A Bit Of Peacock Alchemy...

"Peacock Alchemy"
Mixed Media Art Journaling

Hello there 

Hope all's well with you (and that you're surviving the heat, if you have it in your part of the world too).

Here, the woozy heat has had me physically art journaling instead of tied to tech.

Believe it or not, this piece began its life as a serious of black, dark grey and indigo blobs. (They were  result of an online workshop with the warm and wonderful artist and facilitator Elizabeth Foley. Huge thanks, Elizabeth).

I guess, after the workshop, some would have left the blobs as a memorial to the friend they were grieving.

But, I just...couldn't. It seems it simply isn't in me to leave things looking dark or broken, when there's even a possibility that they might, somehow, be transformed.

Somewhere in the blobs, I thought I could see a peacock. Bearing in mind that I never usually work this way at all, turning those blobs in a peacock felt ultra-transformative...Liberating and lightening, all in one go. And I love the resulting peacock with all my heart.

Given that the friend whose grief precipitated this was himself a force for transformation, joy, and the uplifting of others, I hope that he'd approve too. (And yes, I sent the peacock to his equally wonderful and amazing wife first, before even posting here).

Here's to healing and transformation for everyone, and everything feeling in need of it.

More soon-most likely on a *much* lighter theme.

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New August in the Sand Illustration Free Download

"August in the Sand" by Clare Walker, is
free download at this link

Hello there

Hope all is well and safe wherever you are in the world. And also I know that it's already July 29th as I'm delivering this, "August in the Sand",  illustration for you to enjoy and/or download and use, *and* that it's far from summer, or a beach situation, in many places.

But if the vibe of relaxing and re-balancing  with the calm of the sea resonates with you, then this August illustration is yours to use in many different ways (see my angel policy for details)

I created this image originally at 300dpi and A4 size.  My current  blog software compresses images, so you probably won't be able to download it at that size, but should be great for printing at a small size, or on-screen use.

(And yes, one of my aims for the month is to solve this image-size and download issue one way or the other, once and for all. Which-as well as the heat- is why this is a short-but-sweet newsletter and blog post).

For now though, as ever, thanks so much for being here, and there will be...

More soon.


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New Keys to Joy...

Keep Finding New Keys to Joy

Well, I'm back, as promised, with an update (and sooo many thanks to the people who got in touch saying that this is a good thing, in one way or another).

And as you'll see, the new art that's emerged during the break (and is still emerging) is very, very different to the old. But now I'm used to the bright shock of it, am loving it, which is a great start.

Where this will all go, I really don't know at the  moment. (Though I did have a peek at how it looks on a few things, and specially enjoyed it on this greeting card).

Keep Finding New Keys to Joy Greeting Card

But more than anything, it's lovely to be back in the land of colour and joy. And even lovelier that you're there with me.

Next step is to let this new style tell me where it wants to go. I'll update you as soon as I know myself.

Thanks so much for being here.

More soon.

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Rudbeckia-And a Summer Break

This yellow Rudbeckia flower,
which I've painted in digital watercolour,
 was growing in a park we visited recently.

Hello there

Hope you're doing well out there, in heat (if you have it/have had it) or whatever else life has in store for you at the moment.

Here, it's a strange season, for reasons well beyond the heat (though with so much else going on in the world, the Computer Man and I both still very much realise the extent of our good fortune-we, in ourselves, and together, are fine).

What it does mean is that it's time for a blogging break here. Not just because of "events," but also...After over 700 posts, (and therefore-yikes-nearly 15 years of this blog)...I need to take some time, not just to re-charge, but also to re-think, and re-align myself.

And it is a very different self from the one who started on the "Can I, of all the artistically-challenged people, really learn to draw?" exploration all those years ago.

Yes, I've answered that question. Yes, I can definitely draw, paint, cartoon, create cards, design patterns and more, both traditionally and digitally. And so, by the way, can anyone else who really wants to do so.

If nothing else, I, and this blog, are living proof that it isn't inborn talent, but a huge degree of desire, which makes the difference, and keeps you practising happily enough, for long enough, to get to your own point of, "Yes, I can do this."

But with the original question answered, the new ones that have been whispering for a while are, "What's next?,"  and even the old chestnut of, "Is any of this helping the wider world enough?"

On a less navel-gazing note, at the moment, it feels very much though, like more cartoons may be involved... Because, isn't life serious enough already?

And so...

And so, as you can see, it's time for a re-alignment, a re-think, and a re-jig. Wish me luck, and thanks so much for being here.

As soon as there's more than that solidly in place, I promise to let you know.

In the meantime, take good care of yourselves out there, and have a great summer.

Clare

Update on July 22nd 2026: It turned out that the re-jig didn't take that long, and the blog continues (yay!). Tap or click here to read the next post now.
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New-A Whimsical Summer Meadow Gif

Blooming Summer Meadow Gif
Tap or click here to download and share

Hello there

Hope all is well with you where you are. Here, it's most definitely summer, and here's an animated gif that celebrates that, with blooming flowers and a happy butterfly.

 (You're welcome to download and share it if you'd like-please just keep the watermark in. It's already at a small size.  Links back always appreciated, but never required).

Also, as befits summer, I'm keeping this brief, and maybe popping in here a little less than usual over the next few weeks.

In the meantime, thanks so much for being here. Stay cool if you're in the heat, and there'll still be...

More soon, from here.

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