October Newsletter

I think this September has been the busiest month of the year for me so far with, the exhibition in London, teaching in Harwich, Open Studios and the Strada easel challenge - painting from life every day throughout September  I'm looking forward to a slightly quieter October but it has already started off with a big bang as I reached a certain milestone birthday on the 4th.

Strada Easel Challenge Well I don’t know how but I did it!  A painting from life every single day throughout September and, on a couple of occasions, just before midnight. It is a very good discipline and I would encourage anybody to have a go because, even though we all make excuses and find other things to do, it just proves to yourself that it can be done Here are just a few of my favourites   I haven't really had much time recently for my You Tube channel so I decided to film my self doing this painting for the challenge. The video is 20 mins long with a bit of commentary if you're interested You Tube Old Bank Studio This was my first visit to The Old Bank Studios. I had a very warm welcome from Bev & Nigel Caleno that own it. Everything was very organised and I had the most lovely group. We were lucky with the weather and went out to the beach or to the pier each day. I have to say it was rather windy and having given everyone advice  - my easel fell over twice whilst I was going round seeing the group.  I'm pleased to say that I have been invited back for next year, watch out for the dates.               butter side down                                        brushed off when dry and overpainted in places Norfolk Open Studios This weekend 8, 9 & 10th October is the last weekend for open studios. It was very quite last weekend as I think everyone was conserving their fuel and not wanting venture out in the cold. There was one exciting moment  - I had been asked if I would be the last clue in BBC Radio Norfolk's Treasure Quest. It was great fun listening to people solving the clues. The final code was hidden behind my sunflower painting Julie from radio Norfolk                                     unframed work from £200 All the paintings from the challenge are now on show at my studio in Norfolk.   OPEN THIS WEEKEND 10 - 5pm Friday 8th - Sunday 10th Don't forget to mention you are a subscriber to get an extra discount I'd love to see you.   Prices start at £200 for an unframed picture. click here to be taken to the open studio website where you will be able to see all the artists taking part and directions to the studios

A Birthday Treat   For my birthday Frank treated me and some friends to lunch at the George Hotel in Stamford. I was thoroughly spoilt but I think it might be another ten years before I go again, it'll probably take Frank that long to save up again. I'm hoping to catch up with the rest of the family later on this month for hugs and more celebrations, meanwhile I'm milking this one, lunches out with friends is on the agenda. Have a good month everyone and thank you for your support Love Mo xx celebrating a milestone birthday at The George, Stamford

September Newsletter My feet have hardly touched the ground since I last wrote to you all. The exhibition in London has been and gone, I've caught up on a bit of weeding, we've had the outside of the house decorated, I've been to Norfolk to prepare for Open Studios, been out painting and, I am taking part in the Strada Easel challenge which means a painting every day throughout September. I have a couple of offers for you too this month, read on for more details.

