As spring comes in full force, attention again turns to the garden and what to do to brighten it and make it more cheerful.  Personally at this time of year I start looking at my garden ornaments and flower pots.

On a recent trip to Denver Colorado, I was amazed by how amount of diversity of the street art.  Denver is a flourishing metropolitan city, with staggering architecture.  However the character of the city has been enhanced by the level of artistic expression on virtually every street corner.

There seems to be pheasants wandering all over the place at the moment.  For all the male is basically a rich bronze brown bird its the spash of red round the eye and the white collar that always draws my eye.  When using colours it is sometimes a case of less is more for mximum impact and that duller colours can provide a foil that lifts brighter ones.  To me the pheasant also has a rather elegant sleek shape whilst walking about, although somewhat ungainly  when taking flight.

Have you ever noticed the odd things that inspire you. Ideas for colours and textures can come from the most unexpected places, a cup of coffee, cream on the top of a hot chocolate, a fallen leaf, a tree covered in snow.

Travelling home in the lovely sunshine the other evening, I passed a field of oil seed rape in full bloom.