Yesterday found me enjoying the "not too hot" weather with artist friends Carolyn and Sue at Carolyn's house (we're the Arty Girls) in the shade of the garage entrance. Sheltered from a brief summer shower but open to the garden and enjoying the birds flying past and the squirrels squabbling, running around trees a few feet away.

​ On my easel is a flower painting that will be in mixed media that I started a little while ago. So far I am working in acrylic paints on the central roses and background. The canvas is divided into different geometric shapes. Eventually some of the sections will have paper/fibre pieces and acrylic medium in gold. The flowers are sketches from the bouquet my other half gave me earlier this year for our ruby wedding anniversary.

I love red roses and big blousey pink roses! A lovely day painting alongside my arty girls catching up on art news and news in general. Out to dinner and a glass of red cabernet to finish a relaxing but industrious day. Certainly a red letter day! 

Where best to start a new blog than at the start of a new (old) enterprise. Over 15 years ago back in Britain I picked up the brush at a painting watercolour for beginners class. I then became busy moving house and family (several times) ending up here in Michigan.

After a couple more years I joined a painting in acrylic for beginners class. Sadly to say that I didn't get to do much painting over the following years besides burning and painting wood boxes with my Celtic influence. Eventually I found time for painting; acrylic, pastel and oil pastel mainly. 

​This year I joined a class by artist Mike Monville to explore different surfaces and techniques for watercolour painting and started playing again.

I tried the Aquabord (a textured clay surface) for the first time. The surface certainly responds differently than paper. Above is my first attempt, a small 5x7ins Aquabord. A lose watercolour of exotic birds coming in to land. More about response and preparation of the board to follow.