Whilst I complain about the complexity of life and how many directions it pulls, I do have the kind of brain that thrives on working on several projects at once.  Some might say I have the attention span of a three year old, but this is a useful asset when working in watercolour as it means that you can lay a wash, put it to one side to dry, pull out another one and slap some colour on that, start something new, wander off to check emails whilst that’s drying, go and make a cup of tea, try to avoid having a biscuit, fail, have two biscuits, wander back into the studio, think of another idea for a painting, splash some more paint on the first painting…….  and I am still trying (but mainly failing) to put some time aside each day for the sea stories book which involves regular excursions into the internet - butterfly brain heaven.  One day I’ll achieve something, if I live long enough!

Work in progress - Restoration Project

The Circumnavigators

 How about this for a table mat design?  I haven’t found anywhere that prints round mats yet, but I’m looking.  It shows the history of round the world sailors starting with Slocum…. told you I had a strange brain.

Night sail - one of the new small prints. Simple but effective!

A slap on the wrist for taking so long to post an update.  One excuse is that I’ve been sidetracked by the blog’s more frivolous cousin, facebook; sketches that should have been put on here have been diverted to brighten up my facebook page.  It’s been a busy few weeks at the drawing board - the design for next year’s planner is ready and at the printers (yes, I know it’s only July, but we have to think ahead), the long thin paintings that featured a few posts back are now available as unframed prints (I’ve been reminded to mention where to buy the print - it’s at www.starfishbooks.co.uk) and I’m onto the second of two new teatowel designs to be ready for the Southampton Boat Show.  There have also been some enjoyable outdoor sketching sessions recently, including a final session with my art group here in Llawhaden, sketching the castle in the last of the hot days before the weather reverted to type.

The sailing story book is not forgotten - I’ve been sneaking a bit of time each week to work on a few of the stories and their illustrations, so more on that later.  I just have to keep reminding myself  it’s not necessarily the people with most time on their hands who get books written!