January gives us the opportunity to see the beautiful shapes and patterns of the underlying structure of trees against the changing skies.
Here are a few photos taken on recent walks which I hope will inspire you, alternatively interpret the theme in any way you wish, either from your own reference photographs or from your imagination and send in to the gallery for us all to see and enjoy.

Julie will show you how to create a Festive wreath card in Pen and Watercolour.
Take photos of Christmas door wreaths for inspiration or create a design inspired by the reference photos below.
You will learn how to approach this subject, starting with a loose ink outline followed by an application of watercolour.

Inspired by a walk in Ashdown Forest in the High Weald of East Sussex Julie will demonstrate how to interpret this Autumnal scene in watercolour.

An old fishing boat in Thornham, Norfolk provides a perfect focal point to interpret in pen and watercolour.

Julie will demonstrate how to approach this North Norfolk coastal scene depicting rich Carr stone and red and white chalk cliffs, using a variety of techniques to include masking out, lifting colour, dry brush stroke and negative painting.

Capture the warm glow of these Norfolk beach huts surrounded by gorse, the grassy dunes and pine trees.

An evening sunset showing the dunes in the foreground and the sand bars between shallow pools reflecting the sky.
Julie will demonstrate how to approach skies and sea in watercolour using a variety of techniques to include wet on wet, wet on dry and dry grazing.

When painting wet on wet, to avoid the paper buckling, it is a good idea to stretch the watercolour paper if it is 140LB(300 grams per square metre) or under in weight.
The fibres become stretched when wet and the paper will remain flat providing a perfect surface to paint on.

Autumn embraces the rich shades of fruits and berries. Rich red rosehips stand out brightly against the complementary green foliage.
In this demonstration Julie will show how to capture the shine on the smooth surface of the berries and suggest the backdrop of foliage.

A popular subject, Julie will demonstrate how to interpret these March Hares in watercolour, against a loose background.

Walking along the roadside in Norfolk this wonderful carpet of lavender with pale pink thistles in the foreground provided inspiration for a painting with a horizontal feel.
Using both wet on wet and wet on dry techniques Julie will demonstrate her approach to this scene.

These artichokes caught my eye in the walled garden at Chartwell in Kent.
When these plants open fully they reveal a beautiful blue-violet centre which harmonise with the stunning shades in the outer segments.
Julie will show you how to capture their brilliance in watercolour.