Well the exhibition in Guildford is finished and it went very well indeed. Sadly due to blog blips (which I have sorted out myself, well done) I was not able to tell you all at the time of all that happened. Well it seems as if an (unnamed as of yet) body noticed my work and liked it; more of that later.

But as you will have noticed spring is slowly creeping into view, blossom and greenery is sprouting up everywhere; That reminds me of summer travels. I, like most of you will like that. So above is a watercolour sketch of Port Quinn in Cornwall. There are lots of super places to visit, paint and sketch, so go for it.

Well at last the work is over and the exhibition at Guildford is up and it opened this morning; I owe a very big thank you to John for all the help he gave me in hanging it. So now Liz and myself are away on a short leaders conference from church; absolutely fabulous speakers; even if the days are rather long and tiring it is certainly worth the effort; I am learning a great deal.

Although I intend to have an artistic rest, that does not mean no painting, I have managed to squeeze in about two and a half hours today, that's what's so good about ink as a medium; it all fits into my briefcase, it is completely portable.

The above ink is done from one of my photos, which I took when in Sweden over New Year. Its a lovely country, even if a tad cooler, but with lots of space and the people even if quiet, they are very friendly. These pine forests are only a short distance from where he lives.

Well after lots of hard work, all the images are ready for my next exhibition in Guildford, which opens on the 11th. March and runs until the 30th. It is being held in the Guildford institute, in Ward Street, which is just of Market Street. Just out of interest the Institute sells super veg food.

Over the last year I feel that my work has matured, but you all must be the judge of that. Above is one of the displayed images, it shows new growth, in a clearing by a large solitary beech tree; the work is a little bigger than A3.

On Friday Liz and a friend went girlie shopping and I was invited along. I agreed to accompany them to Guildford and have a coffee with them; after which I disappeared with my drawing board and pens. The above drawing was the result; not a great drawing, but pleasant enough. The point is all about sketching and why we do it.

I had a lovely hour, only about half of it sketching, the rest of the time was used in talking; I had  an easy, relaxed, enjoyable time.

 Sketching does two things, firstly it sharpens up your observance skills, confidence and draughtsmanship. Then secondly it teaches you how to get on with people. When painting or drawing on the street it always attracts strangers, it is like a magnet, for all types. So if you don't like people, don't sketch on the street.

But I would say enjoy the attention, meet people in a non threatening way. Try it, you will have a good time.

Two images tonight, the first an ink from the tree project of a corner from RHS Wisley Gardens. I like it, with its complexity of undergrowth, bushes etc; all very serious and then the second, to which I  add, "Don't take yourself to seriously".

A member of one of my groups turned up today with a very small 1 inch by 2 inch, child's Christmas cracker, toy type, water colour box, which had an awful toothbrush like brush enclosed, and then said with a chuckle, "What can you do with that". The brush allowed no control, it dripped and flooded when and wherever it wanted to. The challenge was laid, and that small woodland scene was produced in about 5 minuets. We all had a good laugh and then got down to proper painting;  a good way to start a meeting.

Well life does have surprises and last week at one of my groups the challenge was laid as to my doing one of the tree images in watercolour; so here you have it. Just to show of I did two: but am posting only one; I did them as a pair, same size, colour-range, etc; I feel that they are awful, they are very sketchy and loose.  They are all technique and done to a format, you know the sort of thing that can be bashed out by the dozen and artists who work in  that sort of way do not get my admiration. Work can be mass produced and sometimes a rigid format sells, but that is not my way. Am I being a bit hard on myself? Liz likes them. What do you think?

For those of you who might be interested, Christmas was superb and the New Year in Sweden with my son and his family was also special. But of real interest to you all is my work, well that continued with a flourish; the image above is of a crack willow and it was completed during odd moments when time and family allowed whilst on the other side of the North Sea; the work is larger, slightly below A3 and I think that is the way forwards for the moment.

At present a moorland gorse bush is being produced and this is producing very different drawing problems, as the ground textures between a moor side and a river bank vary enormously.