It's the last two weeks before the Artists Studio Tour and I'm pushing myself to complete a few new paintings! I'm also challenging myself to work with more colour and to loosen up in the texture I create. It's not always easy to let go, as much as I want to and tell others to! I'm really feeling the need for a teacher to help me to the next level. So while I work through the stages of becoming more confident with my medium I'll carry on painting pictures of what grabs me or moves me. Hopefully some of the mood and emotion comes through the layers of wax. Here's a picture I took last year of a tree at Rock Lake. It had previously lived its glorious life yet is was still anchored to the lake shore, other life growing all round it. I guess it's hard to let go sometimes. 

It's Corn & Apple time in Morden again and the town is buzzing with hundreds of visitors. What a lovely sight. I'm delighted to be participating in the new Showcase Exhibition of the 10th anniversary of the Artists Studio Tour. This exhibition is taking place in the upstairs Gallery in Morden. I've entered my piece called "Reeds in Snow". It's one of my favourite pieces. My sister Diana, is also showing there, - her watercolour zebra is out of this world! Go and check out her website as well. Hope we get lots of visitors and votes for the "people's choice" award!

Some years ago during a very cold February I went to the island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland. Known as one of the truly "thin places", Iona has been a place of pilgrimage and prayer for hundreds of years.  When I was there it was gloriously solitary. My experience there, and the island itself will be forever in my heart.