Maida Morrison

South Gloucestershire, UK, Bramble, watercolor, 36 x 24" (91 x 61 cm)

My Inspiration

My inspiration comes from all of the natural beauty of nature that surrounds me. Luckily, living on the river, I don`t have to go far to find it. Only today, as I was sitting outside listening to the birds singing, pondering about what to write, I looked over and there on the grass bank in front of me was a moorhen wandering about pecking at the grass. Within minutes of me watching that a kingfisher flew down the river and settled in a tree about 15 feet from me for about five minutes gazing about before flying off. I then looked up the river and a grey heron was posed perfectly still on the riverbank fishing. Today was quite a rare occasion, sometimes I can sit for hours and not see anything.

My Design Strategy

I have always wanted to do a painting of a mouse with blackberries, but the most challenging thing about this was to get a nice photograph of a mouse. The opportunity for the mouse came when my cat brought one in. I was sitting relaxing when I heard a squeak come from my bathroom. I ran in and there was a mouse trying to get out of my bin of all places. I quickly locked my cat out and grabbed my camera and took a few photographs of the mouse before I released it back into the hedgerow.

My Working Process

If I am composing a painting from many reference photographs I will firstly make a rough sketch of my intended layout.

If, however, I am already happy with the layout in one of my photographs, I will start by drawing an outline pencil drawing straight onto watercolour board. As to how I start a painting varies from painting to painting. Mainly if it is a large, undetailed background area, then I will completely paint in the background first. If, however, it is one more like this picture then I will start by painting in each little area subject by subject.

Contact Details

» Email: maidamorrison@gmail.com

» Website: www.maida-morrison.co.uk