2022 - SUMMER - THOUGHTS OF THE SEASON

2022 - SUMMER

AN ARTIST’S PERSPECTIVE: Thoughts of the Season

SUMMER 2022

Well hello to you all, my very lovely and loyal followers!

Tomorrow is 1st June, the meteorological official start of Summer. Who’d have thought? The weather doesn’t seem to have been told, it’s very chilly out there despite the sun popping out from the clouds occasionally. Not helped by the persistent wind blowing here on the Northumberland coast. Definitely not ‘en plein air’ weather for me as an artist (hate being cold). Having said that, I did make a pledge to myself that I’d get out and about much more now that my health is beginning to improve, and have put together a small bag of art materials and my sketchbook in readiness.

First outing for June will be later this week, and is going to be to the Lake District, and a visit to Grasmere while we’re there. We’re taking my youngest sister Gillian with us to visit the place where we scattered our other sister Linda’s ashes last October, a very sad occasion that Gillian was unable to attend due to her recovering from major surgery. It will be her chance to say ‘goodbye’, and my chance to revisit what was a traumatic day for me, and to derive some peace from being there once again after some healing time has passed.

While we’re in the Lakes I’ll be taking some reference photos to paint from when I get back home to my studio. I’ve been trying to get back into my painting after almost a year of being unproductive on the art front. My last two attempts have been appalling! Torn up and thrown in the bin. Tried some abstract work but it’s just not me. I’m a landscape and seascape artist at heart, and that’s what I should stick to, at least for now. There’s a lot to be said for staying in our comfort zone! I made a promise to paint more Lakeland scenes, Linda’s favourite place, and that’s just what I intend to do. Perhaps that will be the incentive I need to get going again.

Later in June we’re heading up to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 for the first time in many years, visiting Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine, Callander, the Trossachs, Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor, to name a few places of outstanding natural beauty. It’ll be a whirlwind few days with no time to actually paint, but I can guarantee that my camera will be hot! All ready to start some long awaited Scottish landscapes - I’m looking forward to that.

The Summer has never been my favourite season I have to say, with Autumn colours being my preference, but this Summer feels different somehow. I’m looking forward to sharing some images of my summer days with you as each new painting emerges.

Wishing you all a very happy, and warm, summertime 🌷🌸🌼🌹🌻☀️