Sarah is a British eccentric who writes offbeat fiction, haiku and tanka poetry. When stuck for words, she sketches or paints instead. She's into nature conservation, sustainability, gardening, dogs, natural health, and reading. Her sociability is something that happens in short bursts with long breathing spaces in between.
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23 thoughts on “#Tanka 53 + Two Contrasting Seasonal Paintings from 2020”
I can so relate to your tanka. Which muse will win? I love these paintings. Your talents split two for one. 😉 Let’s hope for a better year where both muses flourish and sing. 😀
Whilst I was over at your blog, you seemed to have been visiting mine. Great minds and all that…
I’m extra chuffed when a talented artist, such as you, loves my paintings. It is good to have two strings to one’s bow. I think that painting saved my sanity in 2020. Let’s hope it continues to do so in 2021.
I’ve just remembered I’m meant to be emailing some of my writing to you. Must do that soon, before my brains fly out altogether.
Painting has certainly saved my sanity so I know what you’re saying. More than once I’ve been asked which I prefer, writing or art. I’d have to say they’re on an even plane. However at the moment, as you know, I feel the writing trough is a little on the low and dry side.
I look forward to your email. 😉
I used to absolutely love art when I was at school but circumstances stopped me pursuing it to a higher level, so I decided to rekindle my old love before time ran out.
Any paintings of dogs are good paintings, in my humble opinion. Having said that, you are a human of great talents, my friend. We suffer from the deprivation of your writing, but gain from the paintings. All told, you feed our souls in one way or another.
Bravo!
I wish you a brilliantly Happy New Year, dear friend!
Dear Bill, I’m suffering from the deprivation of my writing, too, but am glad to be able to feed your soul with art. I hadn’t appreciated how difficult it was to paint a picture of a dog, until I tried. The beauty of working on a painting is that you notice all sorts of minute and subtle details of your subject that you would probably never have noticed. I found that especially with the robin in my winter picture — the colour of its legs, the way the red of the breast blends into the white, etc. Painting is like a lengthy meditation. I am a very slow painter!
I wish you a brilliantly Happy New Year, too, and that you keep safe and well x
Very good Sarah, the paintings look full of joy as if you really enjoyed painting them! I feel much the same – little writing in the past few weeks but I’ve done three paintings!
Thank you, Andrea. Yes, I did really enjoy painting them, despite the challenge of getting things right. I felt especially bound to get the summer painting absolutely spot on, as it was an 18th birthday present for the young lady who was the subject of the painting, along with her beloved dog. Fortunately, the picture was received with great enthusiasm 🙂 I’m so glad that you’re being so productive with your paintings. You sound a much quicker painter than me. I take absolutely ages, my favourite brush being the rather small No.2 round brush, although I have a great jar full of other sizes and types of brushes. I do like my large purdy’s decorator brush, too, for the initial undercoat. Applying that first layer in great sweeping motions feels like an extrovert statement in laying claim to the canvas! I wonder if our literary muses will return to us both. At least you still seem to have your blog-writing muse working for you, unlike me. Perhaps I’ll have a go with writing a Friday Fictioneer’s 100-word story soon, as an exercise in overcoming writer’s block.
It’s nice when a painting is appreciated 🙂 Once I start, I do paint quite quickly. I hate it when there are large areas of canvas to cover though – I just did one of my Dad which is pretty big with lots of background – I wanted it to be quite uncluttered likely Hockney’s recent portraits, but that meant lots of background to fill in!
I’m just grappling with painting a picture of my dog in a bluebell wood. The background is proving very challenging — all those gradations of colours as one moves into the foreground.
Dear Inese, I am so pleased that you loved my paintings. The robin was fascinating to paint. They are really very happy-making birds. We have one who renders territorial but beautiful songs at the top of its voice in our garden. I can even hear it above those rowdy seagulls and jackdaws! I say a big “yes” to a happy 2021 🙂
Sarah Potter Writes 
My goodness, Sarah. These are really good. 😍
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Ooo, thank you so much, Sylvia 😘xx
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I love these, Sarah! And the tanka, too.
