Beginning the day with a magical hummingbird

It is important for me to have rhythm and structure in my life.      These two elements allow me the freedom to create.    I have also learned that the way I begin my day is vital.

 I used to listen to the BBC news first thing, and realised that it was 99% negative and designed to ignite fear and anxiety in the listener.

I now listen to soothing music for the first hour or two while either writing or doing a warm up watercolour.

Today I start with painting a gentle magical hummingbird.     I have used hummingbird imagery in my paintings for over thirty years.    They symbolise for me the unseen magic in our world.

I am using watercolour paper with a neutral ground which I applied some time ago.    Remember when working from a ground…it is important to let the ground colour dry at least 24 hours before painting…otherwise mud is likely to occur!

Because I have worked from a ground, I have applied Winsor & Newton Permanent White Gouache for my lightest areas.

This took about 20 minutes and along with the music was a very soothing exercise….and at the same time, I now feel awake and fortified to listen to the news or whatever else the day has to throw at me:)

Note in the finished sketch…I have allowed colours to bleed into one another…..

I had a lovely visit with Bonnie Halsey Dutton, who is now staying in Paris with our mutual friend, the artist Mariethe Salort, and then she is on her way to a summer school in Orvieto, Italy.    I will write a separate blog about our time together along with some photographs.

Wishing everyone a peaceful, loving day.

http://www.janetweightreed.co.uk

A Bientôt