2026 drawing project - plant forms for June and July

 

I seem to be experiencing some gremlins within my blog. For reasons that remain a mystery this post didn't publish last month and I seem to be unable to comment on mine or anyone else's blog. I haven't the foggiest why but hope it resolves itself soon. Fingers crossed that this post publishes....

This is the missing drawing from June for my drawing a month project. The same model as March's drawing but this time a top view.

Pine cone top view   sketchbook study in stages   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

My drawing for July is below. Dandelions begun in Spring but only recently completed. The meadows were full of lush grass and dandelions back then - a very different story to now as everything is burnt, dry and dusty with the rather repetitive heatwaves.

Dandelion study   sketchbook page   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

How beautiful was this? I couldn't fail to be inspired...

Dog Walks - sketchbook pages

 

Dog Walks I   sketchbook pages   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Collage pages from my pocketbook, quick sketches from the dog walks. Prints to follow...

Dog Walks II   sketchbook pages   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

2026 Drawing project - Mrs Willmott's Ghost

 

Mrs Willmott's Ghost   sketchbook page coloured pencil and ink    ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Eryngium giganteum, with the common name Miss Willmott's Ghost, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. The short-lived herbaceous perennial thistle is native to the Caucasus and Iran in Western Asia.

Source: Wikipedia

Named after Ellen Willmott (1858 - 1934) who liked to secretly scatter seed, maybe the first guerrilla gardener, she certainly seemed like a character with an interesting life and a passion for horticulture.

I love this plant for it's barely there colour, almost luminescent tones, which makes a strong contrast against other plants. The specimens that I have drawn here were grown in my garden last summer and have dried to a hint of cream in colour. I am looking forward to seeing it again this year.

Mrs Willmott's Ghost (detail)   sketchbook page coloured pencil and ink    ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

2026 drawing project - honesty... silver dollars...lunaria and a pine cone

 

Honesty Silver Dollars Lunaria   sketchbook drawing mixed media   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec  

April's drawing (I am so late posting!) is inspired by a stem of Honesty that blew across my path as I walked down to the fields. It was dull grey winter time and this little stem shone like it contained all the light of the day - so beautiful. It has been standing in a bottle for a few months waiting for its turn to be drawn. It isn't until you start to closely observe that you see just how many colours are contained within it's luminous discs, I'm not sure I have done it justice but it was an absolute joy to try.

Now I am not sure what happened to March's drawing because I did post it but it seems to have gotten lost as it is not here now. Anyway, I will include it here;

Pine cone Drawing stages   sketchbook mixed media   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

I used to draw pinecones frequently in the past, I love getting lost in the patterns but has been a little while since the last one. I thought you might like to see the stages of drawing that I use and below the final sketch.

 

Pine cone  mixed media in sketchbook   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Below is a bonus sketch; on a familiar stretch on a dog walk I came across this on the path. Either the remainder of something's lunch or maybe discarded by another dog  was this 'pinecone flower' another treasure bagged and stored away in a pocket to be drawn. The strange thing was that I'm pretty sure the nearest pine tree is about a kilometre away so this little flower had travelled a bit.

Pine cone  mixed media in sketchbook   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

I will try to be a little more punctual for May!

A circular sketchbook - mixed media storms, waves & gulls

 

I started a new pocket sketchbook at the beginning of the year. I have prepped the pages with tissue some marked with ink by drying prints others with watercolour marks. Each page will have a composition made within a circle. I am hoping that I will learn things about composition from a change in format. I am allowing myself to spill outside of the circle as the mood takes me. I will probably stick to grey, indigo and white to take away the decision fatigue of choosing palettes. I like the consistency in these small sketchbooks when reviewing sketches over a longer period of time. 

I used to work within circles quite often in watercolour so it feels, at least to begin with, like I am revisiting old ground with new eyes. Of course the sea, as always is present and so too are the gulls that circle and swoop within my work. At least that is how it is starting although that isn't necessarily how the sketchbook will finish. It does rather fell like the start of a voyage in a way...

Circle sketchbook page   watercolour and mixed media   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Circle sketchbook page   watercolour and mixed media   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Circle sketchbook page   watercolour and mixed media   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Colour palettes for a new Fabric and Wallpaper Collection.

 

I thought I would share how I start to play with colours and choose palettes for new pattern collections in fabric and wallpaper. I am very drawn at the moment to yellows, ochres and soft lilacs which feels like a big leap from the teals, blues and turquoise I have turned to in painting and printmaking lately.

Palette Inspiration Golden Yellow and Lavender   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

I am very inspired by this postcard that I picked up at the Russell-Cotes Museum of 'Magpie or Still Life with Magpie by Clementina M Hull 1866-1908. It may not come across in this picture but the colours are both subtle and vibrant and the complimentaries sing beautifully against each other. I need the cheerful colour in the middle of Winter amidst all the grey and dark.


Isolating the colours and curating them with shells, objects from my collections and paint swatches that I have painted is an interesting exercise. I like to move physical objects around and lay them on painted swatches as it feels more real than just manipulating on a screen. I want to see how colour behaves in different light and how it will drape around a form like fabric will in real life. It helps me to imagine how it can be used within a real setting. 

