Painting for Christmas

I have been to Bruges (more about that in another blog) for a few days so my painting time has again been limited and I have been getting severe withdrawal symptoms!! We didn't have enough time for me to do any painting on our trip especially as we were with family so am hoping to have a go at some of the photos I took and develop my ability to paint buildings etc!!

In the meantime I have been doing an odd commission but have finished all for xmas now and so settled to devote some time to painting this afternoon. We did some xmas cards at my group at our last meeting and next time we are doing "Winter Trees" so I wanted to get a bit of practice done and in between did this poinsettia which someone wanted to do for her xmas card so I already had the reference... should have bought a plant today but completely forgot when I was at Tesco this morning.

I am still going to be busy before xmas but am hoping to get back into my routine of painting several times a week, which I really haven't been managing at all recently. I have quite a few seasonal type images I want to have a go at,  and this is the first

Started with the centre then did some petals washing some away (am always striving to achieve a loose watercolour feel),  adding some of the green gold and UB  and a touch more red in the bg as I went along. It's always quite difficult at this stage as the painting needs to dry thoroughly before you can carry on working it but it is at this stage I also get very impatient to see it start developing, hence the need for other pieces to be working on at the same time. The next stage involves both negative and positive painting working around the piece always trying to be mindful of both overworking and not going back in to any areas which aren't dry... sure-fire way to get mud especially when working with complimentary colours like these. Carried on building up here and there, added a few splashes and drips and think I am nearly there with it..... will need to have a look again in daylight as I think I may need a touch more definition on the petals but on the whole feeling quite happy!!

Colours Used

Aureolin
Green Gold
Winsor Red
Ultramarine

Ref photo from Barbara Tester on PMP

My Exhibition and its' visitors

I made my first visit to the exhibition last Saturday... some friends had said they would like to come so  made their way over from Huddersfield early Sat morning for us to get to the centre at just after 11.00am. I was very surprised to see my sister there with her husband John Robinson... I hadn't known they were going to be there so that was a lovely surprise. I then started to have a look around the exhibition when I recognised someone in the corner, Mike and then bumped into his partner Carolyn whom I used to work with... she had seen the e-mail I had sent round to my contact list and decided to come up with her Mum for a look round. I know I had sent the information out to people but hadn't really expected anyone to come so am really grateful to everyone who has made the effort to visit!!

I would also like to thank Dave Hendry and Elise who left some delightful comments in the visitors book which told me they had been, am really grateful to you both!!

I had to unframe a painting for a customer who wanted to buy the painting but not the frame which didn't suit their decor so had just finished that when Sharon Whitley walked in. We had talked about the possibility of them stopping by on their way back from the lakes but even though I was expecting them it was still lovely to think they had actually made the effort to stop by. Sharon and I chatted non stop (well I think it was probably me who chatted non stop while Sharon and Gary patiently sat and listened!) and we set the art world both online and off to rights. Sharon and I have known each other for some considerable time now as she has been a member of a group I run on PMP for loose painting and it has been a pleasure to watch her progress into the special unassuming artist she has become!!

Gary also saved the day..........I realised after John had left, that I had forgotten my camera (what a surprise!!) so I prevailed upon Gary who as ever had his trusty camera in the car to take some pics of the work on display... I also asked him to take one of Sharon and me which I have to say is a fab photo as I am not known for being the most photogenic of beings and was very likely to have spoiled things... here are the photos Gary sent

I am both delighted and impressed by the hanging of the exhibition.... the ladies work there voluntarily and it is usually one particular lady Melanie who does the hanging and I have to say she has done a fabulous job hanging work in a very complimentary and sympathetic way, something which, like framing, can make a big difference to an exhibition. So a big thank you to you Melanie for the hard work you put in!! Will be there again tomorrow replacing some of the cards which have sold.....

I also did a demo at Preston Art Society last Tuesday and have been along to a group called Grove Artists in Burscough today... don't know about them but I had a ball at both!! Am running the session at my own group on Thursday.. we're doing xmas cards, one of may favourite ones to teach, so very busy but in a good way and as always loving every minute!!

New Opportunity

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Marion Dutton,  an artist in my home town of Bolton who has been working hard to build a business not only for her own work and teaching but to promote other artists whom she invites to run workshops at her very busy Mazart studio.

I do know my lovely friend Joanne Boon Thomas mentioned my name to Marion... Joanne is running some Brusho classes there and dropped my name into conversation as Marion is always on the lookout for new people to run classes....... truly grateful Jo!!