Colour & Light Mall Galleries 7th - 12th September I'm still having to pinch myself. The exhibition exceeded my expectations with just under a third of all paintings sold. I am also delighted to have sold six of the ten paintings I had in the show.   I arrived in London the day before the hang to ensure I was at the Gallery for 8.30am Monday morning. The first thing we had to do was place the 240 paintings around the room and from there we shuffled them around to make a pleasing hang. That is easier said than done! By lunch time we were pleased with the layout so the pictures started to go up on the wall. I thought I'd got an easy job, I couldn't help hang as my shoulder still isn't up to it so I started putting labels on. I soon enlisted the help of Maria Rose, John Stillman and Tim King. Matching labels to titles and catalogue numbers, juggling spreadsheets, finding the correct label and placing on the wall, and ticking off of sheet actually took the best part of three hours.  We finally finished at 6pm. I stood back and took the whole room in for the first time and had a little emotional moment. All the hard work had paid off and here I was, standing in the Mall Gallery with a group of  lovely artists that I'm proud to call my friends. arranging the paintings                                                         the label team I returned to my hotel room by 7.15 had 15 mins to chat to Frank before heading out for dinner with The Northern Boys who were in town painting for the week. I got back to my room again at 11.30 and remembered I hadn't done my Strada easel challenge for the day so I did a gouache painting of the bananas I'd bought for my lunch. Guess who overslept?? I had to rush to get down to the Mall by 10am ready for a day stewarding. Time went so quickly as there were so many lovely visitors to chat to. I shot off at 4 to meet Frank who had come down for the private view Tuesday evening, a quick change and back to the Mall. It was lovely to see so many friends and visitors. One thing I did NOT expect was any reward for my efforts so it was a great surprise to hear my name over the speakers and turned around to see Tim & Maria on the steps calling me over. I was over the moon to receive and rather splendid bottle of red wine from F & M, a Diana Armfield book I'd wanted and a voucher for Cass Art. with Maria & Tim, and yes I made a speech to thank everyone   We have an amazing catalogue for the show we are selling them online now as souvenirs of the show  order yours here Norfolk Open Studios Sep 25, 26, Oct 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10   On my return from London I had a couple of days at home catching up on a few jobs before going to Norfolk to prepare for Norfolk Open Studios. I am open at weekends 10am - 5pm MORE DETAILS  inside the gallerage.                                                  still more paintings to hang I will also have a selection of art materials from my recent studio clear out, plus there is a bargain bin of unframed work that is taking up too much space . As an added bonus, I am offering you as a subscriber 10% off all purchases. Please don't forget to mention it. I do hope you can pop along and say hello Strada Easel Challenge As if I wasn't busy enough, I have undertaken the Strada Easel challenge. This means doing a painting from life every day throughout September and then posting them online. It's a great discipline and because of the the public commitment, it does make you paint when you might otherwise find something else to do. I had started the month with the intention of doing all the paintings outside but I'm afraid the rather wet weather soon knocked that idea out of the window. I did however manage to catch up with my friend Emma Perring who had come to Norfolk for a few days to paint. We had a couple of albeit rather cold days, painting on first Cley beach and the next day on Weybourne beach. sky study, Cley beach                                                      Cley church from the beach Weybourne Beach All the paintings I do as part of the challenge are available. Prices start at £190 Please let me know if you see one you fancy here are a few more for you to browse more available paintings from the challenge    I almost forgot to mention that many of my recent paintings have been painted with my 'wrong' hand. I am still finding awkward but am enjoying the results. I even sold one of my left handed paintings at the Mall Galleries and the buyer was delighted with it, especially after I told her the story of the broken arm.   Mulberry House I mentioned at the beginning that we have had the outside of the house painted. I spent ages choosing the colour and finally decided on F&B Lichen, a beautiful deep blue/green. The result is nothing like I imagined, it has come out more 'minty'. Nevertheless I am quite pleased with the result and the house looks nice a clean again I hope you've enjoyed catching up on all my news. I'm off to run a course in Harwich next week, I'm hoping that next month will be a little quieter. I reach another milestone birthday at the beginning of October (I'll leave you guessing). Time to take it easy??? I doubt it very much. Thank you so much for your support. I hope to see to in Norfolk  love and best wishes Mo x

 

News From Mulberry House, Garden & Studio

August Newsletter Well I have to say July was a month to remember or maybe forget. Disappointingly I had to postpone my course in Harwich as I had only just broken my right arm and it was too painful to travel.   Two weeks later I did manage to run a very successful painting course for Big Sky Art in Norfolk staying at the White House, Burnham Market. I had a really lovely group and was even able to manage a couple of left-handed demonstrations. I did promise you last month that I would show you any paintings that I managed to do with my left hand I will post these below. Some of you may know, I have been coordinating the next exhibition for British Plein-Air Painters. We had got the smaller North Gallery booked at the Mall. Whilst standing at Brancaster Staithe painting with my group, I had a phone call from the Mall to say that the proposed exhibition in the main gallery had pulled out and they offered us the chance to have the main gallery. I had to make a snap decision on behalf of the group and so I said "yes" - then the reality set in, my goodness what a big space to fill. I’m sure we can do it we have some excellent artists in the group.

