New Painting: Young Badger in The Bluebells

"Young Badger in the Bluebells"
by Clare Walker

Hello there

This week, I'm hugely excited. At last, I can finally reveal "Young Badger in the Bluebells," and his very special destiny, in full.

This little badger, getting up to all sorts of mischief amongst the spring bluebells, is going to be a lot in the Badger Trust's online Brocktober auction, beginning on October 2nd 2026.

******Excited update on Oct 2nd 2026  at midday:******

The auction is now live, and you can see more info about how to bid on this badger painting here.

There's also a way you can set your maximum bid and not have to keep monitoring it, as the auction runs from now until October 15th.

To see all the auction items, tap or click here. 

(Note to self...Never again will I title anything beginning with a letter so near the end of the alphabet. As my own lot in this auction is called "Young Badger in the Bluebells", it counts as beginning with "Y" and is at the very bottom of the page. Lesson learned :-) ).

More about the painting

Let me tell you why this is so exciting and unusual...

As well as being cute as a button, this is an original watercolour and mixed media painting (approximately 6x8 inches, originally, now also mounted- maybe best in an A4 frame).

The item itself has a Clare L Walker signature in the bottom left-hand corner. Obviously, it doesn't have a BoundingSquirrel watermark on it-that's just to keep the image safe online.

Speaking of online, I freely admit that this picture does *not* do the badger justice. He's much cuter in real life. That might come across a bit better in the video I took when he was being parcelled up...

If you're interested in bidding, I should also mention that this is unusual simply because its an original.

If you're here often you'll know that you'll more usually, my illustrations and paintings become print-on-demand prints and surface designs, rather than ever being sold as originals, let alone auctioned.

(All the parcelling up and ensuring safe transit etc usually puts me off sending or selling originals anywhere). 

But nature is the source of my inspiration, and badgers need help.  So I decided to make this exception.

More about badgers

If you're reading this from outside the UK (as I know many people do) I should probably also give you a little intro to badgers themselves. They are ancient animals, who have been part of the British landscape for thousands of years. They live in inherited family tunnel-systems called setts, are so fastidious that they even change their own bedding, and generally do good in the landscape as they root around for worms and beetles.

In other words, they're much gentler than some types of animal with a similar name  (eg honey badgers) found elsewhere in the world.

However...

For reasons I can't really fathom, and despite apparently in-depth studies saying otherwise, they are also blamed for problems in cattle and subjected to persecution. Rather than mix up all that with an art blog, you can read all about it (and watch some hugely cute badger videos)  straight from a better info source: Badger Trust itself.

What I love most though,  is that by donating this painting to the auction, I'm actually able to do something to help them.

And by bidding on this badger painting when the auction goes live, you'll be able to as well.

The auction itself

I'm going to update this post with a live link as soon as the auction itself goes live on October 2nd, 2026-October 15th 2026

In the meantime, thanks sooo much for reading down this far. And please do bid on this badger painting (and anything else that catches your eye in the auction), when it goes live.

More soon (and not *just* about badgers ;-) ).

___________________________

Like what you see? Click here for the newsletter sign-up page

New Painting: Barn Owl, Night Sky, (And a Strange Tale...)

Barn Owl, Night Sky, by Clare Walker
Click here to see it as a metallic Displate

Hello there, and hope you're thriving in your corner of the world.

This week's tale, is, I promise you, unusual, (for me, anyway).

How This Barn Owl Came to Be...

You see, I suspect that there's a weird myth out there about how things get created.

The myth

It goes something like this. Artist/designer/insert name of other creator here, spends each day in a haze of glorious inspiration, effortlessly "bringing through," phenomenal pieces of work, always inspired by an ever-obliging muse.

That's the ideal, and inspiration *does* feel wonderful. In fact, it may be a (healthy) addiction to inspiration and flow that keeps anyone going in this kind of field.

