Visited this Lavender field at Horsepond Farm, Faulkland near Radstock in Somerset on Thursday for an Art Club painting day. It was overcast but at least it didn't rain.  Saturday we were painting at Holt Farm, Blagdon.  Outdoor painting was interrupted by several showers so I probably only spent 2 hours on my oil sketch, but sometimes 'less can be more'. Fortunately the worst rain happened while artist Roger Jones was doing watercolour demos in the café so my painting did not get washed away.

  I did this little watercolour in London just before the Scottish Independence referendum in 2014 as I thought it might be the last time the Saltire flew with the Union Jack over Whitehall. That time the Scots voted by 55.3% to stay in the Union.  I am stunned at the thought that on Thursday I was Scottish, British and European but after the Brexit vote result, where 51.8%  of the UK voted to leave the EU, on Friday I am to be British. I am one of 16 million people upset to be handed divorce papers. 62% of Scots voted to remain. What now?

Now for my David Hockney moment.  I was attracted by the shape of pool diving board and steps and the turquoise water for this painting. I find I like experimenting with placing the image almost in the center (which you are not meant to do).  Then trying to make the composition work by the placement of the other elements. By selecting a foreground with red geraniums I was also able to get some colour contrast and links from the foreground to the rear wall and background red blobs (roses).

Busy last week painting in the lovely garden at Grove House, Frenchay. I was attracted by the orange and blue twine suspending the swing from the old twisted apple tree.  

 Next  I was painting the Second Severn Bridge from the Chepstow side at Black Rock Picnic area, Portskewett, Caldicot, Monmouthshire. Great views of both bridges (above water).The Severn tidal range here can be very dramatic at 41ft (second highest range in the world) revealing many rocky outcrops at low tide. Todays view was better towards the Second Bridge from the old ferry boat slipway.