October, low tide

Curlews at the mud line

Twelve of them, working the edge of the channel in a loose line. I tried a wet-on-wet sky first and let it bleed into the reeds, which was a mistake I quite liked. Burnt sienna and a little ultramarine for the birds; the bills took three attempts.

September, after rain

Testing a new half-pan set

Swatched the twelve colours on cold-press paper. The green gold is lovely for autumn grasses, the cerulean granulates more than expected. Notes on which ones lift cleanly are pencilled under each swatch.

August, early morning

Little egret, quick gesture studies

Two-minute sketches with a water brush while it fished the pool by the sluice gate. Most are just a neck and a suggestion of legs, which is about all you get before it moves.

June, long evening

Sea lavender and the old fence

A larger piece, finished at home from a thumbnail. Masking fluid for the fence posts, then purple washes layered until the marsh looked far enough away.