My new creative work space seems to be working well. I have finished plans for my next series of paintings - which took me off to summer days and happy times (a great place to be when its actually pouring with rain and freezing cold outside!). I have started the first painting of the series. I think it is going to be called "Summer Shops and Chimney Tops". It is a scene of a colourful, bustling street in the height of summer in the holiday village of Elie using a bit of artistic license to show the gorgeous beach and sea behind.

Below is the first few stages - from the initial sketch to about halfway through the painting. I don't normally paint a wash first but I saw it on another artist's blog and it reminded me that my art college tutors used to tell us to do this (although I preferred painting straight onto a white background) so I thought I'd see if I preferred this way of working now. This painting is quite exciting for me as it is the first time I have painted on canvas for about 10 years.....so far I really like it!  

I am about to start work on a new series of paintings so I decided to give my desk a complete over-haul this morning. I work at my easel when I'm painting but when I'm at the ideas and planning stage, my desk is where you will find me. It is normally piled high with paper work, sketches and notes mixed in with the odd sheet of kids homework plus other household stuff. Not anymore! My desk is now more ready for action than it's ever been (chocolate biscuits and all). You can see how it came together in the short video below.