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It started with the smell of the sea and ended with a happy twist in the tail

The week started with a burst of painting from me. That in itself isn’t that unusual, I have bursts of painting sessions quite often. This one was prompted by the fact that I had to get the paperwork completed and returned this week for an exhibition that is taking place at the end of August, and when the questions require such things as “title”,”medium”, “size” and “price” it helps somewhat if the painting actually exists in real life! I couldn’t ever just presume a painting would be finished by then, it has to be actually complete, for me to fill the form out. Hence the flurry of paintings, as I particularly wanted to do a couple of the sea, since I’ve recently been on holiday, and I find it a delightful place to be, as do most people.

I had virtually finished a pretty watercolour of the area I went to in France, at St Palais – and was absolutely delighted with it, as it depicted all that I had hoped for – the view of a sundrenched sandy beach, the tide receeded a little to reveal hidden rock pools full of sealife to explore in their miniature worlds, sand, sea, a large beach curving around to the next headland, pine trees revealing the buildings tucked amongst them, and the feeling of a bright sunny day from the strong shadow to one side, hinting at the steps following the wall down to the beach, and a couple of children playing by the waters edge, paddling and debating whether to have a swim or an icecream. The picture so easily named itself “The summer holidays start here”! And because it had gone so well, it inspired me to start another one, but this one a looser picture, more a hint of the sea crashing in, wet sand, and the curve of a wave as it foamed against the sand, and a couple walking in the distance. But the whole purpose of the painting, indicated by the title itself, is that the sky and sea merge as one as the clouds come in as the wind picks up. So, again, another easy title to name the picture (and I love it when it flows like that, it means it feels right!). But the part I love the best of this painting is actually the wave in the foreground, and the foam itself, it more than anything else in that picture is the part I love the most, the way the water is flowing, the texture and the dedicate colours of water, sand, and foam so difficult to paint, and yet it works so well here, but I know that’s because I was on a roll, and all inspired from the other painting I’d done!
So, that was my week, of painting, and it’s been a good one, because of these happy holiday paintings.
And then I opened up my my emails.
And found one from Lucy Felthouse…..
…..which said..
Just a very quick message to you to let you know that the Seducing the Myth cover is out in the wild! I just posted a blog post about it, along with the table of contents. You’re fully credited within the manuscript, too. It should be out within a few weeks.
YAY!!!!
So, go and have a look for yourselves, and see what my painting looks like now that it’s a book cover!

And I’m so delighted to see that it has been well received so far, with the comments Lucy’s had for it, which is really exciting to hear!

So, all in all,  it’s been a good marine week! (I mean, of the salty variety, not the sailor sort!!)