A Week at Dedham Hall

It is always a pleasure to teach at Dedham Hall in Suffolk. I often get people coming back and over the years many of the students have become friends. This year I had 10 lovely students. Two had never been to Dedham before but very soon fitted in the routine.
We start on Saturday afternoon with a cup of tea and some of Wendy's delicious cake at 4pm when we all introduce ourselves and I have a quick chat about the week to come.
On the first evening I always give a talk and demo in the studio.

Clouds at Blakeney, demo. 14" x 16"

Sunday is always busy in town so we stay in the grounds of the hall, there is so much to paint there one really needn't venture further afield. I started everyone off with a quick demo of the glasshouse

Glasshouse at Dedham Hall  8" x 8"

Monday we took advantage of the good weather and went to Woodbridge. It's been a few years since I took a group there. I'd forgotten how good it was. I did a painting while I was waiting for the group to look around and decide what they wanted to paint. The tide was out but coming in fast, by the time I'd finished 1/2 hour later there was no mud to be seen.

Woodbridge 14" x 16"

I planned to go to Pin Mill so that evening I gave a demo on painting the barges which I hoped we would see there.

Barges at Pin Mill 14" x 10"

Demo at Pin Mill

I don't get much chance to do my own painting at Dedham so I often will go into the studio before breakfast. here are two of the paintings that I got up early to paint.

Cherries and Imari bowl 8" x 8"

Quimper jug and Asters with Satsumas 8" x 8"

The weather turned on us a bit on Tuesday so we went to the river to paint before rain set in. Most managed to get at least some sketching done. I got a quick demo of the cows before they disappeared

and then they were gone!!

Study in White 12" x 12"

Another evening I gave the above as a demo to illustrate light against dark in a still life. I thoroughly enjoyed painting this in spite of all those ellipses I had to deal with.

The week seemed to pass very quickly and all too soon it was time to clear the studio and set up the final exhibition. I like to take time and care over this , to display the students work at it's best. There certainly was some good work done. At 6.30 Jim & Wendy come over with drinks for out little PV and after dinner we all head back into the studio where I go round each persons work and give a constructive appraisal. This for me is the hardest bit as I try to be encouraging yet honest without upsetting anyone - so far I think I have got away with it . We'll see if they come back again next year!!

Royal Norfolk Show

At the end of last month I was invited by the Paint Out team to paint at the Royal Norfolk Show. The sun was shining at the time so I said yes.
The day arrived and it was throwing it down, cars were stuck in the mud and roadways were flooded.
Not deterred I headed out to find my subject. The fairground took my attention so I set up with an umbrella positioned carefully over my canvas and pallet.

'Not So Much Fun at the Fair' 10" x 10" oil on canvas board

I did enjoy painting this in spite of the rain but I wish I'd had a £1 for every time someone said "Are you painting watercolour?" I tipped the inch of water out of the box easel and moved to another spot.

'Judging the Pigs' 10' x 10" oil on canvas board

This again was fun but I decided that I was wet enough and went off to find somewhere a bit drier for my next subject

'Waiting to be Judged' 10" x 12" oil on canvas board

Well it would have been drier had I gone into the tent but as the rain had eased off a bit I stood outside as I liked the feeling of being able to look through the tent.

Day Two

Hurrah, no rain.

It was still a bit soggy underfoot and I went with Haidee to the chicken tent. The prize winners were all in their cages with the rosettes and made a great subject, I left Haidee painting those and chose this slightly different view with artist Paul Alcock in the background.

'Which Came First?'  -  sold

My next picture was a picture asking to painted. I saw it and had to stop. These fine bullocks were waiting to go into the ring, they weren't there long so had to rely on memory, the picture needs revisiting in the studio maybe to slightly adjust the shape of the animals

Waiting to go into the Ring 10" x 10"

We had to be back at the Paint Out marquee by 3pm for prize giving. There were 13 of us artists in total and the sponsers had given cash prizes for those pictures they judged the best. First prize went to Robert Nelmes for and amazing painting of the farriers at work and second prize went to Tom Cringle for, again, another wonderful painting.

11 happy and now dry artists

At the end of the day, another prize was awarded - The Spirit of Plein Air. Imagine my surprise when it was awarded jointly to myself and my buddy Haidee-Jo Summers

'Spirit of Plein air'

All round it was a good experience, would I do it again next year?? Maybe I'll check the long range weather forecast first

Early Morning

I painted this little one from a photograph I took at Dedham a few years ago. I loved the early morning light and the way it caught the side of the cows

Early Morning 6" x 6" oil on linen board  £70

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