Nature’s Gems Series
Between 2002 and 2004 I produced twelve water colour paintings which I hoped might be used in the design of a calendar. I went out and about at the beginning of each month and decided what flora and fauna might be of interest in a particular month and what would make nice little paintings to go on my proposed calendar. These 12 paintings have the codes NS01 to NS12 (‘NS’stands for Nature Series). However, when I designed and published the A4 limited edition calendar in 2005 for the year 2006, it ended up with the title: “Nature’s Gems”. All 300 editions were sold. And each year since then I have designed and produced a calendar based on my artwork done during the year, or re-using some popular pictures from previous years. The calendars remain as popular now as they were in 2005 and lovely people come back to purchase them year after year. The calendars have been sent all over the world. I also now produce A5 and Half A3 Calendars, as well as CD size calendars in a plastic case.
NS09 Nature’s Gems: September
Botanical Illustration. Artist Code: NS09. SOLD (private collector). Completed October 2004. Original. Water colour on Aquarelle Arches 100% Hot Pressed cotton rag paper. Unframed size 12″ x 16″. Framed size 20” x 23”
Like March and April, September and October were painted on one sheet and originally framed as a whole. They have now been separated and are being sold separately with an archival mount.
September: Oak, rosehips and blackberries, all came from in and around Comberton. This was a painting I had to finish while on a Spanish Holiday. Unfortunately, the top left hand corner of the paper got damaged during the flight. But—having put some 45 hours’ work into it and no time to re-paint because of a printing deadline, I felt it would give the original picture some character to frame it with a damaged corner.
Poem:
SEPTEMBER
Autumn leaves are golden brown,
And from the trees come tumbling down
Beetles seek their winter home,
And gather goodies as they roam
Whilst birds must feed and fatten fast,
As winter all around is castSeptember rolls in golden skies;
Nature’s fruits before our eyes,
glow red and black and gold and green,
the best of art you’ve ever seen.
Hoard the nuts and fruits so bold,
to brighten up the winter’s cold.
