Teaching at Dedham

26th July - 2nd August I find myself once more back at the lovely venue of Dedham Hall. I come here every year for a week and love it. Many of the students are regulars and have become friends now but it is always good to meet new people. This year I had 7 new students.
We get to meet and introduce ourselves over tea & cake at 4pm on the Saturday, then after a bit of unpacking and putting art gear into the studio we meet in the bar for pre dinner drinks. Dinner is a three course meal of a very high standard. After which we convene in the studio where I run through the proposed programme for the week. Nothing is set in stone at Dedham as it depends on the weather and the mix of students.

Brook Street, Dedham. Oil demo on first evening

Sunday is spent in the grounds for two reasons, one, it is very busy in the area on a Sunday and two, it is useful for me to see what medium everyone is working in, to see the equipment they have and where they may need help.

I gave a watercolour demonstration in the garden and a few decided to try the same subject

Greenhouse watercolour demo

I chose to stay in the immediate area on the Monday too as I wanted to work in the studio with a couple of the group that needed a bit more guidance before we went out . First task was to make a grid colour chart to show different mixes of a limited pallet. I set the challenge of only working with three colours for those that wanted to try. The results were very good and people were surprised the range of colours they could mix.

Tuesday we went to Pin Mill, a favorite spot with many artists. I got there early and was able to do a quick painting before people were set up

The Butt & Oyster, Pin Mill 12" x !0" oil on board

In the evening after dinner I gave a couple of demos on putting people into a painting and how to paint boats

drawing boats & adding tone to give form

Figures and shadows in a painting

On Wednesday we went to the river. It is a half day for me so I always nip off to get some of my own painting in. In the evening we eat in the main restaurant unfortunately not all the group were eating with us as some had family nearby.

Wednesday evening meeting for drinks

Watercolour demo on reflections

Rowing boats for hire

Thursday we took off for Woodbridge. It was an extremely hot day and some chose to stay in the studio so I split my day. I did manage to paint this quickly in-between helping those that came before I went back to the studio.

Woodbridge

During the week I like to cover oil, watercolour and acrylic. Here is a demo using the Atelier Interactive acrylics

Limited pallet, acrylics. 10" x 14"

Friday we stayed close to base as people wanted to finish off work started earlier in the week. The studio was cleared by 4pm so that i could set up the final exhibition. Jim & Wendy come over at 6.30 with drinks and nibbles. After supper we have a last gathering in the studio and i give each person a critique 

Yet again it was a brilliant week and I'm already looking forward to a return visit next year

Pintar Rapido

I did it, I bought my two day artist pass for Pintar Rapido.  This an art event in London,  open to artists of all skill levels from professionals and amateurs right through to beginners.
Saturday 19th July I headed off for the boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea. First job was to call at Chelsea Town Hall to register and have the official stamp .

Fellow artists registering at Chelsea

I chose a spot on Chelsea embankment. Not only was this new to me but I also had a completely different range of paints. I was trying out Mussini Artist Resin Oil colours as I was writing an article on them for Paint magazine.

Chelsea Embankment

There were artists every where and it was great chatting to them, quite a few turned out to be Facebook friends. So good to put a face to a name and meet them in person. We have even tentatively arranged meeting up for painting sessions in Norfolk
I spent longer than usual on my painting, usually when I paint plein air I only paint for a maximum of two hours. I think this must have been three hours painting, I was there a lot longer though chatting to passers by.

Next job was to take it back to my car and pop it in a frame. It was then with feelings of great trepidation, that I handed it in to the Hall to be hung for the exhibition the following day. Walking along Kings Road I came across more artists that I knew. The atmosphere was amazing.

Sunday 11am the exhibition opened to the artists, there was such a buzz, quite a few paintings sold early on then just before12 noon when the public were allowed in was the prize giving

Roger Becket organiser announcing prize winners

 Peter Brown was one of the judges. First prize was for £1000 which was well deserved, can't remember the young man's name but it was a cracking painting

The Exhibition

We all had our pictures taken when we handed in.

Handing in

Final Painting

The whole event was so incredibly well organised and ran really smoothly. Pleased to say that my painting sold too.
Will I be back next year - you bet I will!!!

Painting Abroad

It's been a while since I wrote anything here in spite of good intentions.
In March I went to Essaouria with friends Linda Mathews and Haidee Jo Summers for a week of painting.

Orange Seller, Essaouria

Had a fabulous time and met some lovely people including a couple of American Artists, we all went to the fish shacks for meal one evening

At the fish shack with our new friends

Then, in May I took off to Greece to the lovely island of Hydra with my mate Helen Herbert.

Helen & I finally getting to Hydra after a day of cancelled ferries and taxis

Our artist friend on the island found a room for us and we painted every day even though it was colder there than the UK. It even rained on the last day but it didn't stop us.

Omilos Resaurant

Kamini in the rain

June 8th I flew from Stansted to Limoges with a group of students where we were met by our host for the week Chris. After a pleasant drive north we arrived in the beautiful Limousin Region of France.
What an amazing area, it's called "The Forgotton France'. I for one wont forget it!!

