The first signs of spring

In the early months of the year I feel as though I am holding my breath, desperately hoping for something to grow in the garden so that I can paint it. Painting hellebores had kept me going but by mid-April I was seeking fresh colours and forms to work with and was grateful when the daffodils and bluebells finally appeared. The deep, rich red of feathery peony shoots made a good complement to the strappy leaves and delicate yellows and blues of the flowers. On a sunny and blustery spring day I put my gathered riches into my favourite jar and set the arrangement on an old white cloth laid over a sturdy box in front of my small studio window beneath the skylight, (see demonstration below right). This brought the arrangement level with my eyeline, giving me a good view of the water and stalks in the vase, and the light from the window that created long and interesting shadows across the white cloth.

The subject

Placing the flower arrangement in this position creates a pleasing contrast of light against dark in the top part of the composition, and dark against light lower down. I intended to soften