Duck Disaster Diverted!

So there I am, putting the final touches to this painting, carefully arranging the driblets of water where I wanted them and making sure they were wet enough to leave the right marks when they dried, when *BAM!* Whole lot, drawing board, double layered box of Inktense pencils & blocks, paintbrush, all slipped off my lap and on to the floor. (I paint at my desk but have the board on my lap propped up against the desk as it makes the best angle for me to work at.)  I sat there for a few seconds in horror then leapt into action with kitchen paper and a wet brush to try and limit the damage - I've been working on this for a week now, and to ruin it at the last minute?

I think it is still OK - you can see where the pigmented water shot off to the right but I am hoping that adds an air of movement and spontaniety to the painting....

This was a bit of an experiment - I had the photo of this very inquisitive duck that we had taken last year and I wanted to use it but not in a boring animal portrait kind of way.  So I began just painting him on his own but as it progressed and I worked on the water droplets and irridescence of the feathers, I thought it might be fun to have him get his colours from the 'rain', and also have them slide off him onto the ground.  It kept me amused anyway!

Upon reading a comment on yesterday's post about how to use Inktense colours, I think I might run up a little tutorial later on today - I have to admit that when I bought my tin of Inktense, I had a couple of tentative attempts with them and then put them away as being far too scary.  The colours are bright and once dry, very, very permanent.  They sat under my desk for months...nay, years...until one day Derwent asked me to illustrate some packaging with them.  Gulp!  So it was time to take the bull by the horns and work with them properly - since then they have become one of my favourite mediums.  So watch this space over the next couple of days.

I've also been knitting millions of tiny red flowers.....it felt like millions, that's for sure!  These will be some mini hanging baskets for the animation - now they need the chains and brackets.  Actually, they are more crochet than knitting - the baskets and flowers are crocheted, whilst the leaves are knitted using a cast on/cast off technique.

I'm very excited about going to Unravel at the weekend.  A festival of knitting? Absolute heaven!  Better make some room at home for a stash upgrade and check the bank balance.....