Forsythias! It must be springtime. Finally.

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood. Could you be my neighbour?

Winter seemed to have gone on forever. Everyone with whom I have spoken with have felt the same about winter — it felt unending and depressing. Well spring weather is finally here and I did my first watercolour painting for 2018. Earlier the same day in the morning my friend and I attended a watercolour demonstration and we left with some nice samples — a handpainted colour chart, watercolour paper and a brush.

Samples from the demonstration: Colour sample chart, brush and watercolour paper.

I do not think that the sample dots of paints were intended to be used because they were miniscule, but there were plenty for a tiny painting. I went outside to my neighbour's house to do a quick sketch of their forsythias in bloom. As I was heading back to my studio, the owner of this Cape Cod house was just returning home. I asked for her permission to cut some branches off her forsythias because I recently learned that their flowers were edible. I thought they would make an attractive garnish on some dishes like a salad. I had one and so far I have not experience an anaphylactic attack. Fingers are still crossed. Still alive.

Cut forsythias in porcelain vase by JoLydia and Ian Craven.

Forsythias in full bloom and the Cape Cod.

As a thank you, I gave to the owners the quick tiny watercolour painting of their Cape Cod house with the forsythias in full bloom. Of all the houses around me, I have just realised that I have done several paintings of this Cape Cod. I guess I like Cape Cod houses.

The Cape Code.

Back of the Cape Cod.

Cape Cod peeking into the painting on the right side with a girl reading a book on the back porch.

Forsythias in full bloom next to the Cape Cod.