My Cottage Garden | Intruder

Look closely and you will see the intruder in my nesting box.  

I'm wondering if the nest is a mouse nest. The wrens that usually nest here 

typically use twigs and grasses and this is mostly moss and fur. 

I'm not sure if the snake is dead or hibernating. 

Either way, I'm not going to touch it. Yikes!

Green!

Euphorbia growing outside the design studio. I might need to paint it. 

I jut love the shape of the leaf, the stem and the clusters of flowers.

***

p.s. my giveaway ends tonight at 9pm EST.

A Closer Look | Robin Specimen

This perfect little robin was lying on the ground outside my gate. 

It is a beautiful specimen of nature. I had to take a closer look.

Giveaway | One Word

My first giveaway of the year!

You all inspire and encourage me so much.

 I am so grateful that you stop by from time to time to say hello. 

It means the world to me. So, here's what I'm thinking. . .

To enter this giveaway simply write ONE word of inspiration. 

Just one word describing what you would like me to paint.

It can be any word that you want - an object or an idea. It's up to you!

If your name is picked as the winner I will create a small, 

original watercolor painting inspired by your word.

Anyone can enter from anywhere in the world.

I simply need a way to get in touch with you.

Please leave your word in the comments below.

The deadline for entry is Thursday, April 25, 9 PM EST.

I will announce the winner right here on Friday!

Good luck my friends!

***

Thank you all for participating!

Congratulations, Kait! She wrote the word "grow" 

for her little painting.

Lily Pads

Lily Pond

A pond of water lilies and lily pads.

What's next? Frogs? Turtles?

What is a weekend?

Marshland Swans

It's been a very busy and productive week.

Seems I'm always working on something. I often get carried away.

To quote Lady Violet from Downton Abbey, "what is a weekend?"

I know very well what a weekend is.  I just haven't seen one in a while!

Here's to enjoying Saturday and maybe even Sunday!

Studio | Marshland

It's been a while since I painted black swans. I've been imagining the place where they live.

A marshland or swampland, the ferns and fiddleheads, the water lilies. 

I've been down this road before. Remember this one?

It's not entirely unexpected, however I think it might be time to start dealing 

with the unquestionable lack of space and environment in my paintings.

Introduce a narrative? Maybe. 

For now I think I'll stop thinking and just do.

My Cottage Garden | Redbuds

A closer look at redbud branches.

Sneak Peek | Pencils

Pencil sketches for an illustration project I'm working on!

Happy Friday all! Have a great weekend.

My Cottage Garden | Springing

Quite a riot of yellow in my cottage garden.

Spring is here!

Found

Birds are the greatest architects!
The one on the left is a hummingbird nest.
I'm not sure about the one on the right. Perhaps goldfinches.
Any ideas? 

Gouache Palette

I love a pretty palette picture, don't you?

The gouache paint is so vibrant. The colors are just begging to be used.

Have a great weekend all!

Foxtails and Fauna

fancy cockatiel and foxtail lily

fancy serpent and flutterbys

foxtail lilies