Open Studio 29th Nov - 1st Dec

Well for the last three weeks I have been busy unframing old work, sorting through work that has potential, work for galleries, work back from galleries (not many of those I'm pleased to say) and new work to be framed.
Then there were the frames to sort. Matching slips to frames and frames to slips. I have no idea how I could have managed to end up with so many odd ones. They all matched when I bought them (is it the sock fairy playing games with me?).
I spent three days repainting frames and another two framing.
Next job was to tackle the studio! Where to start??? I found all sorts of things I thought I'd lost or had forgotten about.
The last two days have been spent hanging and pricing - finally I'm ready.
This morning I made the mulled wine and now the house smells all Christmasy

There was a very good article in the local paper. I have put up posters and sent out invites. Now all I have to do is sit back and hope that I get a few visitors.
If you are in the Spalding area, do pop along for a chat and glass of mulled wine. Friday, Saturday & Sunday (29th -1st) 11am - 4pm   CHEERS

Brancaster Staithe 14th Nov

Once again through the powers of social media, ten of us met up to paint at Brancaster Staithe. The weather was kind to us but a rather chilly. I am enjoying using my Open Box M pallett but wish I'd bought the larger size. Guess I'll have to sell a few more paintings first though.

This was the first picture of the day which took me up to lunch time as I kept stopping to chat to other artists as they arrived. Off then to the Deepdale Cafe.

Unfortunately Tom had to leave before we took the photo. From the left Malcolm, Rosemary, Sharon, Jen, Linda, Me, Helen, Haidee, Mari.

Suitably refreshed and warmed up we were off to find another subject. It was a bit too cold for some, I think there were only five of us left.

I was amazed at how quickly the tide had come in and had to opt for a position where I wouldn't get cut off. There were a lot of boats in the foreground to start with but these two chaps were busy taking them away for the winter. I'd been hoping for a good sunset but the sky was clear , until I tuned round and realised the clouds behind me were turning all shades of Orange. I had to work very quickly on this one as it changed by the minute.

 

All in all a very successful day and I am looking forward to meeting up again on the 4th December.

Getting out there

What a wonderful week of painting I've had.
On Wednesday I met up with 9 other artists to paint at Brancaster Staithe on the Norfolk coast.

This was the first painting I did and struggled with the colour of the mud.

Up the Creek

 This was the painting I did in the studio from my sketch. I hope I have captured the feeling of 'being there'.

The next day I went inland and found this delightful scene at Glandford just asking to be painted.

Path at Cley Spy

 Then for some daft reason went to the beach at Weybourne. Boy, was it cold but I was lucky enough to catch the fishermen putting in their boat. had to be pretty swift to catch the moment

Putting The Boat In

 My third day in Norfolk I trotted off to Broads. Only an hour away but for some reason unknown to me, I'd never painted there. Well, it won't be the last time that's for sure. What a wonderful place to be.

The Broads

St Benet's Abbey

Workshop at Rushden, Northants

Set off at 8am with car packed up with paintings, paints and easel.
Stupid sat nav didn't recognise postcode so had to 'wing it'. I thought Rushden was a small village so, finding the school couldn't be too difficult. Got there, not a village, it's a town. By luck I ended up in almost the right place and got directions for the last bit.
A small turn out of 9 but enthusiastic painters turned up.. Some had never used acrylics before.
I started by giving a demo using a photo reference from the competition running on the FB page, SAA group set by John Currie.
Here's my effort

Acrylic demo

Must say, I look a bit dopey. Anyway, the group then chose wether to work from my painting or from a photo reference. Two chose the Bridge option and did a good job too. Using the same colours as I did the results were entirely different.
The workshop was to last for 6 hours but after 5, most people had finished their painting and had put so much into it that they hadn't really the energy or enthusiasm to start another so we lined all the paintings up for our own little show. One gentleman had to leave early so there are only 8 pictures to view but I think you'll all agree that it was a great success all round.

Painting at Barnack

On Tuesday I did my stint stewarding at The Welland Valley art exhibition.
where there are some excellent paintings on show. If you happen to be in Stamford go along to at the Art Centre. It's on until the 19th October.

The promised rain still hadn't arrived so on the way home decided to paint at the 'Hills & Holes' at Barnack. A favorite place to visit when the boys were little. Well, I drove around Barnack area, could I find it? No! I'd noticed a river scene as I first turned off so went back.
The light was changing very quickly and I'd wasted precious painting time driving around so only had an hour to paint, I felt a bit rushed but did enjoy myself.

River at Barnack 10 X 12"

I shall have to go back another day. Mind you NEXT time I will NOT wear sandals in a field previously occupied by a large herd of cows! ewww.

Busy week

I'm pleased  to say that even though the challenge is over I haven't been resting on my laurels.
The pressure is off but I have still painted every day.
This week I've had workshops and demonstrations at Market Deeping and King's Lynn.

Market Deeping

 Demo 14" x 18"

For the Market Deeping group I did this painting very quickly in Acrylics as the group were going to paint afterwards and didn't want to take up their valuable painting time. When I got home I spent another 1/2 hour on the painting but this time went over it in Oil paint. Acrylics are brilliant for under-painting if you are in a hurry for it to dry.
The group used the same three colours as i did and I was amazed that the variety in the end results. I'm kicking myself for not taking a photo as there were some excellent results.
The three colours were  -French Ultra, Magenta, Cadmium Yellow Pale + White

King's Lynn

Acrylic Demo 14" x 18"

The first painting I did I struggled with. I was still using my three colours but had some kind of mental block. Maybe it was the lighting but every time I thought I'd mixed the right colour and put it on the canvas - I was way out. So after the coffee break I did a little quickie of Hunstanton. This one I felt much happier with.

Acrylic demo 12" x 10"

30 days of painting

Yes!! I did it. I thoroughly enjoyed joining in with all the artists.
Leslie suggested we all create a collage of our work. Well I tried to get all 30 paintings in but could only manage a 5 x 5 square.

25 of the 30

To see the other collages and the artists that are cleverer than me and got all 30 on go to Leslie's blog