sketchbook & garden

sketchbook - a tiny one for random faces...
I've been painting all week and have enjoyed the process. Some of the paintings are quite colourful and all are more detailed works - a little different from my gouache sketches of recently. I am looking forward to showing you a selection next week.....

Meanwhile

it's been very warm here and I have spent some time in the garden






succulents and rust - houseleeks growing in an old rusted sugar tin with a sedum to the right. I have a tiny garden and most things grow in containers of some sort or another....

 
 a houseleek (or sempervivium) called grey owl - it is huge compared to most varieties and reminds me a little of a water lily. But these are drought-resistant. I like how they grow 'chicks' and nestle together. The larger ones with their tiny chicks remind me of the way I like to groups faces together in my stitch work..... perhaps they have inspired me.


 

aquilegia or granny's bonnet - this is a dark one, quite a beauty......