Dead Squirrel in the Park

We came to the park to find a whole bunch of little friends already engaged in some sort of treasure game. One of them came to tell me that there is a "special treasure over there - squirrel sleeping". Since I never saw squirrel sleeping, I decided to check it out and found this poor body. It looked very healthy - with shiny fur and laying in a lovely relaxed pose.

Watercolour pencils

'Magalies River' in Moleskine watercolour sketch-book

I bought some Watercolour pencils this morning, for the first time ever, never worked in them before, but thought I'd get them seeing as they're on Kate's list of supplies for the 'Keeping an Artist's Journal' class, which starts tomorrow. I got the Derwent AQUAtone set of 12 as well as the Derwent Aquarelle set of 24 because it had some different colours.

We went to Wicker Tea Garden in Magaliesburg for lunch, so I took the small AQUAtone set with me. I did this sketch of the river bank, asked the waiter for a glass of water and voila! instant colour on the spot.

Can't say I'm mad about using watercolour pencils, feels like I'm back at school colouring in! But as far as portability and instant colour with little fuss is concerned - they just fitted into my purse - I'll certainly be using them again.

But the colours seem to be fairly muddy - don't know if it's me or if it's the colours. And the colour range is also very limited - tried mixing the colours on the paper, which just made it muddier.

Ginter Tabby - Maree Clarkson

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.

~Martin Buber

"Ginger Tabby" in Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook

This Ginger tabby is the bain Jacko's life - it sneaks into the house every night to eat his food, and as soon as Jacko hears the tell-tale tinkling of his food bowl, a big chase ensues, with the tabby leading the way, jumping up on the boundary wall and disdainfully sitting up there and watching him scrambling around below. I managed t get a photograph of him sitting on the wall and he wasn't much concerned about me, just kept an eye on Jacko.

A lazy Art Sunday - Maree

Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic energy striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time.

- Brenda Ueland

My art table last Sunday

A lazy Sunday - spent the whole day sketching and journaling on Sunday - also scanning previous sketches that I hadn't had time to do yet and filing them on my MAC.


My Feint 6-Quire Daily Journal. I mostly use it as my daily thoughts journal, but also do some accompanying sketches.

The above journal entry reads :

"Sunday 08 November 2009
The Red Bishop is back, dear Journal, and covered in all his breeding finery! On Friday I thought I caught a glimpse of him, but wasn't sure.

"Red Bishop" - 'Euplectus orix nigrifrons Linnaeus'

He was sitting on the Tiger Grass under the Acacia Karroo eyeing the bird bath. Hoped to catch him bathing, but he decided the feeding table was a better option."


Southern Red Bishop

a bit more of Autumn . . . Vicky Williamson

A few trimmings from garden clean-up . . .


. . . and some sketches while waiting to help a friend out in his drawing class.