Back In The Studio.... Finally ....

Feels awesome to be back in the studio after the longest break I have taken in years

weeks without painting and drawing have taken quite the toll on my sanity

and before you all snort and scoff that I was ever completely sane

I admit it is all relative, though I have been a touch loopier than normal lately

But  luckily there is something about the scratch of a pen on paper

the smell of the paints, splotching them on the palette

the swish of the paint brush in the water container 

that calms the brain and makes all seem a little bit more manageable

even cancer and chemo are easier to take with a brush in my hand

it is totally the best therapy around

More great therapy is having amazing flowers delivered 

and these crazy gorgeous blooms from my sister in law Kris are stunning

I love these lilies which smell so diving

and they are a favourite to draw though I haven't attempted them in a while

but I jumped in and was hugely and happily surprised that I still had some skills

There is always that moment when the pen pauses

and you wonder if you have suddenly forgotten how to draw

I almost resorted to using a pencil for a minute

but in the end I couldn't be assed hunting one down so I ended up with this pen drawing

which I was thrilled with... maybe the break was a good thing all round

I was quite excited to get started on it this morning

and then I glanced up and saw one I had drawn a few years ago

and was completely overcome by panic that I wouldn't be able to capture it as well

I used watercolours and prismacolour pencils and it is a bit of a favourite

and it is right there front and centre gazing down at me from the studio wall

just daring me to do a crap job of the new one

so with rather uncharacteristic restraint

I decided to maybe do some painting on something else first and not risk ruining the drawing

so I painted up the last drawing I had completed before my enforced break

which was an ever so fascinating view of my kitchen window

hardly that thrilling I know but a good way to ease back into paint mode

and while the end result may not be my most light handed piece

it was sound enough to restore some confidence so I jumped in to the lilies

layer one all good ... 

and layer two came along pretty well too

and that is as far as I have gotten with it at this stage

because it is on the last layer that it could all go terribly wrong

so I am going to go and make another cup of tea and fortify myself with some chocolate

and attack it while the painting gods are being kind

happy painting all ... xx

PS ...  thanks so much to all of you who have been sending cards and messages and emails

you have been such amazing support and have kept a smile on my face through this whole horrible mess... seriously you are all gloriously amazingly perfect people to have in my life and I am grateful for each and every one of you... xx