Marion contacted me to run some beginners watercolour classes and we agreed on 2 dates one in March and the other in December. My classes will be specifically designed to give people a taste of watercolour with tips and techniques for them to take away and hopefully be able to practice at home and build up their confidence in using this fantastic medium ( I know......... I never seem to tire of watercolour as I am still only touching the surface of what it can do!!).

My classes and Joanne's will be different to the other very popular classes Marion has running for next year as we won't have a particular painting for the class to produce but both classes will be more about exploring the medium and best ways to use it (especially the Brusho which, with some of Jo's expert guidance, will amaze you!!! Check out some of my other Blog entries about Brusho) ... I know the Brusho classes will get booked immediately and am hoping mine will prove as popular!! My previous beginner classes did get booked up quite quickly, which amazed me, but now gives me confidence to say if you would like to come book early to make sure you get a place!! 

You can go to Marion's website here to book your classes  and you will see what a range of media are offered.  If you would like to have a chat with me about anything please don't hesitate to get in touch. If you have a look at my website you will see I am running classes all over the North West and will be updating the schedule for 2014, including the workshops I am running for Marion, shortly.

What I am so loving about this journey is I never know what is going to happen next... bookings for workshops are coming out of the blue and I am delighted whenever someone gets in touch!! Far from having Monday morning blues syndrome (which I definitely had before) I can't wait for Mondays especially if I have a workshop booked!! I get messages from my website, people are getting in touch to buy paintings and request commissions and I am one of the artists showing work at Galleria where I will be delivering more paintings in the new year... life is very full and I am very grateful for opportunities like this at Marion's studio. The art community is very supportive and I hope one day I can help someone else in their journey as I have been helped in mine!!

To change the subject completely, I delivered my paintings to the exhibition today... 35 framed, 21 mounted and a selection of 10 xmas card designs and 9 greetings cards! I need to heave a sigh of relief as it has been quite a feat getting everything ready and I can't wait to visit next Saturday to see it all hanging together as a body of work!! The cards arrived at about 5.00pm last night and we spent the evening bagging 290 ready for today. Am happy to say people were already looking in the box as we delivered them and my son also took them to a shop in Kirkby Lonsdale.... they loved them but said they were inundated with cards and it was too late to take stock for xmas. But far from being disappointed I was delighted to know they liked them!! He is now going to take them to a few more and will also take some to work... real family business!!!

Exhibition at Garstang Arts Centre

Ok..... not long before I stop droning on about this!! I am still getting things ready and even roped my Dad in for added support yesterday!! He helped by taping up the backs of some newly framed pieces (one of my least favourite jobs so thanks Dad!!) Have got to add screws and string to them, create labels, cellophane wrap a few mounted paintings make some bubble wrap covers, make a lists of all work with titles descriptions etc then need to start cellophane packing the xmas and greetings cards which I am hoping will be here early next week... fingers crossed!!

So not much to do then!!!

The exhibition runs from the 19th November until the 12th December and should any of you like to visit the opening times are

Tuesday   10-12.30 and 2-4
Thursday 10-4
Saturday  10-12.30

Tea/coffee, cakes, scones and biscuits available.

Would also like to say thank you to the organisers who take care of the hanging and man the exhibition for the whole time... greatly appreciated!!

Musical Drama

I have been wanting to paint this photo for a while. I find some photos really inspire me but then I don't always know what to do with them!! And this was very much in that category. It is from a photo taken by Franklin from PMP and I have had it on my to do list for just over a year... here is the original image

As you will know we have been puppy sitting and I haven't had much chance to paint... not that I'm complaining.... puppy cuddles are up there with painting!! But I have been feeling a few withdrawal symptoms and urges (I know unusual in  woman of my age!!!) so today I have had chance to spend some time on this. I did have a false attempt a couple of weeks ago which did point me in the right direction for painting it so those failures are never lost and in this case most definitely learned from.

I did draw this as the perspective is tricky and I knew that if I didn't get it right by rushing in with a shoddy drawing the whole painting would be lost before I had even started so I took a bit of time getting it to look reasonable and then started with the cello wet in wet reserving highlights as I went along. I rarely use masking fluid (the exception being the xmas cards whch I spattered with masking before painting) and occasionally use white gouache to restore any highlights I may have lost.

I then did the hair and when all dry started to build up the bg which in total had 2 and in some places 3 layers. Bit more building up on the cello, the face, hands etc and a final splattering and touch of gouache.

Colours used

Alizarin Crimson
Quin Gold
Raw Sienna
Burnt Siena
UB
Indigo

I used the indigo to add some of the final darks as UB doesn't always give me the tone I am looking for and I added some quin gold in a bit of a wash as I felt the cello needed lifting a touch.