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Thank you, Dale, for always being such an encourager and supporter of my creative works 🤩xxxx
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That’s what friends do! And creativity must be encouraged! 😘
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And, as I’ve just said to Rochelle, I’ve forgotten to mail my manuscript to you both, and must do so soon, before my brains fly out altogether x
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Yes, you must 🙂
xoxo
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Sent 🙂
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Dear Sarah,
I can so relate to your tanka. Which muse will win? I love these paintings. Your talents split two for one. 😉 Let’s hope for a better year where both muses flourish and sing. 😀
Shalom
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Whilst I was over at your blog, you seemed to have been visiting mine. Great minds and all that…
I’m extra chuffed when a talented artist, such as you, loves my paintings. It is good to have two strings to one’s bow. I think that painting saved my sanity in 2020. Let’s hope it continues to do so in 2021.
I’ve just remembered I’m meant to be emailing some of my writing to you. Must do that soon, before my brains fly out altogether.
All best wishes,
Sarah x
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Dear Sarah,
Painting has certainly saved my sanity so I know what you’re saying. More than once I’ve been asked which I prefer, writing or art. I’d have to say they’re on an even plane. However at the moment, as you know, I feel the writing trough is a little on the low and dry side.
I look forward to your email. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I envy the adaptability of your muse, whichever way she sways this year!
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I used to absolutely love art when I was at school but circumstances stopped me pursuing it to a higher level, so I decided to rekindle my old love before time ran out.
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Any paintings of dogs are good paintings, in my humble opinion. Having said that, you are a human of great talents, my friend. We suffer from the deprivation of your writing, but gain from the paintings. All told, you feed our souls in one way or another.
Bravo!
I wish you a brilliantly Happy New Year, dear friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Bill, I’m suffering from the deprivation of my writing, too, but am glad to be able to feed your soul with art. I hadn’t appreciated how difficult it was to paint a picture of a dog, until I tried. The beauty of working on a painting is that you notice all sorts of minute and subtle details of your subject that you would probably never have noticed. I found that especially with the robin in my winter picture — the colour of its legs, the way the red of the breast blends into the white, etc. Painting is like a lengthy meditation. I am a very slow painter!
I wish you a brilliantly Happy New Year, too, and that you keep safe and well x
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Beautiful artworks and tanka to go with! May all our prayers triumph in 2021🙂
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Thank you for your kind words. Yes, indeed, may our prayers triumph this year 🙂
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Very good Sarah, the paintings look full of joy as if you really enjoyed painting them! I feel much the same – little writing in the past few weeks but I’ve done three paintings!
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Thank you, Andrea. Yes, I did really enjoy painting them, despite the challenge of getting things right. I felt especially bound to get the summer painting absolutely spot on, as it was an 18th birthday present for the young lady who was the subject of the painting, along with her beloved dog. Fortunately, the picture was received with great enthusiasm 🙂 I’m so glad that you’re being so productive with your paintings. You sound a much quicker painter than me. I take absolutely ages, my favourite brush being the rather small No.2 round brush, although I have a great jar full of other sizes and types of brushes. I do like my large purdy’s decorator brush, too, for the initial undercoat. Applying that first layer in great sweeping motions feels like an extrovert statement in laying claim to the canvas! I wonder if our literary muses will return to us both. At least you still seem to have your blog-writing muse working for you, unlike me. Perhaps I’ll have a go with writing a Friday Fictioneer’s 100-word story soon, as an exercise in overcoming writer’s block.
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It’s nice when a painting is appreciated 🙂 Once I start, I do paint quite quickly. I hate it when there are large areas of canvas to cover though – I just did one of my Dad which is pretty big with lots of background – I wanted it to be quite uncluttered likely Hockney’s recent portraits, but that meant lots of background to fill in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just grappling with painting a picture of my dog in a bluebell wood. The background is proving very challenging — all those gradations of colours as one moves into the foreground.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah, these works are so lovely! And a Robin! Happy twenty-twenty-one! It wouldn’t dare to be bad!
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Dear Inese, I am so pleased that you loved my paintings. The robin was fascinating to paint. They are really very happy-making birds. We have one who renders territorial but beautiful songs at the top of its voice in our garden. I can even hear it above those rowdy seagulls and jackdaws! I say a big “yes” to a happy 2021 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person