Hyacinths and Vases in Watercolour-Work-In-Progress

Work-in-progress ink and watercolour hyacinth flowers and vases

Hello there.

Hope you're well in these crazy times. Am just dropping in to show you a colourful work-in-progress peek of the  images I've drawn and painted so far for a new collection. And yes, they're hand drawn and water-coloured. (For those who like to know, I used Sakura micron black pens, and a combination of Innktense and my new Viviva watercolours, on hot pressed watercolour paper).

I'd hoped to have the collection (and indeed, all the site changes) ready this week. But in the scale of things, these are such minor issues that I count myself totally lucky instead to be able to work on lovely things...and ask you to tune in next week, to see everything that they've become and are becoming...

In the meantime, thanks so much for being here, and enjoy the colours, the flowers, and another breath of spring.

More soon.

Love,

Clare

PS. If you are still receiving this blog on follow-it 1) Huge apologies, as I genuinely thought it had already been switched off (I have messaged follow-it in an attempt to sort this out), and 2) Please sign up instead to the new-look newsletter if you wish to keep receiving posts. Many thanks!

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A Realisation...(And Some Watercolour Bluebells)

Sometimes...The World Needs More Whimsy...

Hello there

Hope you've been well and thriving these past few...interesting...weeks. 

Here, the hiatus isn't really quite over...but I wanted pop back to assure that am still here, and on the case with Where the Blog is Going and everything.

The Why, and the How

Keeping this brief (and believe me, that's a tough one...) after letting it all be for a while, and getting back to drawing, painting and writing just for fun... The most obvious point hit me... I'd lost the sense of why I'm creating anything in the first place, never mind just the blog.

Luckily, it just took the merest peek around the world to remember why. As the bluebells at the top of post say, "Sometimes the world needs more whimsy." And that, I can share with you naturally, and as easily as breathing. (The dictionary  definition of "whimsy" is apparently, "Unusual funny and pleasant ideas or qualities", by the way, if you're into that sort of thing). Maybe even, if you're up for it, and whisper this softly...joy...

The "how" also fell into place after that. Try as I might (and gosh, did I try) everything I draw, make or design make comes back to line and wash watercolour, just like those bluebells. It's a fun, whimsical and joyful medium though, so I guess it fits in pretty well. ;-).

The What and the Where

Which just leaves the "What" and the "Where,". So, as I said, the hiatus isn't really over, and it might be a little while before I post again. 

(And if you have any ideas about the "What and the Where" of the way forward-please let me know on Instagram, where I'm planning to get back to a very gentle posting routine again).

In the meantime thanks so much for being here. Stay happy, sane, and (if you want to)...whimsical.

More (reasonably) soonish.

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Spring Watercolour Flowers (and Favourite Line and Wash Tools)

Spring Watercolour Flower Sketches...

Hello there

This week, it's time to share some spring flower sketches, as promised last week. 

These are from imagination, but  you never know-if everyone thinks of them enough, they might appear "for real," soon...

Update on Feb 27th 2025: To see how the mini-collection turned out, tap or click straight to this post...

Line and Wash Watercolour Paints, Tools and Supplies

If you're the kind of person who likes to know how things are made, I used my current go-to favourite supplies for physical watercolour: a waterproof Sakura Pigma Micron black pen (size 0.1, though from a set with several), Derwent Inktense paints from the 24 half-pan set, Pentel water brushes, and my latest trusty Daler-Rowney sketchbook... the third one in a row, and am planning to buy another one soon...

And yes, all of those links (and in the pic below) *are* affiliate links, because I really do turn to them whenever I want to draw a non-digital watercolour, and also do sometimes get asked about my tools and materials. So, just to be really clear,  if you buy via these links, I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

The Derwent Inktense paints were actually a lovely Christmas gift (thank you Computer Man!). (And yes, I really have meant to talk about materials for that long...)

Anyway...here's a pic of them when the set was newer, and much less paint-spattered than it is now...(Note, the set had already been in immediate and delighted use, so even this pic doesn't show the paints in their initially, pristine state...:-) ).

These Derwent Inktense Paints got put to such immediate
use that an initial "pristine," photo of them never got chance to exist...

Sidenote: As far as I know, all these products are animal-friendly too (being a life-long vegetarian, it just isn't in me knowingly to use something that harmed either an animal or the environment in its production). But don't quote me on this, as I'm just a concerned consumer doing her best, not a paint and materials expert.

Do hope that this peek into materials has been interesting to you. As ever though, I've written more than I meant to, so I'll leave it there for now, and let you get on with your day.

But hope all's well with you, and thank you, as always, for reading down this far. Have a lovely week.

More soon.

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Celebrating Pink Lilies and More...

Pink Lilies, by Clare Walker. Available on Craftsuprint.Com

Hello there, and hope all is well and thriving in your world, despite these crazy times.

In these parts, the week saw plenty to celebrate. I'd like to say that the biggest celebration was getting the card kit completed for the yummy pink lilies you see in the picture above. And, to be fair, I am a little bit in love with the kit, the watercolouring of pink flowers being one of my favourite things in life. 

Am also happy that have  managed to jam in verses, a background, loads of layers and a gift tag, as well as the main card, into the kit and still keep it a manageable size for you to download.

The kit has its origins in a private ecard, which am relieved to know the recipient loved. So it felt only right to offer it on a bigger basis to you as well.

But, there was *rain*

Yeah, I'd *like* to say that all of that was the biggest thing we celebrated this week, but that wouldn't strictly be true. Because, (drum roll) we had *rain* here, people. After seven weeks without any meaningful rain (which normally just doesn't happen in the UK) we've had three days of proper rain here.

I would include a picture here of my face as I stuck my head  out into the rain to enjoy it, honestly I would. It just felt like pure joy...a primal moment, when the force of the heat giving way to the rain. I wish the same for you with all speed, if that's what you're needing in your part of the world too.

I *would* include such a picture, but luckily, none were taken ;-). However, I can include a picture of our resident snail, who hadn' t budged from his post on our window frame for two months...until stretching out luxuriantly yesterday...

Snail photo by Jim Fernbank

And for anyone not into snails, can I report that they may have been given a bad press? Despite having not eaten or budged for eight weeks, the snail in this picture had a first meal of *dead* leaves, not green ones...And continues to prefer dead leaves to green ones, as far as we can tell. 

But...

But I grant you, it *is* a long way from snails to luscious pink lilies. So I'll leave you with a picture of the full, "Pink Lilies" downloadable  kit (which you can read more about and buy by clicking or tapping on this link).

Pink Lilies Downloadable card making Kit. Click here to find out more.

And of course, am wishing  you a very lovely weekend indeed.

More soon.

P.S. and update on August 26th 2022: Marion Kimberley-Scott has been busy again, this time with a lovely make of this "lilies" kit.

Photo and make by Marion Kimberley-Scott

Photo and make by Marion Kimberley-Scott

(Please do click here to see all of her makes in more detail).

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New Digital Painting: Whimsical Blue-Purple Delphiniums

It's 1st of January as I post this...so of course a good blast of summer flowers was an obvious choice...:-). They're also my first post in joining the CreativeEveryDay project again. And if you're in the mood and need gifts for upcoming birthdays, have also popped them in my Redbubble shop

Hope you like them whenever you're reading this though. More soon!