Sunflowers - continued

I had a little more time today, in between the housework and cooking! I'm trying to keep it loose and fresh, while the pencil lines are there, they are only a guide.

Roses are.... orange?

Another catch-up, I find roses incredibly difficult to paint but every so often I challenge myself. This apricot/orange rose was one of many gorgeous flowers in Bodnant Gardens, North Wales, and I had to try painting it.

Antidote to winter

On these long, dull, cold winter days I look for something to cheer me up, and that usually means painting a bright flower. This time it's a sunflower, from one of my own reference images.

I started out by sketching the outline then masking a few highlights. Once the masking fluid was completely dry I quickly wet the paper using a large brush - doing it quickly leaves a few dry areas which will stay white when pigment is added.

Here it is after the first pass - Azo yellow and gamboge wet in wet.


Now the individual petals need form, more wet in wet but one at a time, using azo yellow, gamboge and quinacridone coral.


I'm excited about this one, but life always gets in the way so this is all I've managed to do today - very frustrating!

Something new!

I don't claim to be a great portrait artist - I struggle with getting a likeness, I much prefer the freedom I get from painting flowers! But, in the interest of improvement, I had a go at painting my youngest daughter, Katy.

Not content with the challenge of painting a portrait, I then chose a reference where Katy was smiling, all teeth! I'm mad!

After a week of stress, I'm done.

Purple or Pink?

Echinacea, commonly known as purple coneflowers but they're usually a lovely, cheerful shade of pink! This was alot of fun to paint.

Purple Cone Flowers, watercolour, 14 x 10 inches

Original available for sale, contact me by email for details.

Simply Summer!

This, to me, is what summer is all about - beautiful flowers and blue skies! It's pretty much my favourite painting from last year.

Giant Daisies, 14 x 20 inches.

Trying again!

I've been pretty useless at this regular blogging thing, I'll try to do better.

I suppose this should be a catch up - I've done a fair amount of work over the last few months, some good, some not. Now where to start? Well I finished my second attempt at Summer Sorbets, and this was much better than the first!

I suppose it would be sensible to post one every day, so you'll have to wait for the next ;)

Summer Sorbets #1

This one didn't work how I wanted it to so it's already being done again!

10x14, watercolours on Fabriano 140lb cold press.

I'm going to try to remember to take progress images while I paint Summer Sorbets 2, watch this space.

Thrill Me, Honey Honey, Thrill Me!

After spending a fantastic day in the garden of a good friend, I looked through my photos and was instantly drawn to one of honeysuckle flowers. I remembered the delicious scent, the bees buzzing around the delicate flowers. I had to paint it!

Thrill Me, Honey Honey! 14 x 10 inches, watercolour
on Fabriano Artistico 140lb.

Lilacs and Pansies

My last two watercolours, both from my own photographs (something I always aim to do - to be original it's important that the whole creative process, from reference to final painting, comes from you. Occasionally I am inspired by a photograph which isn't my own, in those instances I would make sure I had permission from the photographer to use their image before starting to paint. Respecting the copyright of other artists is vital!)

The Sweet Scent of Spring: 10x14, watercolours on Fabriano extra white 140lb paper

Black and Gold: 13x10, watercolours on Fabriano extra white 140lb paper

Both will be available as prints or cards from Redbubble

Some recent work!

I've been a busy bee, got lots of painting done. It's nice when you find your muse and painting is fun again!

Now what was first? Hmmmm.

There were the Liquorice Allsorts, lots of fun this one, and even the "black" is watercolour! 13x10, and available for sale.

Next.......Dawn on the Dee, a small watercolour landscape, a complete change from the vibrant colours of the allsorts.

Now I went crazy! lol "The Clash" - pink and orange gladioli, 10x14 watercolour.
I'm still painting, today I finished Black and Gold, which will be in my next post!

My Etsy shop is featured on the "Buried Treasury" Blog!


For all kinds of hand-made items it's well worth looking on "Buried Treasury"

Cloister Cluster - completed painting.

With great advice from some very good friends I came to a decision and think this is finished.

Decision time!

How am I going to paint the group of figures? I'm playing with this idea, but wonder whether it's too loose, or too colourful, or both for the setting? I painted the group on a scrap of paper, cut it out and placed it on the painting to see how it would look. I'm undecided, I might try another, less colourful version.

Cloister Cluster - WIP continued

A little more work done, but this was a scary moment. I often feel apprehensive when I'm part way through a painting and know how easy it would be to ruin a promising start! At these times it's a good idea to step back and think about what you want to achieve, once you have a clear idea in your head set about making it happen.

Cloister Cluster - Work in Progress

A recent visit to Gloucester Cathedral with a good friend has inspired me hugely! Just before we left I spotted a tour party in the cloisters, silhouetted against the stained glass windows, and I quickly took a photo knowing it would make a wonderful painting. Whether I can pull it off is another matter!

Here's my drawing, on 140lb Fabriano Artistico extra white paper. There's quite alot of detail in the archetecture, but I'm hoping it won't look too fiddly.

The first step was to lay in a wash of quinacridone gold on all but the windows, then I started building the stonework paying careful attention to the coloured light from the stained glass. I still have a long way to go but I think it might actually work!

Taking Flight

This is a painting I've been mulling over for nearly three years, ever since a wonderful walk along a beach in Devon. The previous day had been stormy, the seas were rough, and the evidence was there on the sandy beach - huge clumps of seaweed washed up by the waves, and making the most of what must have been a feast were flocks of black headed gulls (in winter plumage of white and grey with a dark spot on their heads rather then the summer plumage with a black cap). As we walked along the shoreline the gulls took off, then returned when we had passed by.

A large painting, 21 x 14 inches on Fabriano Artistico extra white rough paper. I used a collection of reference images taken that day to arrange the gulls for a pleasing composition. I'm satisfield with how it's turned out.
©Ruth S Harris 2008

Sad Demise

On a recent walk through Hereford I noticed an old friend had gone. She'd cheered up visitors to the Cathedral for two weeks every May for many years, but this year her presence will be missed, she's gone forever.

The building which supported her was in need of some work, so the contractors took a hacksaw and chopped her off just above the roots, a sad end for a beautiful wisteria which had flowered her heart out every year, covering the large Georgian building with purple chandeliers.

I'm relieved I managed to get some photos before this happened, and had a chance to paint some of the flowers.

Watercolour Tulip Tutorial

I wrote this tutorial a while ago for an online forum and it just occurred to me that I could share it here! It should be clickable for a larger, readable image. Hope it's of some interest!

Saving your best work?

I've started to go through some of the older work that I kept for myself, re-evaluating whether it should be on my walls or whether I should sell it. Mostly I prefer my more recent work, but occasionally I find a painting that still speaks to me, reminds me of a special time or place, and I can't imagine letting go.

This is one that I had kept back, but I think it's time to let it go to a new home where it will be seen and loved. "Peaceful Place" (2005) was a favourite, but I have another painting of the same place which speaks to me more.


I have many more to go through still, so many memories to revive - this could be emotional!