Mulberry House & Garden Very little has happened since breaking my arm. I could almost weep when I walk down the garden. With recent rain and warm weather, the weeds have gone crazy, some of the dahlias which I hadn't got around to staking have fallen, the lily beetles have had a field day, most of the apricots dropped off in the heavy rain and the plum tree seems to have some kind of fungus. Frank has been going into work as we are starting to get bulbs in now at Gee Tee so he hasn't had time to help.  I did try to to pull a few weeds out with just my left hand but had to give that up when I put my back out!! It's a bit disheartening after all the hard work we put in at the beginning of the year Anyone know a good gardener?? On the upside, we've had a brilliant crop of French & Runner beans and the tomatoes are beginning to ripen. weeds are taller than the flowers Studio I was delighted with my one off Open Studio Norfolk weekend, I had a constant flow of visitors, friends, followers and buyers. Thank you every one that came to see me. I shall be taking part in the wider Norfolk Open Studios in September & October You can see who is taking part here I shall give more information nearer the time.  studio clearance                                                   one happy buyer & artist IEA Painting Day On 29th July I was picked up by fellow member of the Institute of East Anglian Artists, Jim Power, to take part in a Painting Day at King's Lynn. I optimistically took my paints and decided to give it a go. This was my first attempt at painting left handed room for improvement? There was a very good turn out and the predicted rain stayed away until the very end of the day, mind you it was very windy on the quay sideband I had to use my body to stop easel blowing over as I couldn't hold it    chatting with Ian McManus                                     enjoying a midday coffee Big Sky Art I have just returned from a wonderful week in Norfolk running a painting course at the White House. I had a group of 15 enthusiastic painters. On the first day we painted within the grounds but after that we went and painted at Brancaster Staithe, Burnham Overy Staithe I did manage to do a couple of left handed demonstrations and paintings. A lot of the group have rebooked for next year but there maybe a couple of places left if you are quick Big Sky Art. Phone +44 (0) 7785 439727 Burnham Overy Staithe                                        Brancaster Staithe            The White House                                                My bedroom                                                                             (shower room downstairs) I was very pleased that I managed to get special permission to paint in and around the grounds at Wiveton Hall. There is a wealth of subjects everywhere you look. The group were very pleased to meet Desmond from TV's 'Normal for Norfolk' fame and yes, he is as mad as he came over on the television. We had the most marvellous lunch there which I had preordered.  the wonderful Wiveton Hall Exhibition at the Mall Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be organising let alone exhibiting at the Mall Galleries in London. (I've had the odd painting accepted and hung in some of the major shows but this is much more) I count myself very fortunate to be part of a wonderful group that we call the British Plein Air Painters. After painting with a group of friends in Portugal in 2017 we decided to have an exhibition together. As there were only 10 of us we decided to invite some of our friends to join us and had our first exhibition was in 2018 at the Menier Gallery.   Following the success of our first exhibition, we booked the North Gallery at the Mall for our second London show. I volunteered to coordinate the show with the help of some of the members. This I can tell you sounds easier than it is but we won't go there. While I was painting with my group in Brancaster I had a surprise phone call from the Mall, they told me that the exhibitors that were going to be in the main gallery had pulled out and they offered us the chance to use that space. I made a quick decision on behalf of the group and said 'yes,  we would take it'. I then realised the enormity of filling such a huge space and all the other problems that go along with it. We are very excited about it and it promises to be an excellent exhibition. I do hope you are able to come along, there will members there each day and we hope to have demonstrations each day too. As part of our promotion for the show I have organised painting days around the country where we can hand out flyers. The next painting day is in Oxford this weekend 14th August followed by one in Kensington Gardens on 23nd.  All the details can be found on our web site British Plein Air Painters These painting days are free and open to any one who cares to come along and paint in the company of like minded artists. Left handed demo                                           10" x 16" Weybourne I was particularly pleased with this studio demonstration. I am offering it, unframed, at the special price of £190 including free P&P Drop me an email if you are interested Thank you for your support, I really do appreciate it. Hopefully by the time I write  next time, things will be back to normal, well, as normal as they'll ever be. I'm looking forward to being able to drive again. One thing is for sure - ambidextrous , I am not. take care and best wishes Mo xx