Carly's Creations

28/07/2026

This week’s landscapes explored far more than painting trees. We focused on understanding tree form, building believable structure before thinking about detail. Through gentle layering, students discovered how transparent washes can gradually create depth, allowing light to remain within the painting rather than covering it over.

Composition became another important conversation. By carefully placing groups of trees, leaving breathing space, and considering where the eye naturally travels, each scene developed its own story. Although everyone worked from the same subject and techniques, every painting found its own unique character.

We also introduced tiny figures into the landscapes. It’s remarkable how just a few carefully placed brushstrokes can suddenly bring a scene to life. A walker, a child, a dog… these small additions give a sense of scale, movement and narrative, inviting us to imagine the quiet moments unfolding within the landscape.

Finally, we explored light, shade and shadow. Rather than painting every leaf, we looked for where the light falls, where shadows gather beneath the canopy, and how those contrasts help trees feel grounded within their surroundings. Often it’s the shadows that make the light believable.

It was another reminder that watercolour is rarely about painting everything. It’s about suggesting just enough, allowing light to do much of the work, and trusting the viewer’s imagination to complete the picture.

Every landscape here reflects not only growing technical skill, but also growing confidence to simplify, observe, and let the paint speak for itself. 🌿🎨

13/07/2026

Sometimes stepping away from a painting is exactly what it needs.

This beautiful watercolour was completed today by one of my students after sitting unfinished while she was away on holiday. It would have been easy to leave it behind and move on to the next project, but instead she chose to come back to it….and I’m so pleased she did.

Returning with fresh eyes often brings something new. There’s less urgency, more confidence, and a willingness to notice the small details that might have been missed the first time around. In this case, those delicate spider’s webs, the soft background and the glowing strawberries all came together beautifully.

It’s a lovely reminder that creativity doesn’t always follow our timetable. Sometimes the most rewarding progress comes from allowing ourselves the space to pause before continuing.

This painting was inspired by a stunning photograph by Nathalie Todd Photography, whose beautiful use of light made it a joy to interpret in watercolour. Thank you, Nathalie, for so generously sharing your work as inspiration.

Photography reference: Nathalie Todd Photography
Instagram:

Sometimes finishing something isn’t about working harder….it’s simply about coming back when the time feels right. 🍓🎨✨

13/07/2026

Patience is one of the quietest skills we learn in watercolour.

Not because we’re waiting for the paint to dry… but because we’re learning not to rush what can only be built one transparent layer at a time.

These tulips were created over several stages, allowing each wash to settle before the next could deepen the colour, shape the petals and slowly bring them to life. It can feel tempting to push ahead, but watercolour has a way of reminding us that some things simply cannot be hurried.

Although we all worked from the same beautiful reference photograph, kindly provided by Nathalie Todd Photography, each painting found its own direction. Different compositions, different background colours, different decisions along the way… each one reflecting the artist behind the brush rather than simply copying what was in front of them.

That’s one of my favourite things about teaching. The same starting point, yet every painting carries its own personality.

A lovely afternoon exploring layering, patience, and trusting the process. 🌷🎨

Thank you again to Nathalie Todd Photography https://www.facebook.com/share/1DFXfuRjY6/?mibextid=wwXIfr for allowing us to use such a beautiful image as our inspiration.

07/07/2026

☀️ What a perfect subject for yesterday’s watercolour lesson!

With the sunshine we’ve been enjoying lately, it felt only right to paint three friends enjoying a paddle in the sea. 🌊

This week’s challenge was something completely new… painting people and skin tones in watercolour. For many, figures can feel quite intimidating, but everyone embraced the challenge with wonderful enthusiasm.

I love how each painting tells the same story in its own unique way. Different brushstrokes, different colour choices, different interpretations… yet each one captures the warmth, friendship and carefree feeling of a beautiful summer’s day.

One of the things I enjoy most about teaching is watching confidence grow. There is never a “right” way to paint in watercolour, only your way. Every painting reflects the artist behind the brush, and that’s exactly what makes them so special.

A huge well done to everyone in yesterday’s class. Here’s to many more afternoons filled with paint, laughter and the simple joy of creating together.

