Saturday, 18th January 2025 - Tim's Loaf Day 18 #stradaeasel Tim was up kneading dough before I had emerged for the day. He was making a loaf to take to friends for lunch. He made two. We have kept one to have a Sunday indulgence with. It is a thing of beauty and made a lovely model for today's painting. This morning I finished making the kitchen sticky with marmalade. It is looking like a firmish set which is always a bonus. I have a tendency to made runny preserves. Lindsey was our chauffeur for the day. She took us to Aldi for coffee beans, B&Q where we found half price cyclamen that I had converted last week. On to Tonbridge to John and Diane's home. We wandered through the streets of Tonbridge and around the castle. It was buzzing. We stopped at Fuggles for nuts, a couple of drinks and more nuts before heading back to John and Diane's for a very long, tasty, lazy lunch. Lindsey, Tim and John have know each other for sixty plus years. Yes, there was lots of reminiscing. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Friday, 17th January 2025 - Lizzie's Pot Sarah and I have had to find a new coffee venue for our intermittent catch ups. Wendy's in Cranbrook, where we have shared many a bacon roll with chilli jam, is shut. We met in Tenterden at Nutmeg - lovely coffee but no bacon rolls with chilli jam. I went back to the car to find my keyfob wasn't working. With over the phone instruction from Tim I unlocked the passenger door, clambered over the seat ready to head home. My Nissan wasn't going anywhere. I had left the headlights on and the battery flat. Tim came with his extra long jump leads and got me back on the road. Our kitchen is like being in a sauna from simmering Seville oranges. I have two preserving pans of marmalade on a rolling boil that will be served to delighted bed and breakfast guests. Squeezing the bags of pith and pips I imagine is a bit like milking a cow. Day 17 #stradaeasel Today I have painted hyacinths that Elizabeth gave us. They smell gorgeous. When the bulbs are long gone we will still have beautiful bowl made by Elizabeth. I think it will be perfect for crisps with a glass of cold wine in the summer. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Thursday, 16th January 2025 - Sevilles at the Ready What we had planned today didn't occur. The flu virus put paid to our plans. Dammit. Tim and I are fine. Day 16 #stradaeasel It is that glorious but short lived time of year to make marmalade. Delia's recipe is the best. I couldn't think of a better subject for today's painting. I reverted back to my comfort zone using pen and watercolour. - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Wednesday, 15th January 2025 - Alison's Pots I was slow to get going this morning. I need to set an alarm to get myself up as I am getting later to bed and later to get up. I will be back to doing bed and breakfast soon. Time to reset my body clock. Late afternoon I plugged in my audio book and fought with the dead plants in the garden. I came in to cook dinner. I made white onion sauce to go with our pheasant. Mum used to made onion sauce. I had a reminisce of those days. Sooo good. Day 15 #stradaeasel I was with The Viridians at Alison's today. We had a still life set up to tackle. After four hours painting including a break for a soup, bread and cheese lunch we packed up our brushes. I had another battle with oil paints that caused me a raft of emotions. I took photos of my process. Interesting to look back on - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Tuesday, 14th January 2025 - Sprig of Carnations Tim and I spent the afternoon in the garden clearing, tidying, planting seeds and chopping logs in the sunshine. If felt good to begin to kick the garden into shape We came in wondering what to cook for dinner. It turned into a impromptu evening. We went to see Conclave at the Kino. Alli and Nick were going and gave us the idea. Even better Tuesday is half price. What a great film with an interesting twisty ending. We planned to head home for baked beans on toast. A quick drink in The Queens resulted in pizza for dinner. Day 12 #stradaeasel I was later to my painting than expected. I had a twig with lichen on in preparation for today's painting. Too complicated after a tummy full of pizza. So I have painted a sprig of pretty carnations that are left over from a bunch of flowers that Tom had bought at Christmas. I do love drawing in Indian ink with a twig. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Monday, 13th January 2025 - Jelly Sweets Gift It has been a quiet day. Tim went to London. Tescos delivered and restocked my cupboards for the week. I did a bit of yoga. Brought in some logs. Lots of 'stuff' got done. Then I rested a painful shoulder. Day 13 #stradaeasel A friend of ours got a treatsized bag of Haribo in parcel they received. Being diagnosed with diabetes the sweets were off their menu. I have been gifted them. I decided they would make a good picture for today. It was much harder than I thought. I was a bit frustrated that I couldn't get the translucency of them. Their punishment? I have eaten them!

