Fritillary in Coloured Pencil

Fritillary Snake's Head
Derwent Inktense Pencils on grey paper

It's a year since I've sketched anything in my little multicoloured Fabriano Artist's Journal. I had resolved to use it to record everything that bloomed in our garden. Well the garden's blooming away and I'm way, way behind! I have painted a few flowers since but usually in watercolour sketchbooks.

I bought a tin of 12 Derwent Inktense pencils quite a while ago because so many people love them. I've hardly touched them since because they always look so gaudy to me when I add water. I was so disappointed in the sketch above I was really regretting that it was in my garden journal. I think I've rescued it slightly by adding some touches of white gouache.

Does anyone else have reservations about these pencils, or is it just me?

Spring Planting

Our first strawberry plants are ready to go into the ground. I've never had any luck with strawberries in Sydney but these seem to be growing before my eyes. I've just realised in sketching the plant that those hulls one nips off the strawberries are actually there from the beginning at the base of the flower. Logical I guess, if one doesn't go through life with one's eyes closed!