New Year, new workshops, new paintings....

I have been working on a few things this week both for my next set of workshops and for myself too and I have painted this bluebell wood several times, trying to work our first how to paint it and second how to teach it... not sure I am quite there with it yet but one thing you cannot accuse my work of is subtle! Me and subtle just can't seem to make an acquaintance... I look longingly at other watercolourists who produce such gentle and yes subtle work and then I go and do one like this!!!

I do like the colours but always feel compelled to punch things up with some rich darks and maybe that is my style and for me this painting is about light so I hope I have captured that... anyway not sure if this is the piece I will go with or if I will decide to have another stab at it....I do know that really working on a subject can help iron out all the problems but I think this is my fourth go (I did it about a year ago as well and wasn't very happy with it then either so decide to leave it) so am feeling a bit painted out with it....

Have also been working on a couple of snow scenes, again as exercises to work out ways of teaching it and am thinking this particular scene (just a sletch) has too  many trees to be an easy subject...needs a bit more yellow dotted around too.....but I have lots of snow images which don't need to be as busy so will rethink this one....

Lots more practice to do then....at this time of year I always like to have a go at snowdrops... I already have a wash waiting for me and we have some lovely rich deep purple Christmas roses in the garden which I intend to try this year and I also have an amaryllis sprouting as I write and as you can almost see them grow am hoping it won't be too long before I have something to paint there. I love snow scenes too and often do the same scene several times but with different palettes, so not short of subjects at the moment,... time maybe!!