Sam Grumont

Thanks Ellen. I haven’t heard from you for awhile. You must be angry with the latest attack.

Less is always more. Dried eucalyptus in watercolour — muted, minimal, and a little meditative. The unpainted space is half the painting.

A little sketchbook pastel drawing after a Georges Seurat conte drawing of Paul Signac.

Collected from the ground at Kalimna Park — never picked from the tree.

Fallen eucalyptus leaves have the best colour: muted blues, olives and warm greys. Minimal — just the forms, no background — painted in watercolour on hot press paper for clean edges and quiet tonal shifts.

Wok time. Still life, Sunday morning watercolour.

Your paintings look good Ellen. I also find that copying an artist’s work does give a greater depth of understanding of the work. When looking at work I admire I often wonder about ohow they did that.

Thanks Ellen. I quickly snapped a photo of them as the light was beautiful and used this later when painting.

Thanks Ellen. I’ve always liked Japanese woodblocks and intended to develop this and today I bit the bullet and did so.

Exploring how to paint watercolour in a woodblock style. This is after Archibald Bertram Webb’s work, which I only came across this morning.

Walking at sunrise. Pat and Jane chatting.

Owl feather - sepia acrylic ink, painted with a small brush.

Landscape study painter from memory and imagination. Watercolour on cold press paper.

And Pat has found me another owl feather for me. We think it might be from a Powerful Owl.

Thanks Ellen. I emphasise with your feelings. I always thought the checks and balances in the US system would hold, so it’s a shock to see how easily they fell away. As with all declining empires it’s the people who will eventually bring about change, not the fawning supporters or weak opposition.

A little wabi-sabi : finding beauty in imperfection. A feather Pat found in the bush. I used sumi ink and a 10/0 NEEF brush.

Quiet at the lake’s edge. A study in creating atmosphere; it’s like trying to paint the air.

Still water.
Distant land.
Time passing quietly.
A study in blue.

Beautiful watercolour Ellen. Painting is a very good way of quieting the mind.

Thank you.

It’s a shock to see what happened Ellen. Money and power I think is behind it all. If you look at all of the countries America has attacked in some way since WW2, it’s surprising to see the number.

Thank you Ellen. Wishing you and Ted and family all health and happiness and good painting for 2026.

What is fishing, but an excuse
to be still together?
To watch the same horizon,
to hear the lake sigh,
and say nothing at all. .

Beach study in ultramarine blue, raw umber and burnt sienna.

Winter solstice coming for us tomorrow.

Thanks again Ellen. I should include a bit more of my messy space.

This morning’s study of leaves from Kalimna Park bush, using my favourite calligraphy brush.

Thank you Ellen. Wabi-sabi - finding beauty in the impermanence of things. I trust you and Ted are eell and enjoying life.

Sunday morning brushwork of leaves found by @patgrumont in Kalimna bushland. This is on @st.cuthberts.mill cold press paper not the usual hot press.

Conte crayon from today’s life drawing session.

My pleasure Ellen. I sold paintings at Buda Historic Home Traditional Arts fair on Sunday. Pat is the organiser and maker of the produce you see here. Fruit cakes, jams, pickles, sauces and cordials. Her produce made $10,500 for Buda. I hope you and Ted are well.