 I may try this again though I am fairly happy with how it has turned out. I wanted to capture the light but also a sense of movement which I think I have partly succeeded in, but maybe could have managed more, I may play around with the composition of the bg for a future effort maybe trying a more diagonal format, this is where a quick thumbnail would come in.... keep promising myself I will start to do them and then the brushes take over and before I know it have started and have to finish!!

Workshop at "The Wheatsheaf"

This workshop has been in the pipeline since May when we met Tony and Kathryn Marshall, landlord and lady at The Wheatsheaf, Thurcaston, on our holiday at Lopud Island. I had run a little painting session with Kathryn on one of the rainy days and she invited me to do something at their pub.

They do have a lot of different things going on with a host of "special evenings" offering exceptionally good value and quality food and have a "skittle room" where they hold all sorts of different events and where we held the workshop.

The workshop was really enjoyable with mainly beginners and they produced some terrific little studies seeming to get the "gist" of what I was trying to teach them.....I was particularly pleased when a couple of ladies said they had always wanted to try painting and had felt slightly afraid to try... I had made them realise it is all about playing with the paint and enjoying the process rather than needing to produce a masterpiece every time...

They also asked me about running a two day course which having had a chat with Kathryn, I will be doing..... I will share more details on here when we finalise a date but we are looking to possibly late Feb or early March. If you are interested please let me know as there will be a few people from the workshop  who I think will book and numbers would be limited to 12.

We carried on our journey after the workshop to visit my sister in law near Milton Keynes where we have had a lovely relaxing weekend and returned yesterday to be entertained with a super meal at my son's! All in all a great short break!! Did some clothes shopping in Buckingham too.....

I would also like to say a huge thank you to Kathryn for lunch, for providing the venue and for the refreshments which were available thoughout the afternoon.....

Opening an Exhibition!!

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from Dave Hendry (he of Westhoughton Art Group fame) asking would I like to open their annual exhibition? What an honour that was... he had asked the group what they thought about the suggestion of me doing it and they apparently agreed!!! Both my sons greeted the news with superior amusement and also as if I had grown two heads as if to say "aw bless her she does try!!!"

Anyway I didn't really have to think about it, apart from enjoying being with them all as they are a very warm and friendly crowd... I have a lot to thank Dave for in these early stages of my arty life!! I did my first workshop at the group and seem to have been a fixture ever since and also know he has passed my name to other groups recommending they book me to run sessions for them as well.

So I did write a little speech at home, I haven't ever given a speech before but I thought it would be similar to speaking at the demos and workshops I do, which it was and as I do at those I decided to speak naturally without referring to any notes ..... I did take my specs off as I didn't want to see any grimacing expressions so as far as I'm concerned it went really well and they were all smiling happy faces!!!

I had decided that I would mention the quality of the art work and offer some words of encouragement whatever the standard.  I don't always see the finished pieces when I go to the group and of course don't know what they do in other media of which there are a lot so didn't really know what to expect. Anyway I was able to say in absolute honesty that the work was of a really high standard and I was quite blown away by it... there were some truly lovely pieces and I was very impressed by the variety of media they use as I only get to see the watercolour they do.

I have to say a big thank you to everyone for the lovely flowers Dave presented me with.. I was very taken aback as I certainly wasn't expecting anything and it was my pleasure to be at their lovely event!!

On a final note I understand what it takes to put together in exhibition of this sort and every credit should go to Dave Hendry who works very hard behind the scenes for WAG.... the group has had a waiting list recently... Dave's solution, he has started another session!! So they now hold 2 meetings every Monday, am and pm in the same venue and it looks like both sessions will be equally well attended... already looking good for next year's exhibition!!

2013 Xmas Cards

I think these are my final cards. I have done another 3 today as I wasn't altogether satisfied with the ones I had done previously and decided to stick with my animal theme.

Photo by Paul Sherman

 Photo by John Robinson

 Photo by Chrissy M

 Photo by Steve Gibbs

Photo by Caroline Yealey

Demonstration by Katie Hampson

I was invited to Westhoughton Art Group today first to do a workshop for the second group they have formed in the afternoons due to popular demand and second to attend a demonstration by young Lancashire artist Katie Hampson.

Katie introduced herself with a string of accolades most of us only dream of, exhibiting on several occasions at the Mall galleries and winning The Artist' Editors award in 2012. She has work in many countries and at the ripe old age of 20 has an amazing career ahead of her!!

She started her demonstration of a Bavarian cow working on mountboard with a freehand pencil drawing (no reference image) and then water soluble felt tip pen which she bled into the painting. She started to build up the piece with blues and purples allowing and encouraging the paint to drip. 

