The Flowers Are Coming...(Work-In-Progress)...

Wild Tulip Sketches: Work-in-Progress

Hello there

How are you doing? Up here in the northern hemisphere at least (for I know I have other readers too-hello, and I see you...and can you send some sun, please?!) it feels as if things have been rather grey and cold for a looong time, as I type this.

But in this post, am doing my best to remind both you and myself that the flowers will be here soon.

The first signs of it are in the flower and leaf buds on some branches...

(OK, I exaggerated their progress somewhat in this Daphne bush sprig, but you get the idea...)

"Sprig of Daphne Flowers"

All of which is to say, spring will be arriving soon (rather like an upcoming collection, of which these are my some of my first, tentative, ideas). 

So far, it's mostly my wanting to evoke that *feeling* of walking around a garden in spring, when all the buds are beginning to burst into life, a gentle breeze is blowing, and the first warm sun begins to kiss your face again...

If that sounds good to you, stay tuned to see what becomes of these flowers, and in the meantime, as ever, thanks so much for being here, and for reading down this far.

More soon.

PS. Update on Feb 27th 2025: If you want to see how the final mini-collection turned out, tap or click to this post...

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Free Poppy Watercolour August Illustration

Hello there

Hope all is well with you.

Over in these parts, the spirit of summer is alive and kicking...Not least in the free illustration for August, which is these watercolour (watercolor in the US, I know!) poppies. Which I have (again!) finally remembered to post just before August, so that you can use it (if you'd like)  ahead of time in your projects, blog posts, newsletters or pretty much whatever you fancy.

Loose Watercolour Poppies August Illustration by Clare Walker
Click, right-click or tap here to download.

Terms of use are here. And as ever, just right-click on the image and save, or tap and save, depending on your device.

These poppies are (still reasonably unusually for me) done in traditional line and wash watercolour, using Inktense paints. They are (even more unusually for me) done "wet-in-wet" (ie the paper and the paint are both soaking wet and the whole thing is a deliberately sploshy and runny experience...Hmmm, it looks like our hot summer is having more of an impact on me than I realised).

They hail from (yet again) that birthday which I can't stop harping on about. Jim and I, and our friends on the wild and windy day out took loads of photos of the poppies...Which were stunning, and a testament to the amount of wildflowers being put back into the landscape (yay!).

When I was a small child having birthdays in a similar part of the country, the reverse was happening. So it's great to know that some things really have got better with time, and that very often, the wheel turns in ways that are beautiful, and beneficial, too.

(By the way, if you've read this blog for a while, and you're thinking that I have a bit of a, "thing" about poppies, you're right. The evidence is here, and here amongst other places).

Plus...

You'll never believe this, but I was actually going to to put info about a new release into this post too . (How did I ever think that would fit or work? Slaps forehead.) 

Think will save that for next week, as this is turning into a long post itself (as ever, thank you for reading down this far). However, if you're the kind of person who likes hints and sneak peeks, an old friend that I know a lot of my customers like (thanks so much for your support) the Happy Crab makes a re-appearance in the new sheets too...

"Happy Crab" illustration, by Clare Walker, BoundingSquirrel.Com

Finally, should also just let you know that there's a previous August illustration if you prefer sunflowers to poppies (Or want both. Why choose? Go on, go wild...).

And on that note, will wish you a lovely week.

More soon.

A Lily Motif, And The Value of Looking Backwards...

This new  pink "star-gazer" lily motif will probably end up in a pattern, eventually.

But before it does, am letting myself realise that it symbolises a lot more than that.

I almost didn't draw it. Because, even though very inspired by all the flowers in the wonderful garden at Fulham Palace, I kept thinking,

"Oh, but I've drawn a stargazer lily before, and quite recently".

But I went ahead and drew the one on the left anyway (digital watercolour in ArtRage4).

Looking back

Looking back I realised that I had already drawn a similar (though not identical, type of lily this year (on January 6th, if you're interested).

Now, whether six months is a long time these days is a moot point. (With the kind of year 2016 has been for the world so far, January might well feel like a decade ago to you). What really shocked me was just how much difference just six months of practice and persistence seems to have made.

The picture below shows my drawing of a similar type of flower as a, using the same program and tools (ArtRage4 and a graphics pen and drawing tablet) just over six months ago...

The real point

The real point here isn't for me to be proud of the change. (Though I have to admit, it was greater than I had thought it would be, and left me feeling chuffed).

The real point is that most of us are probably moving forward at warp speed in one or more areas of our lives, even if it feels like many, many aspects of them aren't moving at all.

So, whatever your special passion(s)...You know, that thing (or things) you love to do, that you always feel drawn to persist at, even when you really don't understand why...Here's a dare, or a challenge for you, that's very, very likely to boost your creative confidence and enthusiasm, too

Dare yourself to look back just six months (or whatever period in the lifetime of the activity feels right for you). Really allow yourself to realise just how far you've come in a short time, and to celebrate and enjoy that. Then record the moment in any way you like (a blog post was my choice, it doesn't have to be yours...)

And, if you feel so inclined, please *do* share anything you find or discover as you do this in the comments below.

'Til next time...

"June Floral Wreath" Illustration/Clip Art for Web and Screens

It's June, and time for flowers. So I've created this illustration specifically for every kind of web or screen-based project that you might be putting together or sending out this month, from videos and newsletters to other web posts or presentations.

As ever, simply share or right-click it and link back here with credit to me (Clare Walker) if you're happy to keep the watermark.

But if you'd like a watermark-free image for any web or screen-based project that you own, you can now grab that right here via Gumroad.

There'll be more posts soon, but in the meantime, have a warm and happy June!

Honeysuckle (New Digital Illustration)

This honeysuckle sketch is quicker than I would have liked. Am working on something new that will be able to tell you about in a few weeks when it all comes together.

For now, just took a break from planning to relax with this.

And by the way, if you're in the US, do you call this a "woodbine" or still honeysuckle? Please do leave a comment if you know!

Daily Illustration #81: Iris (New Digital Painting)

A new digital painting for today's illustration. Digital watercolour of an Iris, in ArtRage4.

More tomorrow!

Daily Illustration #51: Tulip Fever Design

This"Tulip Fever" pattern started out looking very different, based on quite a prim sketch of tulips (below).

But decided I quite liked the end result, including its funky-and-impossible leaf crossovers. What do you think?



















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Daily Illustration #46: Daffodils!

There are a few daffodils around-but am looking forward to a profusion like this...



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Evening Hollyhocks Digital Painting

Summer heat has slowed production recently. So it's time for a waft of balmy evening air for these dark pink hollyhock flowers...

(Update-29/7/13 pm-put in wrong image this morning-here's the better-cropped one I meant to post-apologies).

PS. Update: This design is now available on phonecases and other gifts at Zazzle:

Pink Hollyhock FlowersPhone Case Galaxy S3 Cover by BoundingSquirrel
See Galaxy SIII Covers online at zazzle.com

Tall Poppy Digital Painting

I've just realised that I've made an error...Part of a new digital poppy painting has also made its way into my new Facebook banner and Google Plus header...before I'd had a chance to post it here.

So, to rectify that, and to celebrate the ever popular poppy, here's "Tall Poppy"-another digital oil pastel piece.

I'm going into hiding for a few days to work on some new projects-news as soon as I have it.

Update: "Tall Poppy" gifts are here.

Red/Orange Poppy Phone/Tablet Case iPhone 5 Case by BoundingSquirrel
View other Poppy Casemate Cases