3rd May: My lovely neighbour Alan came round with this beautiful specimen in flower and, even though I have just had minor surgery on my left arm (and I am left-handed!), I have been attempting to sketch the plant before it dies. It is a really beautiful colour but I will probably be unable to complete it at this stage so am making careful notes of the colour mixings and will probably finish the painting at a later date.
6th May: today I managed to fill in with botanical grey (burnt sienna and ultramarine blue mix) and, as you can see, all the little ridges of the bamboo paper I am working with show up in the photograph. I am trying out a new ‘sustainable’ paper which is recommended for botanical work (90% bamboo, 10% cotton rag). Both tracing and laying down the grey wash was very comfortable, but it is when I get down to the nitty-gritty that I shall be able to tell whether I like it or not.
7th May: a bit of green, and the flowers are all the wrong colour. I have not taken to the bumpy surface at all. I shall probably scrap this one and draw it again onto my lovely, usual, hot pressed Aquarelle Arches 100% cotton rag!