…only light can do that.”
I read these words by Martin Luther King today posted with an image of a darkened White House after its lights were turned off last night which led to this water-colour in the studio.
A bouquet today with love for my beautiful granddaughter who has broken her collarbone and who helped me with the painting over FaceTime; I couldn’t have done it without her. I can’t wait for the day when we can be together again and I can give her the biggest hug. ❤️
On a day when I’m proud to say the mayor of Vancouver declared this will be a Day of Action Against Racism, this is America today, May 29th 2020, a day on which Omar Jimenez a black Latino CNN reporter was arrested with three other members of his team for simply doing their job. To quote the words of Marcellus in Shakespeare’s Hamlet “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”.
“Being inspired by Turner is all about being creative and exploring the possibilities, just as he did.”
Tony Smibert.
“In the chart of exercises…the sketches are all quite tiny – deliberately so – because the idea is to experiment quickly, identify techniques, and move on.”
Tony Smibert on exercise in Colour Harmonies in Turner’s Apprentice.
In memory of George Floyd
and the need for a very different colour harmony.
Last week I received Tony Smibert’s new book, Turner’s Apprentice, A Watercolor Masterclass and started on his watercolor exercises in the studio today.
I learnt so much from his previous two books, Tate Watercolour Manual: Lessons from the Great Masters and Painting Landscapes from your Imagination that I already know the next few weeks will be another inspiring and memorable journey. Once again I thank my dear friend and wonderful Australian artist and teacher Debi Riley for introducing Tony Smibert’s books to me.
…to be continued.
What could be better than spending time in the studio virtually with my beautiful artist granddaughter today.
Together apart takes on a whole new meaning.
Sadly whilst we were in the studio word came of the crash of one of the Canadian Snowbird planes with the loss of life of one of its team members, Captain Jenn Casey. This heartbreaking news comes as they have been crossing Canada to pay tribute to those fighting Covid-19. I send my heartfelt condolences to her grieving family and to all of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team. I would like to dedicate my Kite Under The Rainbow painted today to Captain Casey’s memory. 🇨🇦
Canada Strong. Nova Scotia Strong
The Pacific Spirit Park floor came to the studio this afternoon after our daily walk.
The need for a little colour in the studio today with this bouquet from the imagination, with thanks as always to our frontline healthcare workers and of course all our nurses as we come to the end of nurses week.
Yesterday’s Massacre of the Innocents in Kabul was simply heartbreaking. This drawing today includes both a sketch based on a Reuter’s photo together with one of a section of Giotto’s Massacre of the Innocents c. 1305 from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, which moved me so much when we visited twenty years ago. There are no words but a need to express with this drawing outrage, despair and remembrance.
thechangingpalette 