February Round-up
A chatty email about what I've been working on in February
Dear Reader,
Welcome to my February round-up!
This is where I give you an overview of what’s been going on this month and highlight any particular projects that I think will be of interest.
I will also include a favourite sketchbook spread, flowers that I see springing up on the Lizard, a comment on the weather and any thoughts on the season and at the end share with you what’s coming up for March.
February Stats
Wildflowers spotted: Primrose, Navelwort, Celandine, Jonquil
Weather: Short, sharp showers, hail, wind, mizzle (drizzle but Cornish edition), fog, with at times a significant wind chill factor
This month I have mostly been doing: Working on my wildflower course
29th February 2024
I thought it significant to send this out today being the 29th February.
It also made me think about the last time it was a leap year.
29th February 2020
Who would have guessed what lay ahead?
I think about all the things that were lost, but also all the things that were gained. A season of change and upheaval.
A seed planted
It was the year I travelled to Madrid and filmed a Domestika Course.
Thinking about that experience seems a little unreal to me. I had never been to Madrid, nor filmed a course, and travelled solo from Penzance to London to Spain.
But a seed was planted.
One that lay dormant for a while but then germinated and in time produced my first course The Joy of Sketching On Location which launched January 2023.
And now this week I have opened the doors to my second course Where the Wildflowers Grow and it will go live Tuesday March 5th 2024, St Piran’s day in Cornwall.
All that to say that this month has been spent mostly underground, working away on my Wildflower course. The hard graft of editing footage, making sense of what I’ve filmed, adding voice-overs, illustrations and copy is now almost over and for the first time in a while I feel I can come up for air.
Not to sound overly dramatic but when you’re down in the trenches of creating it can feel like quite a solitary experience. I mention this to encourage others who may also be in the midst of this.
But I’m delighted to say that my Wildflower Course is open for registration!
This is actually my second announcement here on Substack but I’ve been told I have to share something 7 times before my audience takes note (actually this is not true of everyone who reads this!) but I realise that not everyone may have seen it the first time and if you want a giggle watch below:
Thanks to all of you who have boarded my wildflower course already, it really is much appreciated and I look forward to it going live on the 5th March.
Favourite Sketchbook Page
This was the page I created during my Explore and Draw podcast episode 11. It was whilst I was recording nature sounds that I sat and drew the view of the trees entranced by the bright green moss.
Sketching in the Rain
This month I led my first sketch walk of the year in Porthleven. We were hopeful for a bright sunny day and it did start out that way. However 25 minutes later the rain came in and we scurried to find some shelter. We did manage to keep drawing and complete a sketch of the old china clay building. You can see from the video that the rain contributed to the marks on the page, along with the salt that was in the air.
After that we warmed ourselves up with a hot drink from the local cafe but continued drawing from the window.
And as expected the weather changed again and we finished the walk in bright sunshine!
If you’re interested in me taking you on a local sketch walk just get in touch. I am happy to organise one for you whether you have a group or it’s just yourself. Email me to arrange.
Coming up for March
Here’s what I’ll be writing / sharing with you on Substack this month (P for paid and F for free)
Creative Course Review and the Spring edition! F
Sketchbook Pages for February P
Sketchbook Surgery P
Explore and draw Podcast Ep.12 P
March Roundup F
If you’d like to upgrade to paid below is my special spring discount valid till 1st March.
Hope you enjoyed this month’s round-up and you are keeping well