Colour Inspiration Sea Sage   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Palette Inspiration Summertime Blues   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Colour Inspiration Deep Duck Egg  ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Isn't the koi door handle and plate above stunningly beautiful? This is from the Russell-Cotes Museum too. The stripes are from corrugated plastic roofing on Boscombe pier - not quite so artisan and romantic but colour inspiring in its own way.

Colour Inspiration Warm Terracotta   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

This gorgeous botanical sample was photographed at an exhibition of May Morris designs last year. It was amazing to see the drawings, watercolours and evolution of her designs along side the finished work. 

You can see from these palettes that I am a bit of a magpie too, always collecting treasures, making connections. Sometimes the flotsam and jetsam takes years to surface and influence work but I think the benefit of time is important, ideas need to evolve and percolate waiting for the right moment.

The new Collection will hopefully be ready to share next week or the week after, I have been working away on them since December and am partway through loading them onto Spoonflower. 

Little Beach Treasures - a new sketchbook

 

Little beach treasures sketchbook pages   watercolour   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

A new sketchbook to record treasures found. It will include shells, pottery sherds, pebbles, driftwood, seaweed and any other interesting bits and pieces that I find and make their way home in my pocket. I think this sketchbook will be quite the visual diary. It is small, about 12x12cm, so nothing too intimidating, the sketches can only be to a certain level of detail. It will be my version of morning pages and will encourage me to keep my watercolour practice going. I have been finding it hard to keep up lately with other projects taking up all my time but hopefully this will be my motivation.

2026 Drawing Projects - February Poppy Seedheads

 

Poppy seedheads from my garden  coloured pencil on buff paper   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

This months drawing of poppy seedheads was deceptively tricky to draw. Although the shapes are simple the subtle colouring is a different story. The tones are warm to neutral with  surprising amount of warm blue/lavender - hopefully I have done them justice. 

2026 Drawing Project - January Holly Leaves

 It has begun... my 2026 drawing project. I am pausing drawing shells for this year and turning to plants, seeds and leaves that I can find either in my garden or in the local area. All the same themes will be a focus; shape, structure, tone, details... there are lots of similarities but they are different enough for new challenges and discoveries. 

Holly Leaf inspiration   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Holly Leaf inspiration   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

To kick off the year and the inspiration for this years project are these rather lovely decaying holly leaves. They are such a joy to draw that I have covered two pages in my sketchbook - in the second page I have increased the scale to really enjoy both detail and colour. Unfortunately good light for photographing the pages isn't great today and my lamp is shining on the paper surface a bit much on one side - apologies.

Whilst drawing the veins in the leaves I am reminded of coral that I have drawn in years gone by. Also it is interesting to note that in the very decayed leaves secondary veins run parallel to the stem as well as branching off from it. I haven't observed this before. Every day is a school day.

Decaying Holly Leaves   sketchbook page coloured pencil   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

Decaying Holly Leaves   sketchbook page coloured pencil   ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

December's spiral drawing

Spiral shell drawing   pencil and ink on paper   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

And here it is - the final spiral drawing for 2025, a Venus comb - a favourite to draw though I haven't for some time. Drawing it head on like this it reminded me of some dinosaur toys my son had when he was little....stegosaurus like back spines. 

I'm still pondering the drawing project for 2026. I just can't make up my mind.....

Surf Studies - mixed media on canvas boards

 

Surf Study I-IV   mixed media 10x10cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

A series of surf studies in mixed media. My attempt to capture the energy and sequential movement of the waves as they make their way to the shore. ...trying not to overpaint and overstate... to keep the sketchiness of a glimpse.

 

mixed media monoprint sketches ©2025LisaLeQuelenec 

These mixed media monoprint sketches from the Ran's Net project have been lingering in my mind and provided the starting point.

Surf Studies I - IV stage 1 ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I started by scaring myself, going straight in with the darkest tones. The froth of the waves are made by preparing the board with scrim fabric, the texture of which lends itself to the shapes I wanted to capture. I wanted to keep some of the warmth of bare linen in these 'sketches' and knew I would find it hard to not overpaint.

Surf Studies I - IV stage 2 ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Stage 2, building up the colour and tones and deciding that I needed a little sky for the sea spray to fly against.

Surf Studies I - IV stage 3 ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Stage 3, tightening up the tones, working their push and pull, layer upon layer. Painting can be quite similar to watching the tide in some ways - advancing, retreating, pushing forward, knocking back.

All four pieces are available in my Folksy store.

October's Spiral Shell Drawing

 

October spiral shell drawing   pencil and ink  ©2025Lisa Le Quelenec

Spiral for October, a Lightening Whelk I believe. A really weighty and solid specimen which I hope I have conveyed. - Only two more drawings to go for this series.

I have made these drawings individually for framed prints available at  RedBubble

Shell Portrait IX - prints available framed and unframed at RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Shell Portrait X - prints available framed and unframed at RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

September's spiral drawing

 

September Shell Spiral Drawing  ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

September's model is smaller but a satisfying weight in the hand. The shell walls are thick and solid. It is a testament to the strength of the creature that called it home and also the ocean's where the points have been worn down.