She works instinctively adding more and more colour moving effortlessly around the painting and also adding white gouache as she progressed. She then moved on to using some watercolour inks which give her a slightly more vibrant depth of colour, followed by Copic Ciao marker pens and Posca White markers.

The final stages were added using normal coloured pencils adding more and more texture and building up depth of colour so a full mixed media piece at it's completion

This is the finished piece which to be fair doesn't do it justice as we can't see the multi-layered effect Katie achieves with these pieces. She uses many colours and though the piece was quite subtle it was full of life, interest and depth.

This whole painting took about and hour and a half and after a morning coffee break Katie asked for suggestions for a second piece which was slightly more caricaturist and which I painted along with. It was a dog which again she drew freehand, Katie has studied anatomy and for birthdays and xmas presents has had skulls and deer's legs!!! As a result her drawing skills are based on very solid anatomical knowledge and she is very able to draw from her imagination as she understands the form and how the skulls and bones form the features of the particular animal she is drawing.. I messed up the initial drawing so was fighting it the whole way through but I did enjoy the process of applying the paint as it suits my style. I'm not sure about painting on mount board as I do love the way watercolour behaves on paper and feel the mountboard would behave more like a smooth paper which I am not fond of!!

Katie brought some of her sketch books which imho were wonderful and almost stole the show for me!!

She had such a mature way of painting which doesn't fit her tender years. She paints quickly and instinctively and though she remains silent during the process is quite happy to answer questions as she goes along. When you paint as she does, I'm sure it is quite difficult to verbalise exactly why you are doing what you are doing, she moves around the whole piece, never lingering in any one area adding, what you may think are at times, indiscriminate and sometimes indistinct marks but bringing the whole piece together in a fascinating way.

On this subject of dialogue during a demo I can empathise with Katie... (not that I am trying to compare in any way what I do with what she does) but it made me think about a few paintings I have done which I would find very hard to demonstrate or deliver in a workshop, they are those which sort of evolve and I have as little idea as anyone about why I am putting the strokes where I am!! Other paintings are more formulaic and can be explained more easily, they maybe demonstrate certain skills and techniques which show how different effects can be obtained, how colours can be mixed, why I'm using the colours I have chosen and why I am making decisions around the piece and I find it helps both me and the people attending to verbalise my thoughts.Whether I will find a means to talk my way around these other pieces time will tell!!!  What I do find however, is by deliberating about the dialogue I will use during a workshop (I often practice out loud while I am practising a painting), it helps me to understand why I'm doing what I'm doing, forcing me to understand the reasons behind my methods and therefore actually reinforces my own learning... I knew there was a jolly good reason why I love doing these workshops!!

After lunch I did the workshop for the new group of people who have joined Westhoughton Art Group for the afternoon session and a great time was had by all, me included!! I have also been asked to open the annual group exhibition so need to get a little speech ready for that which will do the members proud and get their exhibition off to a flying start!! No pressure then.......

BTW if you are still here, do take a look at Katie's website

And this is the link to Westhoughton Art Group where over the next few days am sure Dave will update the blog about Katie's visit.

Back to Painting

Not on puppy duty this weekend so first chance to get some painting done... yeh!!!! I need to get my xmas cards printed along with some greetings cards as I am doing a solo exhibition at Garstang Arts Centre in November and I want to have a good price range of paintings to offer so cards are ideal for anyone who may like what I do but can't afford to buy a painting (I have to say my unframed, mounted paintings are very reasonably priced, as in fact is all my work but obviously framed pieces are more expensive).

So have had the afternoon painting and have been working on 6 different paintings at one go, doing little bits here and there as I am waiting for them to dry. We are doing a still life of pears in the loose group on
Paint my Photo using a photo taken by Clare and when I started to think about it I realised it might be suitable as an xmas card

 I also did this other image of pears which Lorna had tried......... a complicated reference with a very busy bg which I decided to simplify. This was done by first painting the pears but losing edges here and there then building up the whole thing with both negative and positive painting. This isn't a finished painting it was just something I fancied having a go at to see how it might work.

Finally I finished another xmas card.  The other 3 are still drying and I will finish them next week sometime. I have painted this image before but went in much darker with the bg this time as my xmas cards have a sort of theme with darks bgs and I want them to look like a collection. Image from a reference by Chrissy M

 So now I have to start making decisions ... which images to use for both xmas and greetings cards and then which paintings I need to have framed for the exhibition... thankfully I do have quite a few already done..... think I might need to do another 10 and maybe swap some around as well. I think I will be taking about 35, some just mounted, then some cards. Am getting worn out just thinking about it!!