Love potion number 9

The way I feel about my subject matter plays a significant role in the way I paint about it. Because I plant hundreds of bulbs every year, I have plenty of choice when including flowers in my arrangements. Spring is the season of opportunity for me, so it’s not surprising the joy of being on the precipice of England’s most glorious season gives me license to arrange things in a way that makes me smile. A spring palette is fun to paint.

egg tempera on panel, 30 x 24 cm, March 2024

If you can imagine, I painted this painting while nursing a peculiar rash, brought on by a reaction to medication. There was also a dead rodent somewhere within smelling range. Luckily, when I am painting, I don’t notice anything. The story and the colours in this one went in through my eyes and out through my brush via my joyful heart.

There was sun! They spread a picnic blanket on a grassy hill. Spring was in the air. He might have been Richard Burton. She could have been Cleopatra. They stirred eggs for their omelette, gathered flowers for the table and the romance was on.

There is a man with a car that used to be a van who comes to the car boot sale. I always bought something from him, for a long time. His prices were good, and he had exactly the kind of ephemera and old magazines which were perfect for my collage box when I made mail art. I got lots of movie star stuff, magazines, and cigar cards. I haven’t looked in that box in years, but a few weeks ago I found Richard Burton on the floor. He must have fallen out of something.

Our cowslips are out, and daffodils abound. At this time of year, I can’t help but paint yellow. and each hue and saturation has a different association. Lilac and lemon, the perfect tincture.

I’m partnering with icanvas

My new Paynes Grey

Rebecca Moss Guyver