let alone the ensuing consequences and fall out.
Just a few short months ago, we had no idea that we would need to let go of all pre-conceived ideas and that our lives on an individual and collective level would change in such dramatic ways?
None of us is ever creative enough to know how things will actually turn out………
Because of the virus, we have been allowed to stop and think.
Like farmers who allow their land to lie fallow for a period without being sewn in order to restore its fertility…we humans have also been allowed to lie fallow for a short period of time.
Creative thinkers have seen this as an opportunity to make positive changes, which brings me back to Hampton….
After the first lock down I was introduced to The Inspired Hub http://www.theinspiredhub.co.uk Fortunately for me – right on my doorstep.
During the first lockdown Susan Green (a creative thinker) and Hampton resident along with others had been busily revamping an old building and site. It is now a place that is very pleasing to the eye, focusing on creative thinking, wellbeing and community……
In short they have turned what is a very challenging situation into a positive.
Many people have turned to zoom for both social and educational purposes. I prefer to communicate one on one…and so use Skype to talk with my children and some close friends.
I have been used to working and living alone for many years, but what about those who find themselves feeling cut off and isolated? What about those who are living in crowded conditions with not enough money to pay the bills or put food on the table?
As 2020 morphs into 2021 perhaps we need to ask ourselves what have we learned from this experience individually and collectively?
All the images in this blog are watercolours…..where I have used small amounts of pigment with lots of water…..plus dry white paper.
More tutorials to follow…..
Janet.:)
The Tiger Hunt is one of those paintings that permeates all the senses. It stirs me deeply. I can hear the noise of the hunt coming off the canvas. I can smell the sweat of the warriors and animals. It is alive.
After roughly sketching out the apple and its shadow, I apply some juicy watercolour. Remember this is simply to warm up and its only newspaper. 
When we paint shadows they always reflect the colour of the object making the shadow. I have allowed the paint to bleed (run from one colour into another)
I then applied some juicy red paint to the apple and shadow…leaving some of the dry orange background as a highlight on the apple and in the NEGATIVE SPACE – (the area surrounding the apple and shadow). Note the thin slither of orange between the apple and the shadow is key in separating the two areas.
Using a wet brush I then added Permanent White Gouache into the background allowing it to merge with the red….This is an exercise of ‘LETTING GO’ – not trying to control the paint but seeing where it takes you. Watercolour is transparent – Gouache is opaque
Be Prepared….
A DAILY ROUTINE 
PURPOSE
EXERCISE
DAILY SIESTA
For those who are not familiar with traditional English Christmas Cake – a little more information.
About two weeks before Christmas the cake would be covered in marzipan along with a thick white icing resembling snow….and then Christmas decorations added.
After a wonderful summer in Holland…swimming in canals with local children, riding bicycles around the countryside – stopping at farms where we were given the most delicious fresh cheese and milk straight from the cow, and of course sketching…..even back then I carried a sketch book with me. Alas, it was time to return home.
I was put on a train heading towards the Ferry port at Calais France. 
When I arrived at the Calais Terminal I joined many other young people from all around Europe sitting on the floor waiting for ferries.
After docking at the Dover Ferry Terminal, I found a policeman waiting for me. Clearly alerts had been sent out…..
