I felt really worried about painting on canvas for the first time. It's so much bigger than I'm used to working on and, unlike paper, unforgiving of any errors (happy accidents). I was so nervous I drafted not once but three times, testing out brushstrokes, colours and composition because I knew there would be little room for error once I started.

Then it was time, and I knew I could not procrastinate anymore. I just needed 30 seconds of mad courage to put paint on paper. Time to take the plunge!

... and you know what? It was totally freeing! It turns out I love working on big canvas, and, it had an unexpected knock-on effect.

This year my parents have been trying to convince me to enter the Alfred Cove Art Society Awards of Excellence held in May, which requires that I submit two original artworks for sale. I don't usually sell any of my originals, but that's about to change!

Using canvas has allowed me to create something different that I’m really proud of and I’m thrilled to say, will be entering into the awards for sale. This piece will be one of them! Oh, how much I'd have missed out on, if I had given in to my fear of the unknown.

Watch me be brave!

Monique x

Colours by Daniel Smith and Jane Davenport

250gsm Watercolour Canvas

3/4" Oval Wash Princeton Neptune

No 8 medium liner brush

Music - Jam for the Empress by Mark Mothersbaugh

Awards of Excellence 3rd-12th of May, 2024 at Atwell House https://acas.wildapricot.org/Events

Chasingthejoyartwork.com