HELEN RAISBECK

I thought I would share the results of my response to Hashim Akib’s ‘Paint From the Tube’ prompt in your ‘New Year, New Challenges’ section of the January issue. I painted it using canvas, brushes and paints I'd received as gifts for Christmas, and set to work on New Year’s Eve. I only used colours that were in the set I’d been given, adding another dimension to the feat ahead. Fortunately, the fresh flowers lent themselves to these colours, which was a happy coincidence. This was both a scary and exhilarating challenge, during which I got carried away with my mark making and almost forgot the point of the exercise! I’m not sure I balanced the colours, but I did learn I could mix some new and wonderful hues with Phthalo Blue, something I would not have found out if it hadn’t been for this task. Thank you Hashim and Artists & Illustrators for introducing me to more possibilities. What a great way to start the new year!