When it comes to the hard times in your life, the support of friends is vital, those friends can be human or have fur or feathers , but there is nothing that beats a hug. Friendship is such a gift, you can find it in unexpected places, treasure it and give your friends a big hug.

This is part of a painting I did about this time last year. Just remember that every day is a special day if you spend it with those you are special to you.

Early days on this painting, the orchids are blooming on the bathroom window sill, and I saw the bee in the garden. Spring is coming ……

The whole painting almost I didn’t quite get the dog in on the bottom left, as this is a big picture. Painted for the People of Ukraine, standing beside them and praying for a lasting Peace.

A detail from a painting I did last year, it is so full of joy and colour, with a green background. The figure in the front looks a bit like me, well I have a jacket like that.

This is the centre of the painting, the Kingfisher, Bringing sunnier days, the hand of friendship, or comfort and support.

A little bit more of my Painting, I imagined how wonderful it would be to have a coat full of patterns of birds, flowers , insects , fish symbolising how Spring is full of joy and life and hope. Finishing touches to do to my owl and other bits to do, more tomorrow

This ia another detail, I have not quite finished it, more detail needed on the daffodils and the rabbit. The Tree stands outside our house, its trunk always reminds me of an elephant’s leg. I love the twisted hazel and its crazy spiral branches and the catkins. One of the first signs for me of Spring.

Another detail , this is from the centre right of the painting. I love owls , and I spent many a happy hour at the Open Art group at the Bridge Centre Darlington doing Still Lives. There was a particular fish figure that I was always trying to paint, he is here on this painting.

Here is a little detail on the bottom left corner of my current painting, it features spring flowers, a swan, a heron , a robin, a thrush , my favourite Blackbird and a little white dog, the whole painting is much bigger than this, but we can find so much to love in the little things and they are so important. I will reveal more from this painting and its title in the next few days.