Imaginary spring walk

You are, in a way, what you draw. So I’m mindful of how subjects help or hinder my mood.

After a winter of studying wispy, graphite trees, I started to feel my mood turn graphite-grey too. I needed to think about the spring. Fresh greens and bright yellows!

Though we may be largely indoors, the sunlight and birds outside the window shout, “It’s spring!” And since woodland walks are off the cards, I can draw from the imagination – or photos – instead. Spring can spring in the mind.

When I dug this picture out from a pile the other day it was a bald, February watercolour . So I spruced up the branches with blossom and new leaves and walked away feeling notably happier.

And that’s something I love about art. It can take your mood on journeys. Like dreams that you can steer.

If we need cheering we…