Apricot Tree in Watercolour

Moleskine watercolour sketchbook

After yesterday's morning walk I headed out to the farm to pick some apricots. Apricot picking is accomplished by vigorous shaking of the tree and then scrabbling around on the ground trying to gather up the fruit before the ponies steal it all. In my next life, I think I'll come back as one of Jean's ponies - living in the orchard, making an endless feast of cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, apples, and plums.

Ponies in the orchard

Me in my next life.

Anyway before we shook the tree I made a little watercolour sketch as my 4th contribution to Vivien's Tree Challenge.

Tree sketch No 3

Conifer (?) Lamy Safari Pen

Another effort for Vivien's Tree Challenge. I think I'll have to move on to watercolour trees soon so I can add a landscape. This is a very quick sketch because I could so easily be sucked in by all the detail and then I'd be there all day.

I finally found my ideal bag to carry my Sketchercise kit. I took it for a walk this morning but didn't actually sketch anything :(

This is my minimal kit and doesn't include something to sit on. I do have a wonderful backpack which has a built in stool and loads of space for snacks, water, paints, pencils, books, viewfinders, hat - you name it but I don't really want to cart that on my daily morning walks.

This one holds a Schmincke tin customised to my taste with W&N watercolours, three brush pens, Lamy Safari fountain pen with black ink, Taklon synthetic brush (belonged to my daughter but I don't think she's missed it ;) Paper towels, mini spray bottle of water, Prismalo neutral coloured watercolour pencil and Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Sketching Trees

Pencil in cheap sketch book ( that's why you can see the ghost of Raspberries).

Expect to see a few trees here in the coming weeks. I've joined Vivien Blackburn's Tree Challenge on her blog, Painting, Prints & Stuff.

The Tree Challenge fits in rather nicely with my other current obsession, Sketchercise. I'm walking six mornings per week - about 4km. Still haven't worked out how to post the Sketchercise badge on my blog though - so I'm fit but stupid!

The quick sketch of the tree above (must ask Jean what it's called) is beside the pool where I did my first laps of the season (after walking 4km, so I'm extremely stupid!). Too exhausted to move I turned around and sketched another tree (must ask Jean what that's called too).

Lamy pen in cheap sketchbook

Lime trees - painted on my walk a couple of days ago.

I'm using a beautiful sketchbook made for me by Marta for these little watercolour sketches. Gorgeous HP watercolour paper. Thanks Marta!