My first love had branches for hands

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 Firstlove

Watercolour on paper.

Please view here for more clarity.

Still going back to my arboreal roots: My very first love was a tree. A very handsome sycamore. Or perhaps he was a tall oak, a dark pine or even a lightning tree. I began, myself, as a tiny little sycamore, only to grow into a person around the age of seven years. I have never quite recovered from this ;-)

This painting began as a scrap page then went on to seduce me into taking it a little bit more seriously. It takes me back to primary school painting days, those hedonistic, rainy afternoons of biscuits and milk, the liberating mess-making, and singing along to Bye Bye Blackbird at the piano. 

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The following are what I like to call paint doodles. Not exactly pieces of work, just details taken from larger pieces of paper on which I like to mix colours, play with shapes, test out ideas and so on. Sometimes I like the details for some unknown reason, so here are a couple to share:

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Picnic

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.Kite

Somewhat liberating after so much detailed drawing work of late. Play is good!

I would also like to share some recent snaps inspired by the arrival of a perfectly sweet parcel from Mathyld:

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.Love heart. 

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.Penny decides that Mathyld's creations are "quite, quite comfortable thank you very much". (Fern Animal by Ashley Anna Brown)  

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The Encore Petite headband. No pompom connoisseur could resist. 

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 .And finally, a fresh stock update at the shop, including several new pieces and a brand new Limited Edition:

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Lookout print

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.Harlequin print

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.Hedgerow print

And a new lease of life for a much older work: the repainted face of Cecelia!

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Take care   ♥

Comments

[Mathyld / encore petite]

Oh ! I always adored this little story (annecdote ?) of you starting your life as a sycamore tree ...
So sweet :)

And again, thank you so much for these gorgeous pictures !
You're a doll ♥

x x x
___m___

[misako mimoko]

This watercolour and the prints are wonderful! and Mathyld's headband suits you so well! i love her creations too.
have a nice day :)

[jen]

ok, so i've been bad with commenting lately...first, i so love your new work!

second, i had to chime in just now though b/c last night i was doing some sketching (my big monitor died, so i had to sketch on paper) and i drew a girl with BRANCHES FOR HANDS! were you sending out signals? ;)

but i don't have a charming story to go with my drawing though. i wonder what your first love is doing right now?

[Carol]

What a wonderful post, Lou. So full of magic and synchronicity! I have arrived here after just posting about my journey with trees on my blog. How wonderful to know that trees are such a significant part of our lives. Your new work is divine and it's always a treat to see your latest images and goodies. Bright wishes. xx

[Susanna-Cole]

Lovely watercolors, I adore your style, and your sweet story about your first love, the little tree!

Such a darling blog you have, and I'm pleased to see the "ad free blog" banner on your blog, as well!

xoxo,
S-C

[alexandragrecco@gmail.com]

so sweet! i love these paintings. xo

[Artandghosts]

thanks so much everyone:) x

[andrea gutierrez]

mathyld is one of the most generous spirit i know. i truly am so very happy that we have crossed paths. i know you know this, being her friend as well. everything here is so very lovely. the illustrations, the stories, dreamy. but you already knew that ;)

[Jennifer Perkins]

Man oh man I might just have to add Cecelia to my Art and Ghosts collection. My daughter's middle name is Fawn and she would fit right in with my deer art theme. Glad I found your blog and realized you moved to Big Cartel, I was wondering what happened to you on Etsy.