The reality, however is often a lot less glamorous, and may involve anything from feeling totally uninspired by grey November weather, to shouting in frustration at a website as it refuses to upload your image for the umpteenth time (ask me how I know..:-) ).

However...

However, in this case, there was a fair bit of rare magic involved. Which is perhaps, fitting for a creature as mystical as a barn-owl.

For a start, my one and only real-life encounter with one of these magnificent creatures was the wonder of its silent flight across the lane in front of our car, in the dead of night, almost two years ago.

Barn Owl, Night SkyThrow Pillow/Cushion 

For various reasons, that night also changed my life. (So maybe some of the association between barn owls and transformation has legs).

So, there was the real inspiration. And this week, almost two years later, the image and essence of Barn Owl came so strongly into my mind that I could almost sense its silent flight, from that inner image alone (if that makes any sense at all).

Far from being an elusive muse, the image felt alive, and even had views on how best I should complete it. (And yup, I guess that betrays that I do talk (and listen!) to some of my paintings. But honestly, it's those ones that seem to turn out the best...)

Barn Owl, Night Sky Round Patterned Tablecloth

It stayed longer than I'd bargained for...

This determined barn owl soul only flew out of my mental space when it had expressed itself in full as a painting *and* been properly distributed (that last part being hand-on heart, something I don't always do as much as I should).

So that's why this bird (started in traditional watercolour, made extra bronzy with metallic watercolour, and then given his or her night sky in several digital layers) was rather special. (And appears in all the places and products scattered through this blog post).

Tap or click here to buy the sheet that
will enable you to make this card for yourself...

And so...

And so, the unusual twist in this tale, is that yes, the wonderful, flowing, inspirational feeling of  doing the bidding of a friendly but exacting (in this case feathered) muse does exist after all, it seems.

Will I be relying on it in future? Absolutely not. 

But if a kind and happy part of nature wants to pay a visit in this way again, I'm very open to the experience, and promise to do my very best, both for them and the people (maybe like you, and if so, *thank you*) who want them in their lives too.

Finally...

I hope you enjoyed this strange-but-true tale. And as ever, thanks so much, both for being here, and for reading down this far.

More soon.

___________________________

Like this post? Tap or click here to subscribe to BoundingSquirrel

A Tale of Restoration and Happy Mooching...

Hello there

I'm back now from a little break away from work and oh, can totally recommend it if you're feeling a need to re-charge.

Anyway, thought would use this post as a first little catch-up on what I got up to. First off, not *everyone* in London was knee-deep in Jubilee celebrations last week. The Computer Man and I know this, because whilst we were scoffing yummy bagels at the newly re-opened Camley Street Natural Park, so were quite a few other people. 

(Massive thanks to the Computer Man for so much, but especially in this case, this lovely photo...)

Photo by Jim Fernbank

The Camley Street Natural Park is amazing, not least because it spent a century or so as a coal drop storage yard, sandwiched as it is between  King's Cross and St Pancras railway stations (both originally built in the 19th century.

Yup, you read that right. You can now even enjoy a wildlife pond, woodland, and a just-beginning-to-bloom wildflower meadow, complete with bees and beautiful flowers like the one above, within shouting distance of  the Eurostar.

According to the park's  info-signs, several centuries ago, the area was once part of the ancient forest of Middlesex. And it absolutely gives me tingles to think of even a tiny part of that being re-forested and  renewed...If this place can be restored, anywhere can.

And the next step was inevitable...

And so, of course, after all of that,  the next step was inevitable.  A memento was needed. Which of course meant drawing that flower... (Yes, that meant digitally drawing in Krita. Clearly there's a big part of me that, mysteriously, doesn't perceive drawing on the computer to be something that interrupts a break...).

 I think the flower in question was  a poppy, though it was more beautifully exotic and "ruffly" than any poppy I've ever seen before. It started like this...

progressed into this...

and may or may not finish up like this, at least for now:

I've absolutely no idea if it will turn into anything, and am kind of liking the sketch more than the colour at the moment.

