Seeker

In my last post 'Staring, Sploshing and Splashing'  I wrote of my Lenten intention to spend time in anything that would help me learn to paint in watercolour. Since then I made 2 more attempts at painting bottles, jars and glasses. Was this a waste of time? No - I enjoyed the challenge. Was I pleased with the results? No - I didn't achieve what I imagined I might. Does that matter? No - I'm not trying to earn my living from painting, thank God.  Here's a glimpse of one of my 'failures' sitting in the bin waiting for me to decide whether or not to tear it up for the compost bin at the bottom of my garden. Or should I scrub it under the shower, as a watercolourist I know suggested? A few weeks ago I read a post called 'Painting for the Bin' in the blog of a professional artist, Jean Haines. It inspired me to be more ready to paint purely for the joy of playing with paint with no thought of a finished result. That shouldn't be too difficult. ...

'Staring, sploshing and splashing' is about my watercolour painting attempts. In one sense it's play. I enjoy it. It's also a challenge. Here's my recent attempt at painting glass. The aim was to show its transparent quality. I think I've managed something of that with the green bottle. This sketch, done during an art class, was based on an exercise by Claudia Nice, 'Glass made Simple'. Well, it might be simple for her... Starting today (Ash Wednesday) and every day for the next 40 days (not including Sundays) I intend to spend a few minutes each day on anything that will help me learn to paint, even if it's just looking at or through glass for 5 minutes. Some Christians give things up for Lent. Some take things on. My Lenten 'discipline' this year is 'staring, sploshing and splashing'. In addition to this I'm going to accept a 'gift' offered to clergy of Oxford Diocese (UK) to set aside 6 extra 'days off...