Day 93: Cherry

I brought a small fruit salad to munch on for afternoon tea and there was a cherry on the top. It must have come from somewhere overseas, perhaps Australia or Portugal, as cherry season here is till some weeks away.

It did not look plump and juicy ... so rather than face the disappointment of a not so tasty cherry morsel, I set it aside and painted it instead.

Medium: Golden Acrylic paint on Canvas block

Time to complete: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Day 92: Dappled Light

The stream at the back of Stancich Reserve was running fast after all the rain over the last few days. I sat for a moment, while my dog had a 'poottle' around, and found a patch of water on the side where the water was still.

The shadow of a tree lay on the surface and an old dying leaf floated quietly. The breeze ruffled the water and the sun danced on the patterns it made. Nature performed a special show just for me.

I watch entranced for some time as the dappled light sparkled and gleamed and the breeze danced the water into every changing patterns. After a few moments, I was brought back to reality when a cold wet nose nudged me to let me know it was time to move on.

All morning, I remembered the sparkle of that dappled light and decided to capture the memory of it.

Medium: Winsor & Newton Acrylic on Fredrix Artist Canvas

Time to complete:  3 hours and 30 minutes

Day 91: Red Teapot

I completed a small study of this some weeks ago. I liked the composition and decided to size it up and do a larger version. I went back to my background drawings for the piece and it was nice to revisit those drawings and thumbnails.

This time I spent a little extra time matching the red hues on the teapot and I really enjoyed working on it.

This little pot is just great for herbal teas. It makes two cups, which meets my needs perfectly. I am not sure where it was made but I have had it for many years. It sat idle for many of them ... I am a recent imbiber of herbal and fruit teas. I am glad I did not part with it in my regular kitchen culls over the years. I am a fan of bright colours and the red always appealed to me.

Medium: Rembrandt Soft pastels on black pastel paper

Time to complete: 2 hours

Day 90: Stacked

Piles of plates ready for the dishwasher signal the end of a meal and some quiet time at the end of the day. Tonight we had pasta and the bowls will soon be stacked to be washed in the dishwasher along with the other miscellaneous items that have collected during the day.

The kitchen will hum to the soft swish and swash of the washing cycle and everyone will settle down to read books, listen to music, watch television, study or, in my case, draw. It is a comfortable feeling.

Medium: Black Marker pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: approx 25 minutes

Day 89: A Jumbled Teabag

My used teabag was sitting on the saucer and the dark leaves inside looked like a pile of little letter shapes. I just had to draw it that way.

I based the jumbled letters on a line from Oscar Wilde: "You have filled my tea with lumps of sugar, and though I asked most distinctly for bread and butter, you have given me cake. I am known for the gentleness of my disposition, and the extraordinary sweetness of my nature, but I warn you, Miss Cardew, you may go too far".

Medium: Stabilo Pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: 20 minutes (including researching the line from Oscar Wilde)

Day 88: A Little Froth

It was a surprise to me when this carbonated fruit drink frothed on the top when pouring but I liked the effect in the glass, so I just had to pour me another.

The colour of the liquid poured from the bottle is a deep red, due to the blackcurrant content, but it softens in the lass and you can see the deep red of the fluid as it dives down below the froth into the and merges to a softer red colour in the glass. It tastes good too.

Medium: Stabilo Ink pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: approx 30 minutes ( with a couple of breaks for sipping)

Day 87: A Tangle of Mugs

It is going to be one of those weeks where any spare time is going to be a precious commodity which must be used wisely. Weeks like this are rare and they help me to appreciate the quieter rhythm and flow of my normal routine.

I have grabbed a moment for art ... and in the few scant seconds created something from the nearest thing to hand, a mug on my kitchen bench.

Medium: Stabilo Ink pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: 5 minutes