And there was more...

And I discovered more-a lot more when there was actually time to browse around and do things for fun again. But as this post is getting looooong, I'll save that for another time.

Thanks for reading down this far-and have a lovely weekend.

More soon.

___________________________

Like this post? Tap or click here to subscribe to BoundingSquirrel

New Digital Rose Painting: Art Re-Starts the Heart

Hello there. How are you doing?

It's been one of those weeks here where all the yummy feelings were that bit harder to find. In the end, I just began to draw something anyway, mysteriously felt much better as a result (ha-no mystery there, really :-) )... And so then couldn't resist thinking these words and adding them.

It's so lovely that there's art in both "heart" and "start", isn't it?

Am sure that in due course this will be in things or on them. For now though, just wanted to share the idea, in case it's helpful to you too. Feel free to share it on in the same spirit, if it helps.

More soon.

Follow

Olive Branch Sketch (Sketch a Day, Day Two)

 

I like to research the plants, animals and parts of nature that I draw. Knowing something about them scientifically and culturally somehow helps the drawing to be find and its way more easily.

So, accordingly, I looked into olives. Did you know there are hundreds of different varieties?  In many shades. Some which never turn black. Some which spend hardly any time green. Who knew? Well, clearly lots of people. But it's been an education. (Pen and Komorebi Watercolours BTW).

More tomorrow.

PS. I will only be posting some of the challenge sketches here. But you can find (and comment) on them all on Instagram, and the new-look BoundingSquirrel Facebook Page.

Need a Splash of Colour? Look at These Pink Gerberas...

It should be a truth universally acknowledged that the amount of time taken over a piece of work bears absolutely no relationship whatsoever to how popular and/or useful that item will turn out to be.

I used to think it was just me who often got more attention given to "quick sketches I wasn't thinking about and as just enjoying" than something over which I'd worked for days and tried to get "right".

But asking around other creative friends, it seems quite common that the pieces which felt as if they had the least (conscious) attention often work out best for everyone. Maybe it's the very consciousness in the well-worked art that might lead it to feel a bit...efforted, maybe?

Whatever the reason, this Gerbera sketch in pen and Caran D'Ache watercolour crayons (a fabulous new addition to my stash, BTW, that I'd recommend in a heartbeat if you're looking for new supplies) sadly, took less than an hour, and has led to all sorts of goodies (see below).

I say "sadly", because that was one of the most fun, joyous and colourful," not-quite-an-hour's" of art-making that I've had in weeks.

Anyway, as can appreciate you probably haven't got all day onto the goodies. That initial sketch (and its follow-up work, of course :-) gave birth to:

A full collection of household gifts and goodies in scrumptiously saturated deep pink:

Thr "Gerbera" collection at Redbubble.

about which you can find out more, here.









And if you're more of a "DIY" kind of person, there's also fabric at Zazzle (in the USA)

Pink Gerbera Floral Print Fabric
by BoundingSquirrel

and WovenMonkey (UK),


And last but not at all least...a five page kit of printable joy at Craftsuprint.Com.

Enjoy this however you want-and thanks for dropping by.

More soon.

An Autumn Leaf Watercolour Story...(AEDM 14)

Painting leaves in pen-and-wash is an autumn tradition for me now, as for lots of other people...Maybe even, almost a cliché, for some.

 And yet, I like how this turned out. (Particularly as I genuinely did paint it in the 20 minutes I had whilst hubby was in the shower...I'll be trying speed painting again! :-).

With this leaf though, there's also a story.

Now, don't get me wrong, I *love* autumn colours, and have always understood we're lucky to get them.

But this year, that's taken on a whole new dimension.

For, like many people, once the leaves had got into the, "blowing into the house, leaf piles in the street, "Will the pavement turn leaf-sludgy?,"" stage, I was getting tempted to moan along with everyone else, and to bemoan the onset of winter that fallen leaves herald.

