It’s Been a While….. by Fiona Phipps

You have been missed Fiona! Lovely work and good to see you with brush in hand again. Most of us get dry spells don’t we, and the first step seems to be the hardest. x

Good to see you back Fiona and lovely work.

Thank you Tessa! It’s been a busy time, and although I have had moments to paint, for some reason I have avoided walking in to my studio…..I admit, a bit fearful, not of starting, but of failing I think 🤔 Thanks again for your kind words x

Many thanks Denise appreciate your comment.

As good as ever to see your work Fiona. I'm going through the same barren spell. Hopefully a spark will be lit.

A lovely painting Fiona and so good to see your back into your beloved art . I certainly have missed seeing you work on the gallery and hope it not to long before your posting more .

Class never dies. As good as ever Fiona, ad welcome back.

Welcome back, super watercolour!

Super, well done!

Nice to see you back Fiona. Great work!

Good one Fiona, keep them Coming

Lovely to see you back, Fiona and with a super watercolour!

Lovely loose watercolour, very pleased to see you back again Fiona. I do hope that now you've started again creativity will just flow.

It’s beautiful Fiona.

Agree with Tessa and so good to see you back and with such a lovely painting

Well, what a reaction you've received - you've been missed! Keep battling with those brushes - we all have (well, I think MOST of us have) these periods when something happens to stop us painting, and then it's the devil's own job to get going again: it's certainly happened to me, though my rate of production is pretty slow at the best of times... Is Saunders one of your favourite papers? Have you ever tried Hahnemühle rough torchon (it isn't rough in the conventional sense at all - a unique surface so far as I know)? That's what got me painting in watercolour again - response to paper is a very individual thing, I know. I think it's time I gave Bockingford another go, too. Saunders suits you though, so maybe you'll stick with that...... so long as you keep splashing away, that's all that matters.

Sometimes when you’re “ out of it” it’s an all-round thing…you can’t participate much in anything to do with art, I certainly feel like that sometimes. Let’s hope you’ve chilled out and relaxed and your art can come to the fore again Fiona. This is a lovely restart.

Well painted Fiona, good to see it.

A nice splash around Fiona, lots of energy in these brush marks!

Great to see you back, Fiona! Love this painting!!

Glad you are back Fiona. A lovely semi abstract style to this with great subtle colours.

Good to see you posting again, Fiona - love the blend of colours in this.

Lovely to see you back Fiona, especially with this little cracker. Love the rawness and loose brushwork. Having a bleak spell myself, as too much going on in my life to allow time for painting.

And well worth the wait! Love the fluidity of this piece, with excellent lost and found edges, wonderful atmosphere and beautiful palette. Really well done, Fiona!

The washes are splendid Fiona. A great effect. Coincidently I put one up today for the first time for ages. I’ve got another love since last March - Lotty. That is, my allotment. Go where your heart takes you and find a happy place. You’re welcome to my happy place any time Fiona.

Wonderful Fiona- so good to see you back! Have missed you - It’s a horrible place these barren spells or when nothing works!!

I’ve missed you all back!! This is more than a community of painters and artists, it’s a family. You are a wonderful lot……kind, encouraging, supportive….not to forget talented. Thank you so much for your response, welcome and good wishes x Robert, yes, I do like Saunders very much, I also like Arches.

I can only echo what's been said, I too have not been able to paint for a very long time but this is lovely !

Thank you Valerie. I found I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to paint and usually I have ideas buzzing around in my head most of the time! Desperately wanted to paint something, so randomly opened my sketchbook and copied a painting I had already done some time ago. It worked! I hope you get back in to painting, you have a lovely watercolour style.

Really good work, Fiona.

Love your loose style of painting and this is fabulous Fiona.

As we say in the black country, 'welcome back bab, it's a bostin' piece!'

Lovely to see you back! With a really lovely piece of work too!

Maureen, Shaun, Diane 🤣 and Bobbie thank you very much for your lovely comments.

Oh such a wonderful loose painting, you know how much I like your work and it’s so good to see your work back on the forum❤️. Wonderful painting!!

William, that’s very kind of you, thank you very much. X

Great that your back Fiona! Lovely loose watercolour with great tones. Wish I could get motivated you get to a point where you ask yourself can I still do it and that pushes you further back. However I have a canvas and a plan in my head. Just need to implement it. Looking forward to your next posting.

Always lovely to see your work Fiona, I've been looking out for you and this is great.

Brian and Karen, thank you so much for your lovely words, very much appreciated. Brian, I know exactly what you mean…..go for it!

Lovely Fiona! Keep going! I’ve had a break too and sometimes it’s good to do that. A super painting.

Thanks Sarah!! Really appreciate your support.

Same as me Fiona, after Cancer i did find it difficult to get motivated, but am now starting to sketch and paint again. Well done Fiona, i do understand how difficult it is. I have missed you all. In the near future i should be able to show my work.

Good for you David! I think once you make the start it’s easier to get motivated again……just something small and simple usually does it for me. Hope to see you posting again very soon David. 🤞