Collage of the area

Most of the group worked in oil which I had sent out in advance along with canvas boards.

here are a few of my paintings most of which were demonstrations done on location.

Demos in Limoges

 

Oil Demo, Spalding Art Society

It's always good to give a demonstration on the home front.
I have been involved with the Spalding Art Society on and off for the 33years. This Tuesday was the AGM and I am now the new chairman. I look forward to the challenge and hope to build up the numbers. There was no getting out of going to the AGM as they had me booked to give an oil demonstration - crafty lot!!

The first painting of the evening was painted from a sketch I'd done in my village of Moulton. I'd got soaked because the rain crept up on me from behind as I was looking at a sunny scene. Suddenly there were strong winds and a downpour. Everything blew over.

The Sketch

 I was pleased to have another go at the subject. This time I worked larger using a 14" x 18" canvas board

Demonstration

It's interesting to compare the two. I definitely prefer the tree in the first one. Mind you it's never easy working from the side & under artificial light. The second painting makes the land look flatter, this is because of the exaggerated perspective of the road. The sketch almost looks as if it's going uphill.

I finished the first painting in good time and had 30 minuets left so dashed off another from a plein air painting that I'd taken along. This is smaller 10" x 12'.
I was trying to illustrate the use of a limited pallet

2nd demo - Cromer

I felt more pleased with this. I guess I don't like painting Green!

The next meeting for the Art Soc. is at Pinchbeck village Hall. Tuesday 1st April when we have Angels Damond coming with a talk on textiles. Angela specialises in using natural dyes to colour her fabrics and thread including historic woad and weld. She combines hand and machine stitching. This I look forward to seeing.

Brancaster & Repps-with-Bastwick

Wednesday 19th was another 'meet up' for the UK Plein air group at Brancaster. Ten hardy souls turned up and we had really good weather, if not just a tad windy. We spent a bit of time discussing our various set ups of easels and pochades. Artists are such a creative lot. Many had made their own. I've got some plans for my own based on the Open Box M but it won't be as fancy. I took my field easel this time as I was fed up having to hang onto my lightweight set up last time.
This is the morning painting. I am taken with this boat, last time I painted it it was facing the other way but I prefer this aspect, seeing the prow (?)

Fishing Boat, Brancaster Staithe 10" x 12" oil on board

  It needs a bit of work in the studio but I am generally quite pleased with it


The Jolly Sailors was packed out at lunch time as it is half term, must reserve a table another time. We did manage to squeeze into a small room much to the disapproval of a local that was perched at the bar doing the crossword.

After lunch I find it difficult to get going again but decided to tackle the mud again. I find it such a challenge. I was looking into the light and the sun was reflecting strongly off it. not pleased withe painting but I did learn from it. (like - don't paint mud!)

Here it is

Into the Light 10" x 12" oil on canvas

I left before sunset as I had to get to Norwich. The light on the trees as the sun went down was fantastic (I don't think I should have been driving) I kept looking around and wanting to stop and paint.
I stayed with Stephen and Rohan overnight so I could get to Repps=-with-Bastwick on the Norfolk Broads the next day where I spent a lovely day running an acrylic workshop I was so busy I forgot to take a photo of the group but here is the demo I did for them. 

Acrylic demo

What an amazing group of ladies, I had so much fun and a group of them are going to come on my painting holiday in France next September

Morston

Had a great morning painting at Morston on the Norfolk coast. The tide was nearly out for the first picture. These are the boats that take you out to see the seals. All the years I've been coming to this part of Norfolk, I've never been. Must go as it could make an interesting subject.

Waiting for the Tide 6" x 6" oil on linen board

I so enjoyed painting this that I decided on another painting. The tide was now well out so i was able to get right down in the channel. These two boats gave lovely reflections in the wet mud. They are surrounded by mussel shells. The cage on the left had bags of mussels in.

Mussel Boats oil on canvas board 10" x 12"

 The main advantage of standing in thick mud is that you don't get bothered by interested by passers.

East Runton

It was an early start as I had to be in Norfolk for an Open Studio group meeting at 10.30.
 Got to our cottage at 10am so there was just enough time to light the wood burner.
The meeting took place at Beeston Regis cafe. Artist Rainie Kay has organised an art trail for my area in Norfolk open studio. 24th May - 4th June 2014.
Eight of us got together to discuss leaflets, cards advertising etc.  It is a lovely group with a wide variety of of styles and skills.
After the meeting I headed just down the road to East Runton. For a change it was warmer on the beach than on the cliffs because the wind was coming off the land. It was a joy to see so many people walking their dogs and enjoying the sun.
This painting only took an hour and I could quite happily painted a second but didn't have another board with me, so it was back to the cottage to check on the fire and a hot bowl of home made soup.

East Runton 10" x 12" oil on board

Available framed £390

After lunch I went in search of potential inland subjects and found a delightful scene on my way to Thornage. I painted til the light went and I got too cold. That painting?? Well let's just say it needs a bit of work!