Sunday, 12th January 2025 - Church in the Snow Tim and I had a slippery drive to Dingleden to meet Tony and Wendy. We ventured out the back of their house into the woods, along some very icy roads, creaky iced paths that took us to The Woodcock. I needed a hot chocolate. We walked through Standen Apple Orchards that smelt of cider from the fermenting apples. This evening we had a most delicious chilli. It was made even more tasty by the fact the Tim cooked it. Perfect food to refuel after a 12,000 step walk. This evening I have been researching plants/animals/symbols for January birthdays. I fancy doing some linocuts. I now have a list for inspiration. Day 12 #stradaeasel I set myself up in the same spot by the Catholic Church as yesterday just in front of our house. Today I had my watercolour palette. I seem to lose time when painting. I get so engrossed in what I am doing the world around me stops. It was another freezing session under my feet. I had to find another pair of handwarmers with a very charming red fluffy band. Yesterdays got covered in oil paint. I had a wonderful time. Working outside I find challenging. I am learning to cropping and simplyfying the view. It is so tempting to put in everything. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Saturday, 11th January 2025 - Benenden Catholic Church Day 11 Stradaeasel Challenge I have been following other artists doing the #stradaeasel challenge. Wow, what an amazing group of artists and so inspiring. Some have been out doing en plein air work. I can do that I thought. So, today I ventured outside while the snow and frost was still on the ground, the sun was shining and it was beautiful. Tim helped me set up, bit wobbly on the leafy ground. For nearly two hours I painted. What a fabulous time. I was totally engrossed in an art zone. It wasn't until I had finished and started to move that I realised that I was frozen to my toes. Not a Picasso but I felt his passion. Learnt loads. I don't like a dark palette - can't see the tones. I need a husband to bring me warming tea. I feel very privileged that I could indulge in my passion. This afternoon I ironed bed and breakfast bedding and a couple of shirts and blouses. A couple of drinks at the Ewe and Lamb followed by a frittata (our hens are prolific) was a good way to end a Saturday. - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Friday, 10th January 2025 - Eggs on Check Tim was up and making bread before I had unwrapped myself from my duvet. A couple of hours later we headed into Tunbridge wells with the car smelling like a bakery from Tim's baked loaf. I went to M&S and felt their bedding. What I wanted wasn't in store. Bit disappointing but I did get to feel the quality of their cotton sheets. I met Tim is Asda. We left with coconut oil and a Beano. I also found some boxes to store the Christmas decorations that are littering the house in a very irritating mess. B&Q was full of half price polyanthus. We stocked up on those and headed back to the car to find a flat tyre. Dammit. After emptying the boot onto the ground - amazing how much stuff my little Nissan boot can hold including a fold up chair and painting easel. Out came the jack and spare tyre. The safety nut would not budge. After a couple of phone calls to Nick and Si explaining our predicament they suggested going to Crazy tyres. An hour later and a very entertaining time I had chatting with a mechanic, with terrible knee trouble but very white teeth, we were back on the road. We spent the afternoon at Nick and Alli's with Si and Lesley. The parsnip soup was delicious. Tim's bread was a triumph. Day 10 #stradaeasel Another day that my mind couldn't decide what to paint. When we were at Nick and Alli's the view was beautiful with a sky of many colours. It would have made a lovely painting but I would have had to take a photo and that is not allowed in the Strada Easel Challenge. Another dammit. Inspiration struck as I was peeling eggs for dinner. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Thursday, 9th January 2025 - 'Scentsational' Sweetpeas It was lovely to wake to a sunny day with the snow still on the ground. Everything looks so sparkly clean. So pretty. I was out the door onto the slushy roads on my way to meet my long lost friends for coffee. I haven't seen them since before Christmas which is far too long. I returned two bottles of unwanted sparkling Chapel Down to Tescos, I know, I know, it was a difficult decision. We thought it was offer but it wasn't so a return was imperative. I wandered up a snowy Tenterden to Nutmeg where Pippa and June were already there. We had a coffee. Then another one. So many stories to catch up with. I got back home and did a tidy up of our kitchen, lit the woodburner and made some biscuits - I forgot to buy any. Ruth interviewed me for a Spotlight piece for the Benenden Parish magazine about my Connected Postcard project I did in 2024. Ruth made it very easy to chat. I was feeling slightly nervous which was daft. I headed out to a WOKAS meeting this evening. The roads were already icy and very wet. The road from Benenden had very little grit if any. It didn't feel safe at 6.30pm. Three hours later and plummeting temperatures it would be even worse so I decided to turn around and had leftover curry with Tim. Day 9 #stradaeasel I was getting my sweet pea seeds ready to soak for germination as recommended to me by Anya The Garden Fairy who I follow on Instagram. She gives brilliant gardening hints and tips. The torn packet and seeds were the inspiration for today's watercolour paining. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Wednesday, 8th January 2025 - Night Snow Cleaning and gardening were on my list today. Cleaning done. I wrapped myself up in hat, coat, boots and gloves to tackle the dead and droopy ferns. Back in the kitchen I rustled up a quick pheasant curry and a bottom of the vegetable basket curry - it took three hours before it was on the plates. Not sure why curries take sooo long to cook. A major benefit is we have enough for tomorrow. Oh and it was delicious. Day 8 #stradaeasel As I type there is a sprinkling of snow in the garden. This will be my subject for today's painting. I just have to work out how to do it without going outside. I ended up leaning on the top of our open stable door. I used Daniel Smith Moonglow and Luna Black watercolour because they granulate beautifully. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Tuesday, 7th January 2025 - A Trio of Pears A great way to spend a Tuesday morning is with your sister buying seeds in preparation of a floriferous garden. I have sweetpeas to plant now, nicotiana and cosmos for pots, snapdragons that remind me of my grandad, marigolds to keep the bugs off the broad and french beans which will be entwined with nasturtiums. Sounds fantastic doesn't it. Lindsey and I came back after coffee and cheese scones in the Benenden cafe to find Tony, Wendy and Tim tackling the large trunks of our fallen hornbeam. With my audio book playing I stacked many many barrows of split logs. They are now piled high seasoning in our log store. Day 7 #stradaeasel While Lindsey and I were out on our adventures we called into Chittenden Farm shop. I came out with a pheasant - £3 what a bargain, brussel tops, cheerful gold apples and the subject of today's painting, pears. Such a great farm shop. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #ınstadaily

