Do we really need to be constantly pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone?

I really don't think so. Watercolour painting has given me the perfect opportunity to play with this idea of comfort zones. What applies to painting applies to life, it seems.

Have you noticed how little time it takes before everyone in the house gravitates towards the kitchen?

The kitchen is the hub. The heart of the home.

(And houses many an ideal watercolour painting subject.)

This is my 45th monthly painting series! You’ll understand why I wonder about whether you can run out of inspiration for paintings…

Can you guess what the source of this month’s inspiration was?

See the whole series and find out more here…

A trip to the beach - in real life or vicariously through paint is enough to give one a bit of perspective on busy life. Take up a paintbrush and paint away your cares…

If there’s one thing that’s bound to lift your mood when you are feeling a bit down, it’s painting a rooster. Come and find out how to paint a rooster in watercolour and instantly lift your mood.

See the whole series and find out more here…

I have been painting hydrangeas in watercolor, this month. It has been a while since I have painted these beautiful flowers and that reminded me of a story which makes me think about why we paint …

We all take so very many photos these days. But what do you actually do with them all?

Here is a suggestion for that and a way to improve your overall happiness. Find out how to savour the moment, and why you might want to.

Painting little piglets in watercolour taught me a thing or two about attitude.

They showed me just what it might look like to approach everything with gusto, in the spirit of play!

Let me show you…

Children are a subject matter that calls to me so often for this very reason. There seems to be something so fitting about capturing a little of the spirit of childhood in paint.

I think that because of this reverence in which I hold the very idea of childhood, and the fact that drawing children means drawing people, it is a subject that can be as terrifying as it is attractive.

Dogs are a delightful painting subject - especially for loose watercolour.

If you are a little afraid of all that fur and getting the anatomy right - take heart. I used to feel exactly the same way. Let me show you the approach that helped me let go of those fears and jump into joyful dog painting.

Watercolour poppies are a wonderful painting subject for beginners (and the more experienced!)

Here are some youtube demos of watercolour poppy paintings and tips for beginners which are sure to inspire the loose watercolour artist in you.

Process art is art that is made with an intention to focus on the creative process rather than the finished product. With process art, the joy is in the journey rather than the destination. Creating a mandala is one of my favourite ways to surrender to the notion of process art. Find out how and why here….

Do you know the story of the three wise monkeys?

There is something special about a story that has endured so long and in so many forms. From Confucius to carvings to frog ornaments to emojis, here’s what they are really about.

I have spent a glorious month painting autumn in watercolour. It is, by far, my favourite season. I had imagined that I would be painting autumn landscapes in watercolour and of course those beautiful autumn leaves.

But a total cutie popped up in one of my paintings this month …

There is something so deeply pleasing about the organised rows of vines. No wonder I couldn’t stop at one when I painted a vineyard. There is so much to learn from nature about achieving balance and order and rhythm. I can’t think of a better way to study them than painting.

See the whole series and find out more here…

This month I have been painting Portraits in Watercolour. Painting faces is fascinating work for so many reasons, its no wonder we still paint faces even in era of the omnipresent camera.

See the whole series and find out more here…

This month I have been painting Hot Air Balloons - one of my absolute favourite things to paint.

See the whole series and find out more here…

I end every year with a Mandala series - this one is the latest.

Apparently I am not the only one who loves circles, it is actually something hard wired into our brains. Who knew?….

Did you know that elephants purr? Yes, a bit like a cat!

This is just one of the many fascinating facts I learned about elephants - my painting subject for this month’s series. They are such magnificent creatures you can’t really help being curious, can you?