Then, a chance remark by a Facebook friend changed everything.

She lives in a very different part of the world. So different in fact, that she had to go on a day-long hunt for any autumn colour at all, and (rightly!) celebrated that she found two gorgeous leaves in the process.

After reading that, I didn't even notice that it was freezing cold, drizzle-drenched and blowing a gale the next time I went outdoors. Instead, all I could see (and actually *see*, this time) were trees and streets cloaked and carpeted  in russet, burnt orange and gold...And all I could do was to marvel, as if for the first time, at how amazing that really was (and *is*).

And so, I painted one of the next leaves to blow through our door, out of 100% gratitude...

More tomorrow.

Update and PS: I've wonderful person and artist whose original comments inspired this piece supported it enthusiastically, so I'm more than delighted to be able to link to her own wonderful work as a thank you.

New Digital Painting: Swan (& Daily Illustration #25)

Day 25-and a new digital painting (ArtRage 4 watercolour & pen) of a swan we saw at the weekend.

I hope he counts as an illustration, as drawing  him*without* his reflection was a no-no, and the background enticed me in from there.

More tomorrow, anyway.








Click to subscribe to BoundingSquirrel by Email

Daily Illustration Day 15: Green Parakeet

Just a quick sketch of a green parakeet today.

Green parakeets are quite new to London-they arrived about 60 years ago, and no-one knows quite how.

But they are a wonderful splash of colour on a winter day.







Subscribe to BoundingSquirrel by Email

New Digital Painting: A Cute Rabbit for Spring

Right-click and save this bunny if you'd like to send him as an ecard

At last, a new digital painting. I've had to throw off a cold, and as soon as I did, this cute bunny appeared (based on one I saw and photoed in Epping Forest, with The Computer Man last year).

Once again, I've done this rabbit in digital oil pastels, stroke by stroke, with a tablet and pen.

But this time, I changed the background paper colour first and then erased around it. Please do shout if you'd like a video of this process. (I've just bought a new program for explaining and videoing what's going on my screen and am *really* keen to test drive it ;-)

If you're looking for an Easter e-card, do right click and save him, sending him (or her, it might be a her!) wherever you want.

But this rabbit is for any time of year, and also features on a card and other goodies here.

And in any event, happy spring, Easter or whatever else is happening in your part of the world as you read this.

Meet "Harvest Mouse"

 Yes, it's another day, and another digital painting with the fabulous Artrage 4 software.

This time though, I used both the "digital pastel" and "digital watercolour" settings at different points, as this little cutie came to life.

He's based on the weenie little harvest mice who you might just be lucky enough to spot in a cornfield at this time of year. I've never seen one in the wild, but when we saw (and photographed) a tiny little one at a New Forest wildlife centre, I couldn't believe how small they were.

Seriously, if anything, this little guy is about 4 x life-size. (It stands to reason really, given that they can balance on corn and barley stalks).

Anyway, be all that as it may, I have a question for you. Which of these versions of "Harvest Mouse" do you prefer?As he is, or...drum roll please...against a blue sky?

The Computer Man has a preference for one, and me, the other. So, I thought I'd let you decide...(Please leave a comment below, saying whether you prefer "with sky," or "without"...Many thanks!)

Have a lovely weekend-and remember to look for harvest mice if you're lucky enough to be near some summer crops.

PS. Update 16/7/2014: It turns out that *both* with and without the background have an important function in the right context. "Without" works on this bumper sticker (as a short person, I couldn't resist it...)

Cute Harvest Mouse Bumper Sticker by BoundingSquirrel
Browse other Cute mouse Bumper Stickers

But the sky suits somethign like this keyring (keychain if you're from the US :-)

Cute Harvest Mouse Keychains by BoundingSquirrel
Make your own promotional keychain online

You live and learn...