Monday, 6th January 2025 - New Beginnings Tom and Fable have returned to Northampton. We will miss them and our evenings together. I went for a last muddy walk. I could not mend my old wellies. I have new ones that are even better and got a good puddle testing today. I craved comfort food. Tim made me homemade pasties with chips and baked beans. I feel very comforted. Day 6 #stradaeasel After feeding the ruffled feathered garden birds I had a wander around the garden in search of a subject for my painting. The snowdrops are up but not flowering but I did discover a polyanthus in flower. They symbolise new beginnings which is perfect for 2025. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily

Saturday, 5th January 2025 - Herbie's Pink Poinsettia It has been sad taking down the Christmas decorations and stuffing them back into the boxes. The house looks kind of 'naked' without them. We are going to a birthday party this evening. I love a party. `It will be a fun one as we have been told to take torches, wellies and wrap up warm. The original party was going to be in a marquee but that flooded overnight. Now it's in a barn. At least it's not snowing. Day 5 #stradaeasel It took me a while to settle into what to paint today. The pink poinsettia that Herbie gave me was the perfect subject. I don't have much use for my watercolour Opera Pink that sits patiently on my palette. It was in got lots of use today. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily

Saturday, 4th January 2025 - Oracle Roses Tim and I worked into the garden clearing up our fallen trees before the snow was due. We chopped, dragged, and barrowed until we had reinstated clear pathways through the garden. My muscles in every part of my body happily ache. We didn't get any snow. We got rain. I feel bereft. I have finished watching The Resident. Day 4 #stadaeasel I have had fun playing with time-lapse videos of my painting. I have done one of the painting below. If you would like to see it have a look at my Instagram page katerundellartist. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily

Friday, 3rd January 2025 - John's Grapes The Prana practice I am following with Adriene is surprisingly difficult. Today was less than 20 minutes and involved a lot of breath work but my keeping myself correctly seated takes a lot of concentration. I feel a little sore around my shoulders. The Evans and Poppy came for homemade pizzas. The breadmaker is excellent for making dough for a lazy cook like me. The grandchildren added their own toppings. I like to see what they choose. Hetty's was very symmetrical. Raffy had one central olive. Herbie's was salami heavy. We played Connect 4. It belonged to my mother-in-law. I am so pleased I kept it. The brave ones took the dogs for a very cold and frosty walk. I have missed their company and felt much better after their visit. Day 3 #stradaeasel We bought some grapes for a friend who is hospital. He requested grapes. We didn't get to visit him today. We have some tasty grapes to eat. - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily

Thursday, 2nd January 2025 - Onion in Onion Ink After a session with Adriene that left me checking my posture throughout the day, I headed into the garden to clear our fallen tree. It is looking better but we have another couple of days of tidying and chain sawing. The logs will be ready in 2027 after a couple of years of drying and seasoning. I had a lovely mug of tea with Lindsey. And then I had another. It was lovely warming my muscles in front of her woodburner. I took her a bunch of daffodils for being wonderful. I came home to find dinner had been prepared. Thank you Tom for the bargain salmon. Thank you Tim for the cooking. I was very hungry after my day of logging. Day 2 #stradaeasel Today's painting is painting with ink I made from onion skins, a touch of avocado stone ink and some white ink made from aluminium that has been steeping on the window sill for over a year. Great fun. - - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #artofinstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily #oilpainting

Wednesday, 1st January 2025 - Tom's Apple in Oils Happy 2025 to you all. Any resolutions? Mine are the usual, eat less, drink less, exercise more. They will be broken within a few weeks but my intentions are good. We were surprised that we still had power this morning after a very wet and windy night. Unfortunately an ailing tree had succumbed to the wind and lost a couple of rather large limbs. From the house it didn't look too bad but after donning our wellies and raincoats on closer inspection it had clipped the edge of the greenhouse taking out a couple of panes of glass and squishing a water butt. The spindlberry was in the line of fire and now horizontal. We have a lot of clearing up to do. The nasty bit is the glass from the greenhouse which we cleared most of today. Day1 #stradaeasel I have finished my postcard project. For January 2025 I am doing The Strada Easel Challenge. I am taking part so I can win an easel!!! No harm in being positive. Every day - oh yes, you paint/draw/create a work of art only from life. I thought I would start simple. One apple in oil. Blimey! I am glad you didn't hear the expletives emanating from my studio. Felt fantastic to be painting something bigger than a postcard. - - #stradaeasel #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #artofinstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily #oilpainting

Tuesday, 31st December 2024 - Towers, Oasts and Cloches I feel a bit emotional as I post my last postcard. 366 have been painted/printed and sent to friends and family. I am very proud of myself that I have completed the project. I have had so many wonderful responses to the postcards it has been well worth the dedication. Thank you to all of you who have received my postcards and the lovely replies. Being the last day of 2024 I have been thinking about 2025. I am really really bad at sticking to resolutions but I love making them. I have printed Adriene's yoga calendar for January. It is stuck on the fridge so I can cross off my progress. I do like a tick chart. Today I rummaged around in Adrien's archives and found a Detox flow that made me establish that I need to do a bit more work on my wobbly eagle pose. We went for a wander around Sissinghurst gardens with Tony and Wendy this afternoon. Our garden looks sad at this time of year and we were looking for inspiration. It was reassuring to see that Sissinghurst looks a bit rough at this time of year. After a hot chocolate we took a walk around the lake. I have a notebook with ideas to invigorate our borders. Back home and we have the woodburner alight, a bottle of sparkling wine and Fable. Happy New Year to you all.- - - #katesconnectedpostcardproject #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #watercolour #artoninstagram #artofinstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily #danielsmithwatercolors

Monday, 30th December 2024 - Christmas Fairy I met the Tescos delivery man on my doorstep in my yoga gear. Better than the previous week when I was in my PJ's and slippers. I think part of their training must to avoiding commenting on attire people meet them them. I fired up my old computer in the bedroom and found Yoga for Renewal. Adriene helped me stretch my many body parts. So good I must do it more often. Lindsey popped in. Her festive family have left. I know the feeling of how sad that can feel. I made her a mug of tea to make her feel better. This evening Tom cooked for us. A mushroom tagliatelle was perfect food for a winter evening. Today's postcard is my penultimate one. The fairy that adorns the top of our Christmas tree was my model. I am looking forward to painting bigger in 2025. - - #katesconnectedpostcardproject #apaintingaday #katerundell #artblog #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #watercolour #artoninstagram #artofinstagram #painting #watercolourpainting #blogger #dailyblogger #winsorandnewton #instadaily #danielsmithwatercolors