🎨💙

03/07/2026

Every piece tells a story.

This little planter is making its way to its new home today. ❤️

It was commissioned by someone who has been through breast cancer and now lives with one breast following surgery. She asked whether I could create something that reflected her body, rather than an idealised version of one.

I was honoured to make it.

Art has a wonderful way of celebrating our stories, our resilience and the things that make each of us beautifully individual.

If you’ve ever had an idea for a piece that means something personal to you, I’d love to hear it. I enjoy creating bespoke commissions that can’t be found anywhere else.

The final photos are of the three quirky ceramic planters I currently have available. They’re all handmade, completely unique, and each has its own little character. They’d make a wonderful gift for someone who appreciates something a little different—or perhaps a treat for yourself.

These are the last three I have at the moment before I head back into the pottery workshop to create some new characters.

If one of them has already stolen your heart, just send me a message. 🤍

02/07/2026

Three boats… three new watercolour journeys. ⚓🎨

This week I had the pleasure of welcoming a lovely mother and daughter for a private watercolour lesson. Neither had painted in watercolour before, yet both embraced the process with curiosity, patience and a willingness to simply have a go.

Using a reference image found on Pinterest, they explored loose washes, ink line work, texture, and the challenge of suggesting movement in the sea rather than painting every wave. It’s always wonderful to see how two people can begin with the same reference and create something uniquely their own.

I think they’ve done an absolutely fantastic job for a first experience with this beautifully unpredictable medium. Watercolour has a way of reminding us that not everything has to be perfect to be beautiful.

Thank you both for such an enjoyable afternoon. I hope this is just the beginning of your watercolour adventure. 💙

30/06/2026

🍓 This week’s watercolour challenge… strawberries in the summer light.

Sometimes the simplest subjects are the most challenging. Delicate stems, glowing backlight, soft backgrounds, tiny seeds, spider webs, and the subtle translucency of petals all ask us to slow down and really observe.

This week we worked from a truly beautiful reference photograph, generously shared by the wonderfully talented Nathalie Todd. Her image captured not just strawberries, but a fleeting moment of light that made the whole scene come alive. Thank you, Nathalie, for allowing us to learn from such a stunning photograph and for inspiring this week’s paintings.

As always, each artist approached the same subject in their own way. That’s one of the things I love most about watercolour….there is never just one right interpretation. Every painting reflects different decisions, different techniques, and a different way of seeing.

I’m so proud of what everyone achieved.

🍓 Thank you, Nathalie, for the inspiration. Give her some love Nathalie Todd https://www.facebook.com/share/1KcLJ52AEu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

29/06/2026

Finding the light beyond the shadows.

This week’s watercolour was inspired by an industrial northern scene, where towering steelwork, old mills and quiet waterways come together.

I loved the challenge of balancing the heavy, dark structure overhead with the softer light reflected in the water below. It’s a reminder that even the most imposing places often reveal unexpected beauty when you slow down and really look.

Watercolour has a way of teaching patience. It doesn’t always do exactly what you planned, but sometimes that’s where the magic happens.

I hope this little interpretation captures something of the character and atmosphere of the North.

Have a lovely evening everyone.

🎨 Carly

06/06/2026

26/05/2026

For a long time, I thought creativity had to become something useful to be worthwhile.

That rest had to be earned.
That joy had to be justified.
That slowing down somehow meant falling behind.

Years of fast-paced living and striving shaped far more of me than I realised, and even moving to rural France did not undo that overnight.

Losing John changed something deeper still. It sharpened the awareness that life cannot only be about productivity, deadlines, and endlessly postponing aliveness for another day.

And perhaps this is why creativity matters so much to me now.

Not because everything needs to become art.
But because making, creating, wandering, noticing, shaping clay, writing thoughts, sitting quietly with ourselves, all of it brings us back into relationship with being human.

I recently wrote a longer reflection on creativity, play, nervous system health, and the human need to feel alive.

If it resonates, you’re very welcome to read it here:

https://www.operationyou.coach/post/creativity-play-and-the-human-need-to-feel-alive