A Circus of Puffins by Christine Davies

Christine, if you can produce a lively and loose painting like this, then I would say that you certainly don't have painter's block!! I think you are flying with wings (not a puffin pun I assure you, lol!) I love all these jaunty birds and the splashes of paint add to the whole energy of the sketch. Keep doing them as I personally love seeing them - and I don't think I am alone in that. I have to confess that, at the moment, when I first pull up the gallery pages, I get a real buzz of excitement when I see a new one liner!

I'd been looking forward to seeing the penguins Christine and you didn't disappoint. I think the reason that I'm enjoying these so much is because they bring that enthusiastic urge to draw something. I imagine that some pastels and oils need careful planning obviously but watercolour and pen and wash can loose so much spontaneity I think if they're mapped out first. It's so frustrating to draw carefully in pencil and then mess up once the watercolour is added. Mistakes are hard to correct then. This way, we just go for it and I'm hoping that some of this will influence my painting technique. I already try to go straight in with the paint brush but the one line drawings will hopefully push me on further to try new things which for me is what it's all about. Well done!

Penguins, Louise??? Too many G & T's perhaps, lol!

How do you know Thea..LOL ..Sorry Christine, Puffins!

I blame that new John Lewis Christmas advert..!!

Penguins or Puffins lol - what's not to like, lovely Christine!

Thank you Thea, Louise, and Debs for your lovely comments on my Pufguins! I'm loving doing these quick pen drawings and it has really helped me through 'the block'. I do agonise over what to do or paint next as, for me, a day isn't complete if I haven't 'created' something. I know Louise that you said this is how you feel too. I am going to try to do a sketch a day but, knowing me, I will agonise over that too! Parrots tomorrow I think, but I do need to move on from this collective noun, avian theme!

I think parrots sound great - think of all the colourful washes you can use.

Exactly my thinking Thea!

Lovely puffins Christine! Waiting for the parrots tomorrow!

Great circus of these lovely creatures - that is the collective noun isn't it?

Thank you Satu and Michael. Yes it is one of the collective nouns for puffins and does describe their fun and colour doesn't it? My mind seems to be thinking in collective nouns at the moment!

Lovely one liner

This is a lovely, lively drawing Christine - I really like the spontaneous feel to it. I think I had better try this one line drawing technique - it might loosen me up a bit. Don't hold your breath though!

Bright circus! Lovely.