I have been adding this series to my RedBubble store, I like the look of them as framed prints. What do you think?

August's Spiral drawing

 

August's spiral shell drawing pencil and ink on paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Ran's Glimmers - drypoint with mixed media

 

Sketchbook experiments in mixed media ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

'...have gold, so if lost at sea you aren't empty handed to Ran's hall'

- Fridhjaf's saga

Golden tributes thrown over the side of the boat to appease Ran for a safe crossing whilst a recurring theme in many mythologies is to pay the boatman for crossing into the next life. The more about mythology that I read the more connections I make between peoples and cultures, we are more alike than not. The same worries and fears even over vast distances and time, I wish we could remember that a bit more.

 

Ghost print from Scintillating II with mixed media ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Ran's Glimmers   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

The gold mica paint is from a set by Kuretake - Gansai Tambi Starry Colours which is a range of 6 from silver pearl to a deep rich gold. 

June's Spiral drawing - unidentified shell

 

June's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

This shell had lots of lumps and bumps to navigate and textures too. The spines were satisfying to draw - some had received a bit of damage to their tips but I think it adds to its character. 

This year is running away fast. Can you believe that it is June already? It doesn't feel like I have done six spiral drawings already this year and yet here they are...

Detail of June's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Scintillating - drypoint etching print

 

Taking a line for a walk  sketchbook page 8x15cm approx   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I have so many sketches like this - scribbly lines that I have drawn trying to capture the lines and movement in wind disturbed water. I must have spent days maybe weeks worth of hours watching and listening to where the breeze ruckles and ruffles one area more than another, looking at edges and tonal patterns, feeling the differentials of air, smelling and tasting the salt, observing the sun scintillating across the surface. Although a full sensory experience it is also a calming and soothing way to spend time, maybe the hypnotic patterns blow away any worries that I have.

Taking a number of sketches and memories I have made a drypoint which I think maybe the first in a series of explorations of these scribbles and thoughtnotes.

Scintillating   drypoint etching and plate ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Scintillating   drypoint etching 8x15cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

This print is available in my Folksy store and I have added a second proof print to my Etsy Store. There will be a varies edition of around ten prints once I have finished with this plate but I was getting to impatient and had to share this one with you now ;o)

Spiral drawing for May - 3 for 1 shells

 

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I started but I couldn't stop! Three spirals for May as they are getting quite addictive. I'm chasing my tail still trying to catch up on projects that I feel should have been finished already. Sometimes things take longer than you think. I was hoping to be able to have the Ran's Daughters project finished and ready to share buy the end on April but it hasn't quite worked out that way. I am getting close though... even with distracting spiral drawings in the mix.

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

April's Spiral Drawing - Queen conch

 

March Spiral Drawing - pencil and ink on toned paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Sliding in at the end on the month with April's spiral drawing. This one was especially difficult to capture the spiral and descending order of size in the protrusions a couple of which were also bendy and different to the others. Isn't nature wonderful in all her perfect imperfections? She kept me on my toes anyway.

 

Mixed media - A Flick of the Tail & On the Brink

 

Sketchbook study page for Ran's Net Project watercolour and watersoluble pencils ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

pre-painting sketch... 

Stage 1 - 4 for A Flick of the Tail 30x30cm mixed media ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Stage 1 - tissue paper, calico and a little acrylic medium...just making loose shapes and the gist of the composition. 

Stage 2 - pale areas of colour in acrylic.

Stage 3 - building up tones and colours.

Stage 4 - adding more tone, refining edges, flinging and spattering paint. This was the ugly stage where I lived with the painting for a few days. I tried to sneak up on it and take it by surprise but would retreat muttering to myself. I think I had gotten too dark too soon and wanted to bring back some light, I couldn't decide if I needed to make it feel less solid and more gentle/fluid or keep the harsh solidity of stormy water.

A Flick of the Tail   mixed media on canvas board 30x30cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I decided to warm things a little and remove some of the contrast. A little more spattering and texture in the paint - I wanted to capture a split second of time - a 'did I just see that?' moment... a playful teasing.  

At the Brink   mixed media 30x30cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

In contrast this piece shows a slightly more feisty side...the literal net is out (fruit netting from a bag of plums adhered to the board with acrylic medium) and ready to capture what it may. This is no playful splash but the brink of something that could become more sinister. I wanted to show the pressure of water about to pound down and a net waiting to engulf and drag off in the back wash. 

Snippet from a photo of the inside of a mussel shell ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

The shapes, colours and textures from this little section of a mussel shell interior that has been sat on my desk quietly waited for me to notice it's connection to the painting.  It too had been rolled around and most likely pounded by the sea.

A little softening of the contrasts and areas of the wave and the painting is now complete.

At the Brink   mixed media on canvas board 30x30cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Working on these two pieces simultaneously allowed them to influence and speak to each other. By sharing base materials, format and palette I hope to portray their connection even though each is an extreme of  disposition or emotion. I think this series is going to be a challenge, interesting but a challenge.

Both of these paintings are available in my Etsy store.