Sketch of view from Hamilton Island Water colour pencils and ink
For my friends 50th birthday I went to Hamilton Island, where she and her husband had hired a lovely house for a group of family and friends, where we had three days of great food, wine, friendship and divine scenery. Not to mention tropical warmth after our cold southern winter.
During the three days I managed to do one sketch of the lovely view from our balcony. It shows the lovely azure blue of the tropical sea around the Whitsunday Islands, and the mountainous islands that make up this group.
Hard life of an artist
We had a splendid time and finished the weekend off with a sunset cruise around the island and we saw whales. Well I was looking the wrong way and missed seeing the whales, but I did see the whale spout, so exciting, I have never been close to whales before. Apparently the Whitsundays are where hump back whales migrate to and there was even a whale seen giving birth earlier that day!
Sunset Cruise Whitsundays Islands
Back home now to work again, though the weather has changed to spring and the flowers are out. I love spring but am always impatient with it. I can’t wait for the warmer weather to come and to break out of the winter cocoon, I want to kick off the shoes and fling open the windows and not be shut in any more.
I am at a bit of a standstill with my art at the moment, I have finished the portrait and am having trouble with RSI in my wrist so can’t do any more block carving for printing until I sort it out. Not sure whether to go back to my flowers or I may do some cut paper work. I have another couple of portraits lined up but have to wait to get some photos to work from. I keep thinking something quick and simple but they always turn out larger and more complex than I plan. No problems, as it is a case of spoilt for choice rather than not knowing what to do.
Karen
Karen Bailey Studio 
Glorious. Don’t loose that feeling.
I know what you mean about trying to do something ‘quick and simple’ and always somehow ending up with the opposite. Great work on this piece though, and good luck on whatever is next 🙂
Thanks Agatas, I think some cut paper work next. I have so many different techniques and ideas I want to try, I don’t know how I will be able to build up a consistent body of work. Karen
Nice. We’re just leaving summer here soon — still getting in for swims but not for too much longer, so I’ll be handing it over to you soon. Tag team.
I so identify with that feeling of what to settle into. It’s actually one of my least favourite parts of creative work, and I fight it harder now that I have so little time for painting. But I know that somewhere up ahead I’ll get more time to get back to doing it more regularly and getting my head back into it.
Well I think I’m caught up now and I thoroughly enjoyed traveling through your beautiful artwork!
Jennifer
Thanks for all the comments. How lovely to wake up to all these, sometimes it is fun to be on the other side of the world. I post things then wait over night to see what the response is. I can also live vicariously through your summer during my own winter.
So glad you enjoyed seeing my work, looking back it has been all over the place. Cakes, portraits and prints, but it has been very busy fun. Looking forward to your new posts as ever. Karen
Your holiday sounded idyllic.
This is lovely. I love doing a little sketch in a book when I visit places. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thanks Sue, I had planned to do some other drawings, but the eating, drinking and snoozing in the sun got in the way. Karen.
Well those are the best kind of distractions.
Your work is breathtaking. I especially love your self portrait.
That is really kind, thank you for dropping by my blog. Karen