Tiny beauty

 

It seems to be the time for the tiny flowers - poping up by the side of roads and walking tracks. We have heard the call of the cuckoo in the village so I guess it is not surprise that we are seeing many Cuckoo flowers such as the above on our morning walk.

Violets are also showing their intense colour amongst the grasses on the verge of the road.

Following are some other fragments of tiny beauty.

The bumble bees are anxiously waiting for the wee flowers on the Cotoneaster and Holly bushes out the front of the cottage. With the naked eye you can hardly make out the petals - close up phots are helpful - bumble bess do not have a problem identifying the flowers.

Nature reminds us that beauty can be found in the smallest moments and fragments.

A new start

 Yesterday we finished our maintenance tasks for this trip - just in time before the rain sets in for the next week. This meant I have been able to start s few more watercolours (see above); based on the photos taken over the last couple of weeks (see four chosen and printed out below).

A few preparatory sketches follow.

I'm not sure how much progress I will make on these; but given the rainy weather forecast I might get a couple of painting sessions.

More watercolour inspiration

 

On our trip to the west (Tongue, Talmine,  Portvasgo etc)I was able to take quite a few photos of ruinous buildings that may become watercolours.

Each ruin holds so much history; but as a visitor driving by we have so little insight or understand. Still it is good to take the photos before the buildings totally decay. 

I hope to print off a few of these photos and start a watercolour or two while we are over here.

A mixed bag of images

 We took a drive to Tongue and beyond; and as part of the trip visited Eddie's Garden after a light shower of rain - of course there were beautiful droplets encrusted blossoms - above and below.

The lambing is coming to an end in the village so why not share a bit of cuteness from a walk on Monday.

Looking to the mountains from the Kyle of Tongue causeway through a boat tie up ring.

So much beauty in the Highlands

Four finished

 

A you will see in the above and following photo I have finished four wee watercolours. They still need the critical eye of Megan run over them; and maybe a touch up with my Daniel Smith watercolours. 

A few miscellaneous-process photos follow.

Good to add these four to my contribution too the planned Pop up Art Show in Armadale Hall later this year!!!

Colour- just not watercolour

 

There has not been much time for art work as Fiona and I continue our cottage maintenance work - planting out 100+ Crocosimia Lucifer (bright red) bulbs, weeding and painting 4 alcoves - 2 up and 2 downstairs.

We did make time to go to an industrial supply shop to get two new chimney pots for the cottage; and whilst over that way stoped off for lunch in Halkirk with Graham. 

Across the road from the Halkirk Ulbster Arms Hotel was the most amazing display of tulip colour. If you scroll through the post you will see what I mean about colour and form.

I was interested in the furry edged tulips - white and yellow - I had never seen these before.

So while I did not get time to apply colour to paper - nature offered so much colourful beauty for us to enjoy.