Yesterday Ingrid (Leisure Painter editor) and I visited the London Wetland Centre (well if it was going to rain why not be somewhere that embraces the wet). But it didn't rain! In fact the sun shone for most of the day and a brief shower (which the resident otters didn't seem to mind one bit!) resulted in a brilliant rainbow over the reed beds. There is a beauty to be found in everything and even a puddle can create a stunning image. Our painting competitions always make me realise how artists find some really interesting subjects to capture on paper, and how we all see different things and set about capturing them in our own unique way. The over 250 entries for The Artist front cover competition show a real variety of work with a vast array of subject matter. This variety is always a real bonus in the annual Patchings competition too; it makes judging a difficult but immensely enjoyable process. Currently we have a butterfly painting competition online sponsored by Jackson's Art Supplies, and even with this limited subject the work being entered exudes variety and personality; artists are clever people! I took (as usual) lots of photos yesterday, some of which I will add to our copyright free photographs page soon. Ingrid and I (again as usual) took the opportunity of a lovely day out to discuss possible subjects for future painting competitions for you all to enter. So yesterday we saw (and photographed) a variety of colourful wildfowl, a pair of otters, some amazing reflections, sunlit reeds, birds singing, and a rainbow; which of these subjects would you choose to paint, if any? I expect the answers to be as varied as the subjects available! Dawn